Would-be paper-hanger leaves ID, photo behind

Sheriff’s deputies are looking for a woman who tried to pass a faux check at a local grocery. But she made it a lot easier to find her after she agreed to have her picture taken, leave an electronic fingerprint and a copy of her identification.

On Tuesday, March 10, at a little after 8:30 p.m., a woman in her 30s, walked into a store that has a check cashing service in the 18000 block of Sonoma Highway. The woman presented a check for $959.65 that she wanted to cash. After getting a fingerprint, a picture and some ID, the clerk decided to call the winery on the check. When the clerk dialed the number, the woman’s cell phone rang. The clerk excused himself to call the cops, and when he returned to the window, the woman was gone, leaving behind her photo, print, ID and the check. Deputies were looking for the elusive paper-hanger.

In other incidents reported to the Sheriff’s Valley substation:

Friday, March 6:

11:02 a.m. – Catalytic converter stolen. A resident in the 300 block of Curva Way reported that sometime in the previous three days, an unknown someone stole the catalytic converter from their 2003 Toyota Sequoia.

12:04 p.m. – Missing checks. A resident in the 2000 block of Thornsberry Road reported that her daughter apparently stole a couple of her checks during a recent visit. One was for $1,000 and the second check was for $50 to a pizza place. The report was forwarded to the Sheriff’s River substation since the daughter lives in Guerneville.

Saturday, March 7:

8:24 a.m. – Another catalytic converter stolen. A resident in the 18000 block of Nikki Drive reported that sometime in the last week, someone had stolen the catalytic converter from his 2012 Dodge Ram pickup truck.

8:32 a.m. – You found what, where? Deputies were sent to the 100 block of Agua Caliente for a report of a domestic violence incident. The female victim said that her boyfriend, with whom she has a 2-month-old baby, had an argument and he told her to get out. When she picked up the baby, he grabbed it away from her, forced her to the bed and started choking her. He finally allowed her to leave with the baby.

Deputies called the suspect, but needless to say, he didn’t return the calls. The deputies found the elusive suspect near the home of a family member. The suspect denied choking her, saying he was “just cuddling her.” The deputies arrested Henry Morgan, 22, of the Springs on charges of felony false imprisonment, domestic violence battery with injury and a probation violation, and transported him to the county jail.

That wasn’t the end of Morgan’s legal woes. On March 9, while at the jail, correctional officers searched Morgan’s cell and person. During a cavity search, the found a condom containing suspected marijuana and methamphetamine. Morgan was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance in a jail or prison and felony participation in a criminal street gang.

1:54 p.m. – Beaten up for being ‘disrespectful.’ Deputies were sent to the emergency room at Sonoma Valley Hospital for a person who had been the victim of a battery. The victim and the suspect both are residents of Hanna Boys Center. The victim told deputies that he had problems with the suspect in the past but didn’t want to press charges and be labeled a “snitch.” In the latest incident, the suspect, and two friends, found the victim in the restroom and the suspect reportedly smacked the victim, causing him to fall. While the victim was on the floor, the suspect and one of his cohorts reportedly started kicking the youth. The suspect told the deputy that the victim had been “disrespectful.” The suspect and one of his cohorts were both cited to Youth and Family Services for battery on a person.

Monday, March 9:

11:37 p.m. – Another argument turns physical. Deputies were sent to a domestic disturbance in the 600 block of Denmark Street. The female victim told deputies that her boyfriend threw her out of the residence they shared after hitting her in the arm. She said the suspect had told her to move out, but this evening, the suspect returned to the residence after drinking, yelling at her to get out and reportedly hit her in her arm with a closed fist. The suspect told deputies the woman was crazy, but that didn’t stop the deputies from arresting the 66-yer-old man on charges of domestic violence battery and transporting him to jail.

Tuesday, March 10:

1:42 p.m. – Ring goes missing. A resident in the 21000 block of Via Colombard reported that sometime between early January and that morning, a ring valued at $7,200 went missing. No other jewelry was missing and there was no sign of any forced entry.

5:43 p.m. – Agitated man ends up in maximum restraints. A deputy was sent to the area around Warm Springs Road and Henno Road for a report of a suspicious person. The deputy located a person matching that description sitting on the curb at the Glen Ellen post office. As the deputy pulled in the parking lot, the suspect started walking toward him saying he didn’t do anything wrong and that he was going home. The deputy smelled alcohol on the man, who at first refused to identify himself. The man started getting agitated, grabbed his bike and started walking toward his home telling the deputy to f--- off. The man then started flailing his arms and swinging his bike. The deputy and the man struggled as the deputy tried to take the man to the ground. At that point, a passer-by stopped to help the deputy subdue the at this point, very agitated man who was yelling obscenities and threatened to kill the deputy. The deputy threatened to Taser the man when a second deputy arrived. The man, who by this time was handcuffed, declared he wasn’t going to jail and started trying to flee. The man didn’t get far, and he was placed in the patrol car in maximum restraints. Jeffrey Markel, 49, of Glen Ellen was arrested and charged with felony threatening crime with intent to terrorize and obstructing or resisting. He was transported to county jail.

To contact Sonoma Police – 996-3602

To contact the

Sonoma Valley Substation – 996-9495