Santa Rosa Standoff Ends With Attempted Robbery Suspect's Arrest

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — UPDATE Jan. 12, 2018: Santa Rosa police arrested a man after a lengthy standoff Thursday on suspicion of an attempted armed robbery at a market late Tuesday night. Adrian Aurelio Aldema, 31, of Santa Rosa, is suspected of firing a shotgun during the attempted robbery of Harry's Market in the 500 block of West Ninth Street around 11:58 p.m. Tuesday. The suspect fled when he and a clerk at the market were unable to open a cash drawer.

At about 12:33 p.m. Thursday, someone called Santa Rosa police and said a man with a gun may be holding people hostage inside a residence in the 1500 block of Dutton Avenue, police Sgt. Josh Ludtke said. Police were also told the armed man was possibly the person responsible for the attempted armed robbery at Harry Market', according to Ludtke.

A shelter-in-place order was issued at about 1:30 p.m. for residents on Dutton Avenue between Cherie Way and Funston Drive.

The Santa Rosa Police Department's SWAT and Hostage Negotiations teams responded as police blocked roads in the area and evacuated surrounding homes.

"Several subjects who were residing in various units and outbuildings throughout the property the suspect had been seen were able to escape, and they were escorted to safety by police," Ludtke said. "After it was determined that no other people were at the property, negotiators attempted to make contact with the suspect via loudspeakers."

Aldema was arrested several hours later when he tried to leave the residence through the side yard, Ludtke said.

In the residence, police found a shotgun believed to have been used in the attempted robbery and clothing consistent with that worn by the suspect, Ludtke said.

ORIGINAL POST Jan. 11, 2018: An hours-long shelter-in-place order was lifted for residents of a south Santa Rosa neighborhood just after 8 p.m. Thursday. The police activity involving an armed suspect on Dutton Avenue between Cherie Way and Funston Drive in the Roseland area had been ongoing since about 1:30 p.m., but Santa Rosa police at 8:10 p.m. lifted road closures in the area and said it was now safe for residents not already home to return home.

"The previous police activity ... has concluded with the suspect safely taken into custody by SRPD," said Santa Rosa police Sgt. Josh Ludtke.

The suspect who prompted the police activity is believed to be involved in the attempted armed robbery Tuesday at Harry's Market, Ludtke said.

The sergeant said further information was forthcoming.

In the botched robbery shortly before midnight Jan. 9 at the market at 501. W. Ninth St., a suspect wearing a black ski mask pulled a shotgun from under his jacket and demanded cash from the clerk, according to police.

The robber fired a shot when the clerk was unable to open the cash drawer, and the robber and clerk tried again to open the drawer before the robber ran out of the market, Ludtke said.

The suspect was described as a Hispanic male who is about 5 feet 7 inches tall with a thin build. In addition to the ski mask, he was a black soft-shell jacket, white-and-black striped polo shirt, black sweatpants or jeans and white running-style tennis shoes, police said.

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Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Images courtesy Santa Rosa Police Department