Suspect In Petaluma Robbery Headbutts, Spits At Officers: PD

PETALUMA, CA — A 19-year-old Petaluma man was arrested and booked into Sonoma County jail Tuesday morning on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, robbery and battery on a peace officer in an incident near the Petaluma Fairgrounds, police said.

The Petaluma Police Department received 911 calls at 6:08 a.m. Tuesday about a fight between two men on East Washington Street at Payran Street, Petauma police Sgt. Ryan Suhrke said.

Officers found the victim near the intersection of E. Washington and Ellis streets; the victim told police he'd just been robbed by a man he did not know who walked up and started to fight him for no apparent reason.

It is alleged that the suspect, later identified as Nathaniel Alton Phillips, pulled out a sharp metal object and tried to stab the victim.

Police said the victim's clothing was pierced, but he was unharmed.

Phillips stole some of the victim's belongings and started to take off through the fairgrounds parking lot as officers arrived, according to police.

"The first officer on scene observed the suspect fleeing through the Fairgrounds parking lot and relayed that information to other officers," Suhrke said. "A nearby officer chased the suspect to the front gate of the Fairgrounds, where he was ultimately detained."

During the arrest process it is alleged that Phillips, whom officers recognized from previous police contacts, tried to damage the interior of a patrol car by kicking the windows and slamming his head against the partition as he continued to spit at officers.

"At one point, he was removed from the vehicle to be placed into a maximum restraint device, otherwise known as a 'WRAP device' to prevent from hurting himself or damaging the patrol vehicle," Suhrke said. "While exiting the vehicle, he attempted to use his head to strike an officer. After being placed into the WRAP, he was moved into a patrol vehicle."

While he was restrained and was being placed into a patrol car, Phillips reportedly used his head to strike an officer on the forehead.

The officer was not injured in the assault, police said.

Phillips was booked into the Sonoma County Jail, where his bail was set at $50,000.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call the Petaluma Police Department at 707-778-4372.