Transient Tries To Stab Construction Worker, Swims Away From Cops: PD

PETALUMA, CA — A man was arrested on suspicion of multiple charges after he tried to stab a construction worker Wednesday in Petaluma, then jumped into the Petaluma River and swam away from officers, police said.

Dispatchers received a report that the man, later identified as Petaluma transient Michael Thorne, brandished a knife during an argument and tried to stab a construction worker who was building new houses in the Riverfront Housing Development near Bautista and Soto ways.

Thorne reportedly threatened to kill the victim, police said.

Then, as he walked by construction trucks parked in the area he started to slash and stab at tires — flattening a tire on one of the trucks, according to police.

When officers got to the scene Thorne took off through the construction zone. He ran between houses and entered at least three of the homes under construction, failing to comply with officers' commands, police said.

Thorne then made his way to the eastern bank of the Petaluma River. When he was spotted along the riverbank, concealed by foliage, he again refused to comply with officers' commands. Instead, police said, he jumped into the river and swam to the west bank where he saw Petaluma police Chief Ken Savano and members of the Investigations Unit who'd responded to assist.

Thorne turned and started to swim south toward Heritage Salvage, at which time police called for help from the Petaluma Fire Department and its watercraft.

After about 10 minutes of negotiations, Thorne swam back to the east bank where he was taken into custody without further incident.

After he was positively identified as the suspect in the encounter with the construction worker, he was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, brandishing a weapon, criminal threats, resisting and obstructing police, and vandalism.

Thorne remained in custody Thursday with his bail set at $30,000.

It marked the eighth arrest for Thorne since April.

In August, Thorne was arrested on suspicion of striking a man in the head with a 2-foot metal pipe.