Woman Accused Of Brandishing Knife At Petaluma Police Officers

PETALUMA, CA — Lakeville Street was shut down Monday afternoon by negotiations between Petaluma police and a woman who brandished a knife at officers, according to the Petaluma Police Department.

At 3:19 p.m., officers responded downtown to the 300 block of Lakeville Street where a woman was said to be yelling and throwing things into the roadway, Petaluma police Sgt. Patrick Gerke said.

As officers tried to talk to Lynette Murillo, a 51-year-old Petaluma transient, she brandished a knife and charged at them, Gerke said.

"The officers were able to move behind their patrol vehicle and Murillo stopped advancing toward them," Gerke said. "Additional officers arrived on scene and began to negotiate with Murillo."

As officers negotiated with Murillo, traffic was shut down on Lakeville Street in the downtown area, near East D Street.

"During the negotiations Murillo eventually threw the knife away from herself and the officers," Gerke said. "Once Murillo was no longer armed with a knife officers were able to safely take her into custody."

Neither Murillo nor the officers were injured during the incident, according to police.

Murillo was booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of misdemeanor threatening an officer while performing their duties, and felony brandishing a weapon at an officer.

Her bail was set at $10,000, and she remained in custody Monday night.

Jail records show she was also booked on suspicion of misdemeanor possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia — a pipe.

She is due in court Wednesday afternoon.