Shots, Then Surrender In A Rural North Bay Stand-Off

PETALUMA, CA — A tense standoff in Petaluma ended Tuesday night after deputies and SWAT officers spent hours searching for a man police said barricaded himself with firearms in a building along a rural stretch of the town.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said the incident began around 4:17 p.m. Tuesday, when a caller reported that Martin Moseson, 30, was making threats and firing a handgun

Dispatchers, still on the phone, heard what sounded like gunfire in the background.

Deputies, with officers from the Petaluma Police Department and a Sheriff’s helicopter, responded to the 600 block of Kuck Lane, Sonoma County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Emily Fuller said in a news statement.

There deputies found a large property with multiple buildings and several people still inside. Deputies evacuated those individuals, Fuller said.

Authorities did not know where Moseson was on the property and believed he had access to several firearms, according to Fuller. Deputies identified several firearms registered to him, Fuller said.

The Sheriff's Office issued a shelter-in-place order at 4:57 p.m., telling residents near Kuck Lane and Monte Vista Lane, to stay inside, lock their doors and windows, and remain indoors until further notice.

Deputies used drones, K9 units, and aerial support to search the area. The Sheriff’s Office later activated its Special Operations Unit, which includes SWAT officers and hostage negotiators. Investigators also obtained a search warrant to continue searching the property.

By 8:34 p.m., SWAT teams began clearing buildings one by one. Negotiators tried calling Moseson, who did not answer. Deputies urge him over loudspeaker to come out.

Finally, officers deployed a "flash-bang" device into the residence where they believed he was hiding. Shortly after, Moseson exited the building and surrendered.

Deputies arrested Moseson at 10:08 p.m. He was booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility. His bail was set at $30,000, Fuller said. No injuries were reported.

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