Sonoma police investigate vandalism of AED device

Vandalism of AED device at Sonoma Plaza

Sonoma police are looking for a suspect who kicked off a public automated external defibrillator( AED) device at Sonoma Plaza overnight between Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, according to Sonoma Police Sgt. Scott McKinnon.

Deputies received a call from a city worker at 9 a.m. on Thursday for the reported vandalism. The base of the AED device was “sheared off,” leaving it without power and functionally useless. Several empty garbage bins had also been turned over, McKinnon said.

Deputies documented three muddy boot prints showing the location of the kicks used to damage the device, McKinnon said.

Deputies are reviewing video surveillance from Sonoma Plaza to identify a potential suspect.

Indecent exposure

Sonoma Police booked a man into jail for indecent exposure at the 400 block of Napa Street after he flashed a Sonoma Valley Hospital worker multiple times on Thursday, McKinnon said.

The suspect first exposed himself at Sonoma Valley Hospital, where he had been discharged earlier that evening, McKinnon said. The victim went to Safeway around 3 a.m. on her break when she observed the suspect flashing her again, McKinnon said.

Sonoma police arrested the subject outside the store and booked him into Sonoma County Jail for misdemeanor indecent exposure and violation of probation, McKinnon said.

Petty theft

A 75-year-old Santa Rosa woman was arrested by Sonoma deputies at 11:40 a.m. on Thursday for allegedly stealing from numerous Sonoma Plaza retailers, McKinnon said.

Sonoma Police met with the manager of a store on the 400 block of First Street West to investigate a stolen cashmere sweater. Video surveillance from the store revealed the suspect taking the item off a display table.

The store manager posted a picture of the suspect to a social media channel for Sonoma Plaza business owners, McKinnon said. Shortly after, deputies were called to the Wildflower boutique by an employee who said the suspect was inside.

The manager from the previous store was called to identify the suspect from an in-field lineup. Deputies recovered the cashmere sweater and two other items from Bossa Nova. Deputies arrested the suspect on the charges of misdemeanor petty theft, McKinnon said.

Possession and paraphernalia

Sonoma Police arrested a 31-year-old Vallejo man for misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia on Friday after a traffic stop for expired tags, McKinnon said.

A deputy on patrol at 1:30 a.m. in the area of Ramal Road in Schellville observed a southbound a Honda Civic with expired registration. The deputy began following the vehicle, and the Civic made a quick right turn onto Dale Avenue. The suspect then pulled the vehicle into a dirt driveway of a home, McKinnon said.

The suspect quickly attempted to exit the vehicle, but the deputy told him to stop and reenter the vehicle. The deputy located a pipe near the vehicle and began questioning the suspect, McKinnon said.

The deputy learned the suspect had multiple misdemeanor warrants in Sonoma County and Solano County. in addition, the suspect admitted to having a controlled substance and additional paraphernalia inside the vehicle. The deputy arrested the man, McKinnon said.

Contact Chase Hunter at chase.hunter@sonomanews.com and follow @Chase_HunterB on Twitter.