Crime & Safety

Bank Robbery; Balloon Crash: Sonoma County, North Bay Police Logs

Teens die in tragic incident; bank robbery suspect caught; "armed and dangerous" woman; and other North Bay police, fire and court news.

Mugshot: John David Jorgenson, 50, is accused of the robbery Tuesday of a Westamerica Bank branch in Rohnert Park.
Mugshot: John David Jorgenson, 50, is accused of the robbery Tuesday of a Westamerica Bank branch in Rohnert Park. (Sonoma County Sheriff's Office)

ROHNERT PARK-COTATI, CA — The following is a week's collection of police, courtroom and fire stories from Rohnert Park, Cotati and elsewhere in Sonoma County and the North Bay.

Burglary Suspect Nabbed; Female Accomplice Sought: Police

  • The two are suspects in a San Rafael home break-in. The woman is considered "armed and dangerous," officials said.

3 Injured When Hot Air Balloon Hits Power Line Near Yountville

Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatifor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • One person was airlifted to a hospital for treatment of serious injuries, while two others were taken by ambulance, a fire official said.

2 Boys Die In Electrocution Near Dixon

  • The Solano County Sheriff's Office has identified the boys who died after being electrocuted while trying to rescue a dog from a canal.

Rohnert Park Bank Robbed, Police Say

Find out what's happening in Rohnert Park-Cotatifor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • The bank robbery happened Tuesday at 1:08 p.m.; police are looking for the robber and have provided a physical description.

Suspect In Rohnert Park Bank Robbery Arrested, Police Say

  • In viewing surveillance footage, police recognized the suspect because officers spoke with him just two days prior, a police official said.

Fire Destroys Cal Fire St. Helena Facility; Causes $2M In Damages

  • Forty-four personnel responded to the blaze at Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake-Napa unit fleet maintenance facility off state Highway 29.

Petaluma Woman Identified As Pedestrian Fatally Struck Near SSU

  • The woman was fatally struck last Thursday night on Petaluma Hill Road near Sonoma State University

Recognize This Duo? Cops Seeking Info On Suspected Car Burglars

  • The Novato Police Department is turning to the public to identify two suspects.

Man Shot Dead In Car in Vallejo: Police

  • A murder investigation is underway, the Vallejo Police Department said Tuesday.

Hundreds Escape Fire At Santa Rosa Apartment Complex

  • As firefighters arrived, residents were escaping the smoke and flames by self-evacuating onto balconies and the tops of carports.

Suspicious Man Armed With Gun Sought In Petaluma: Police

  • A perimeter was set up in an east Petaluma neighborhood but the man wearing overalls, no shirt and a puffy vest was not found, police said.

Judge Orders New PG&E Probation Conditions

  • The terms imposed Tuesday are aimed at preventing deadly wildfires such as the 2017 North Bay fires.

Trio Accused Of Following Couple From Casino, Robbing Them

  • Prosecutors say the North Bay trio followed the couple from a San Pablo casino to South San Francisco, then robbed them at gunpoint.

Driver Pleads No Contest In Crash That Killed His Best Friend

  • Isidro Moya, 20, of Santa Rosa faces over 13 years in prison in the marijuana-related DUI crash that killed David Etling, 18, of Petaluma.

Meth, Gun Found In Petaluma Traffic Stop: Police

  • The driver, a man on parole out of Oregon, was stopped late Wednesday night by a K-9 officer, police said.

Coroner Identifies Pedestrian Killed In Collision With Train

  • The fatal incident happened Wednesday near Cordelia and Orehr roads in Fairfield.

Coroner Identifies Man Shot Dead In Car

  • The 20-year-old man was pronounced deceased at the scene, Vallejo police said.

Authorities Identify Petaluma Couple Who Died In Murder-Suicide

  • The husband and wife were found dead in their home last Thursday.

Botched Drug Deal Leads To School Lockdown, Robbery Arrest: Cops

  • Jack London Elementary was briefly locked down during the incident, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office.

Fiery, Big-Rig Rollover Crash Closes Northbound Hwy 101

  • The fire and collision involving a big rig is blocking lanes in the Sausalito area north of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin CHP said.

Man Stabbed After Refusing To Give Up Wallet, Cell: Police

  • The robbery victim was treated for life-threatening injuries at Marin General Hospital, police said. Two suspects sought.

Car Fire Squelched In Strawberry

  • No injuries were reported in the incident.

Gas Leak Sealed; Shelter In Place Canceled In Novato

  • The line's rupture was caused by a construction crew, officials said.

Suspected Car Thief Busted After Ducking Into Restaurant

  • Police in Sausalito were attempting to stop the driver in a reported-stolen Civic with expired tags when the foot chase occurred: officials.

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