1 Arrested In Knife Incident Outside Downtown Petaluma Bar: Police

PETALUMA, CA — A man was arrested Wednesday night in Petaluma after allegedly brandishing a knife in a threatening manner outside a downtown bar. According to Petaluma police, Joshua Sharp, a 33-year-old Santa Rosa transient, was with a group of patrons asked to leave Jamison's Roaring Donkey on Kentucky Street when they became intoxicated and unruly.

"Some of the group started to fight with bar security outside of the bar," Petaluma police Sgt. Rick Cox said in a news release about the incident. "Sharp then yelled, 'I have a knife.'"

According to Cox, Petaluma police officers were dispatched to the scene just before 9:30 p.m. and learned that "witnesses observed Sharp holding an approximate 6-inch knife with a silver blade."

"Sharp was observed waving the knife, with an outstretched arm walking toward the victim," Cox said, noting that no one was injured in the incident.

Officers located Sharp nearby. He was identified by witnesses as the suspect and was subsequently found in possession of the knife that had been described, Cox said.

Sharp was arrested on suspicion of brandishing a knife in a threatening manner and booked into Sonoma County jail for the alleged misdemeanor charge.

Petaluma police do not believe Sharp was involved in the Sept. 10 homicide in the downtown area in which a 24-year-old Windsor man Cristian Nunez-Castro was fatally stabbed, Cox said.

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Because of an increase in calls for service and violence-related incidents in the downtown area, the sergeant said the Petaluma Police Department is focusing much of its attention to the area.

"Patrols of the downtown area have increased and involve, plain clothes officers, uniformed officers, foot patrols, and bicycle patrols," Cox said. "If anyone observes any illegal activity occurring, they are encouraged to call the Petaluma Police Department."

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