3 Petaluma Teens Suspected Of Robbery After Bad Coke Deal: Police

PETALUMA, CA -- Three teenage boys were arrested Saturday in Petaluma after a series of allegedly violent encounters involving a bad cocaine deal, according to police. Officers were initially dispatched at about noon to Petaluma High School after someone reported a group of juveniles fighting, but the suspects had fled the scene before police arrived, Sgt. Lance Novello said in a news release.

Later in the afternoon, another report surfaced involving a teen brandishing a gun at the Phoenix Theater at 201 E. Washington St. The suspects fled the scene before police arrived again, but investigators were able to identify them this time, according to the sergeant.

Then at 5:17 p.m., officers responded to a report of domestic violence in the vicinity of Howard and Stanley streets, where they located a group of teens matching the description of the suspects from the altercation
at the Phoenix Theater, Novello said.

The teens attempted to flee but were detained and identified as the suspects from both incidents earlier that day, the sergeant said.

Investigators determined that a bad cocaine deal was to blame.

A 15-year-old boy and two 14-year-old boys arranged to meet with the 15-year-old victim at the high school, where they robbed the victim of his cocaine because of a prior narcotics deal that police described as "bad."

The victim fled, but the suspects caught up with him and stole his wallet in the downtown area. Later that day, two of the suspects found the victim in the Phoenix Theater and tried to rob him of his belt, but an adult
intervened.

Police determined that the domestic violence report was unfounded, but it allowed them to locate the suspects. The trio, all Petaluma residents, were booked into Sonoma County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of robbery, brandishing a replica firearm and obstructing arrest.

The firearm allegedly brandished by one of the teens -- believed to be an air-soft or BB replica pistol -- was not located, Novello said.

According to the sergeant, the investigation also suggested possible criminal street gang affiliations, and will be ongoing.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Image via Petaluma Police Department