Suspect In 2 Burglaries Kicks, Bites Officers: Petaluma Police

PETALUMA, CA — A Petaluma transient remained behind bars Monday in Sonoma County jail after police say he burglarized at least two South Petaluma homes Saturday, swung a bicycle at a resident and kicked and bit law enforcement officers. The series of events 29-year-old Mark William Garcia is accused of started around 4:30 p.m. Saturday when officers were dispatched to a report of a stolen racing bicycle in the area of East Washington and Lakeville streets, Petaluma police Sgt. Lance Novello said.

As officers were investigating the grand theft, dispatchers got a call at 5:30 p.m. from a homeowner who said they'd interrupted a burglar inside their home. When confronted, the burglar reportedly swung a bicycle at the resident.

"The homeowner’s description of the bicycle was similar to that of the stolen one," Novello said.

Officers searched for the burglar on the ground, while a Sonoma County sheriff's helicopter crew aboard Henry-1 searched from above.

Soon, sheriff's dispatchers received a report of another burglary in progress at a residence about a mile south of the one in Petaluma.

"The suspect reportedly rode a bicycle into that area," Novello said.

The homeowners told authorities the burglar came into their house with a knife so they decided to leave.

"Believing the same suspect was responsible for both burglaries, both agencies combined their resources toward the second burglary and a perimeter was set around the residence," Novello said.

As Garcia quickly ran out of the house in an attempt to escape, he was given multiple commands to stop but he refused and fought with officers, Novello said.

"Due to the nature of his suspected crimes, the report of him being armed with a knife, and his active resistance, Petaluma Police Department K-9, Jax, was deployed," Novello said. "Garcia defeated K-9 Jax's hold by grabbing and pulling his collar and attempted to flee again. After a second canine contact, officers and deputies attempted again to take Garcia into custody, but he continued to kick and bite them."

Eventually, officers were able to put Garcia in a "maximum restraint device," at which point he was taken to a local hospital to be treated for injuries suffered in his tangle with police, Novello said.

One officer was treated for a minor injury.

At 9:24 a.m. Sunday, Garcia was booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of multiple counts of residential burglary, assault with a deadly weapon, resisting officers by violence, interfering with a police canine, and violation of probation.

His bail was set at $195,000, according to jail records.