Suspect Sought In Car Tampering, Attempted Assault With Car: PPD

PETALUMA, CA — Petaluma police are seeking to identify a person who reportedly almost ran someone over with a car when confronted about tampering with the victim's car, police said. The incident was reported at 7:53 p.m. Tuesday when an officer on patrol was flagged down by two people in the parking lot of a business in the 500 block of Lakeville Street.

One was the owner of a Toyota Prius that was parked in the lot. They told the officer that when they were inside their nearby studio, they noticed the Prius was raised up and a suspect was underneath it.

The Prius owner and a witness told police that when confronted, the suspect said he thought the car belonged to his aunt.

The suspect then got into a green Saturn parked nearby, police said.

As the suspect tried to drive out of the parking lot, the victim and witness stood in the path of the Saturn while also calling police.

"The suspect then accelerated towards the victim, who had to dive out of the way of the oncoming suspect vehicle," police said.

"At the same time, the witness threw a skill saw that was left behind by the suspect at the fleeing vehicle and broke a passenger side window," police said.

The reporting parties told police a child who appeared to be around 8 years old was in the Saturn.

The suspect was described as a Hispanic man in his 20s or 30s who was wearing a red shirt. He was last seen driving eastbound on Lakeville Street, toward U.S. Highway 101, police said.

The victim took a picture of the suspect, which police in turn shared in a news release.

Anyone who recognizes the person in the photo is asked to call the Petaluma Police Department at 707-778-4372.