Petaluma Shelter-In-Place: SWAT Responds To Burglary, Vandalism

PETALUMA, CA — The Petaluma Police Department deployed its SWAT team earlier this week to an incident at a home near Prince Park that, it turns out, was also what prompted a shelter-in-place order for three residential streets. The hours-long incident started when a resident in the 1900 block of Cardinal Way called police at 8:18 p.m. Tuesday to report that when she got home from shopping, numerous items inside her house were damaged, Petaluma police Lt. Ed Crosby said in a news release.

"The victim and her children (who had been with her on the shopping trip) withdrew from the house and waited nearby in their vehicle," Crosby said. "Lights were seen turning off and on inside the house. The victim called the Petaluma Police Department to report what she had discovered."

As officers responded they saw a man driving away from the woman's home so they stopped and detained him for questioning. The man was released after he told officers he lived in the neighborhood and had stopped to check on the home when he noticed the front door was open and the family's dog was outside.

Officers formed a team so they could go inside and see whether anyone was there.

"... When they attempted entry, they encountered resistance at the front door by an unseen suspect who forced it closed from the inside," Crosby said. "Believing one or more suspects had barricaded themselves inside the two-story home, patrol officers on scene attempted to set up a perimeter and summoned additional resources."

The Police Department's SWAT and Crisis Negotiations teams and armored SWAT rescue vehicle were all activated as part of the response.

At 9:13 p.m. Tuesday, Petaluma police sent a Nixle alert advising residents of Cardinal Way, Noriel Lane and northeast Turtle Creek Way to shelter in place because of police activity.

When SWAT officers went inside the home, no one was there but they did confirm numerous household items were damaged and some were even destroyed, Crosby said.

"Initial investigation also suggests this incident may not have been a random crime," Crosby said.

Officers collected photographs and at least two other household items as evidence that will be processed for fingerprints.

Police lifted the shelter-in-place order for the northeast Petaluma neighborhood around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Crosby noted that while Petaluma PD's patrol resources were committed to this incident, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office provided deputies to assist with routine policing duties elsewhere in the city.

Police encouraged anyone with information about the possible identity and/or motive of the suspect or suspects to call Detective Ryan McGreevy at 707-778-4334.