Bat-Wielding Man Suspected In Workplace Attack: Santa Rosa Police

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — The morning hours outside a workplace turned violent Wednesday when police say a man armed with a bat smashed a vehicle, chased down another man, and repeatedly struck him while threatening to kill him.

Santa Rosa police responded at 6:18 a.m. May 14 to reports of a fight near Hoen Avenue and Summerfield Road. By the time officers arrived, the suspect had already fled, police said in a news release.

Investigators said the victim had been sitting in the passenger seat of a co-worker’s vehicle while the pair waited for their shift to begin. Police said 21-year-old Santa Rosa resident Jose Cazares is suspected of driving into the parking lot, getting out of his vehicle, and striking the victim’s car with a bat.

When the victim jumped out and tried to run, police allege Cazares attacked him from behind with the bat. The victim managed to wrestle the bat away, but police said Cazares punched him, grabbed the bat back, and continued striking him in the upper torso.

During the assault, investigators allege Cazares yelled threats.

The victim suffered moderate injuries and was taken to a local hospital.

Police said both occupants of the vehicle knew the suspect. Officers initially could not locate Cazares and issued a regional Be On the Lookout alert to neighboring agencies.

At about 12:17 p.m.,a Sonoma County Sheriff's deputy found Cazares in southwest Santa Rosa.

Authorities booked Cazares into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility on suspicion of criminal threats, felony vandalism, and assault with a deadly weapon.