Sonoma's police beat: Burglary suspect loses wallet at break-in

Springs plagued by series of burglaries|

In recent weeks residents of the Boyes Hot Springs area have been plagued by numerous residential, commercial and vehicle burglaries.

Last Friday, an alert Boyes area resident spotted a suspicious person walking near their house and called the Sheriff's Office. Almost simultaneously, another resident nearby reported that their cars had been broken into in their driveway.

Deputies contacted the auto burglary victims and found a wallet and identification near the victims' vehicle. The wallet just happened to belong to the suspicious person, who was being visited by additional Valley patrol deputies.

The owner of the wallet, Sergio Dorantes-Rodriguez, was arrested and found in possession of stolen property from several of the recent burglaries in the area.

Dorantes-Rodriguez was chauffeured to county jail to face numerous charges, while deputies and detectives are working to locate more stolen property and reunite owners with the property that was recovered.

In other incidents reported to Valley law enforcement recently:

Wednesday, May 23:

9:04 a.m. – Sometime overnight, an unknown motorist drove through the gate at Gloria Ferrer Caves and Vineyards. Damage was estimated at $500.

4:40 p.m. – A 55-year-old Sonoma woman was charged with shoplifting after she reportedly walked out of Sonoma Market with $36.98 in skin-care products.

Thursday, May 24:

7:13 p.m. – Deputies were sent to Maxwell Park for a report of a fight with numerous individuals, possible armed with sticks. When the deputies arrived they recognized one individual from prior contacts. The man, who is a known gang member, was bleeding from a wound on his hand, and smelled of alcohol. He was on probation and among the conditions was not to possess or consume alcohol. A preliminary alcohol screening was .09. Jason Manuel Chavarria, 23, of the Springs, was arrested on charges of a probation violation and a felony probation violation, and was transported to county jail.

Sunday, May 27:

5:35 p.m. – Deputies responded to a call of a woman throwing rocks at cars on Highway 12 south of Verano Avenue. The woman was reportedly had thrown five rocks – in the three-to-five-pound range – at passing cars. She didn't hit any of them, but Sandra Lynn Yanich, 52, of Sonoma was charged with felony throwing a substance at a vehicle with great bodily harm intent. She was transported to county jail.

Friday, June 1:

10:56 a.m. – Deputies responded to a residence in the 18000 block of Bonita Way after a handyman, who was hired by the homeowner to replace some windows, heard snoring from an upstairs bedroom. Deputies found three individuals – two adults and a juvenile – crashed in the room. A 39-year-old Sonoma man was arrested on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, entering a noncommercial dwelling and violating a court order; a 32-year-old male was arrested on charges of entering a noncommercial dwelling and a probation violation; and the juvenile, a 17-year-old female, was cited for entering a noncommercial dwelling.

Saturday, June 2:

8:48 p.m. – A 50-year-old female was arrested on charges of domestic battery and cruelty to a child after a domestic disturbance in the 400 block of Andrieux Street.

Sunday, June 3:

3:46 a.m. – Deputies responded to a residence in the 19300 block of Olive Avenue for a domestic disturbance. When they arrived, the female victim was in the middle of the road with a bruise on her arm. She said that her boyfriend struck her with his fist after a disagreement about him leaving and wanting her money. The suspect is on probation for a prior weapons conviction. Deputies arrested Robert Mendoza-Medina, 20, of Sonoma, on charges of felony domestic violence assault with aggravated injury and a probation violation and was transported to jail.

Monday, June 4:

1:35 a.m. – Deputies responded to a hit-and-run accident in the 400 block of Andrieux Street. When they arrived, they discovered two parked cars owned by the same person had been hit and that there was a car with major front-end damage on a lawn in the 500 block of Andrieux. The deputies located the driver and he blew a .12 on a preliminary alcohol screening. Instead of taking a breath test, the motorist, Bryan Ruiz-Reyes, 22, of Sonoma, opted for a blood test. Ruiz-Reyes was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and hit-and-run and transported to county jail.

Wednesday, June 6:

12:53 p.m. – A 60-year-old Sonoma man was arrested on charges of domestic violence and a probation violation at a residence in the 600 block of Baines Avenue after a disagreement with his estranged wife went south. She tried to leave, but the suspect grabbed her duffel and pulled her to the ground.

11:22 p.m. – After watching a motorist repeatedly cross the double yellow lines on East Napa Street, a deputy pulled over the motorist. The woman blew a .07 on a preliminary alcohol screening and a .06 on a breath test. Joann Tutor, 64, of Sonoma, was arrested on charges of driving under the influence.

Thursday, June 7:

12:48 p.m. – While on his way to a call, a deputy noticed the security officer from Sonoma Market chasing someone down West Napa Street. The deputy intercepted the suspect and found that he had taken a bag of chicken and a 40-ounce beer, totaling $9.87 from the market. The 49-year-old Sonoma resident was charged with shoplifting and a probation violation and transported to jail.

Saturday, June 9:

11:16 p.m. – While on patrol in the vicinity of Fifth Street West and West Napa, a deputy saw a motorist cross over the double yellow lines and blow through a stop sign. When he approached the car, he saw an open bottle of wine in the car. The motorist blew a .17 on a preliminary alcohol screening and then opted for a blood test instead of a breath test. The deputy arrested Thomas Cistone, 74, of Gualala, on charges of driving under the influence.

Sunday, June 10:

7:25 a.m. – While on foot patrol along Sonoma Creek, a deputy found a couple of familiar faces camping along the creek. Since both were on probation with search-and-seizure provisions, the deputy searched the men's belongings and discovered a glass pipe commonly used to smoke methamphetamine, and a small bag of meth. Since neither man would own either the pipe or the meth, and they gave conflicting statements, the deputy arrested both men. A 40-year-old Sonoma resident and a 34-year-old Sonoma resident were both arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and a probation violation.

Monday, June 11:

3:09 p.m. – A Napa man was arrested after a road-rage incident in the vicinity of Fifth Street West and Leveroni Road. Two cars almost collided, and the driver of one pulled out a knife and waved it out the window. When deputies pulled him over, they not only found a knife, but also a BB gun. The 22-year-old Napa resident was arrested on charges of brandishing a weapon.

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