Petaluma Man Arrested For Assault With A Golf Club, Robbery: Cops

PETALUMA, CA — A Petaluma man was tracked down and arrested Saturday night on suspicion of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon — a golf club — in connection with an incident on the Lynch Creek Trail, a Petaluma police sergeant said in a news release.

Police were notified of the alleged assault when officers responded at about 10:10 p.m. Saturday to Petaluma Valley Hospital to speak with the victim, Sgt. Nick McGowan said in the release.

"The victim reported he was attempting to balance a golf club and a bottle of Mountain Dew while riding his bicycle eastbound through Lucchesi Park," McGowan said. "The victim was riding near the Lynch Creek Trail when the suspect, later identified as Lee Bussell 'came out of nowhere' and knocked him off of his bicycle. Bussell then picked up the golf club and struck the victim's left forearm multiple times."

Bussell allegedly took off on the victim's bike with the golf club — leaving the victim suffering a fracture to a bone in his left arm, McGown said.

Officers located Bussell nearby on N. McDowell Boulevard and placed him under arrest.

The 55-year-old Petaluma resident was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of robbing and assaulting the victim.

Jail records show Bussell was booked at about 2:10 a.m. Sunday; he remained in custody Monday in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Photo by Renee Schiavone/Patch