Police beat: Creek campers tell conflicting stories and more

Both end up going to jail|

While on foot patrol along Sonoma Creek, shortly before 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 10, a deputy recognized a couple of familiar faces camping along the creek.

Since both of the men 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 of the men would own either the pipe or the meth, and they gave conflicting statements, the deputy arrested both of them.

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, and were transported to the county jail.

In other incidents reported recently to Valley law enforcement:

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.

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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