Petaluma PD Nabs Man On Drug Charges At Property Declared Public Nuisance

PETALUMA, CA -- A 54-year-old Petaluma man associated with an alleged drug house was arrested Monday when Petaluma police served a search warrant and allegedly found him in possession of methamphetamine on the day he was scheduled to appear in court on previous narcotic-related charges, police said.

Petaluma police served the warrant at about 7:40 a.m. at a home in the 1600 block of Weaverly Drive, and took Kyle Richardson into custody after he was located "hiding in a closet inside the residence, concealed by luggage and clothing," according to a news release.

Richardson, who had previously been served with a restraining order prohibiting him from being within 150 yards of the Weaverly Drive property "initially refused commands to exit the closet," police said.

After he was taken into custody, he was allegedly found in possession of meth; during an additional search of the residence, police said heroin and other drug paraphernalia were located.

Richardson was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a narcotic substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting/obstructing a peace officer, and violating a court order. Richardson’s bail was set at $100,000, police said.

Police say that since Jan. 1, 2012, there have been approximately 776 calls for service and 45 narcotic-related arrests at the residence, including 186 calls for service in 2017.

Richardson was previously arrested in January when Petaluma police served a narcotics-related search warrant at the residence. At that time, he was jailed on suspicion of management of a location used for unlawful storage of controlled substances, maintenance of a location used for unlawful activities, and possession of narcotic substance for sales, and was due to be in Sonoma County Superior Court Monday on matters related to that ongoing criminal case, police said.

In April, following Richardson's first arrest related to the residence, the city of Petaluma and the Petaluma Police Department pursued civil action against the residence under the California Drug Abatement Act, police said.

On July 31, the Sonoma County Superior Court returned a judgment in favor of the city, declaring the property a public nuisance, police said. The judgment ordered the residence to be closed and under the court’s custody for one year, and commanded law enforcement to search the property for evidence of illegal drugs and Richardson’s presence at the residence, police said.

Monday's search was conducted pursuant with that order, according to police.

Image via Petaluma Police Department