Sonoma police beat: Sidewalk sleeper, tooter keeper

Some incidents recently reported to Sonoma Valley law enforcement.|

Among the incidents recently reported to Sonoma Valley law enforcement:

Saturday, Nov. 10: A beleaguered citizen called police to report a man sleeping on the sidewalk outside his house on Gillman Drive in El Verano. The resident reported that when he awakened the man, the sleeping man threatened to beat him up, sheriff’s officials said.

Deputies found the man sleeping face up on the sidewalk, and upon awakening him, observed slurred speech, bloodshot eyes and alcohol on his breath, according to sheriff’s officials. The deputies arrested Ruben Barkan, 33, of Berkeley, on suspicion of public intoxication.

Saturday, Nov. 10: A silver Infiniti was speeding along on eastbound Leveroni in Sonoma when a deputy on routine patrol happened by, sheriff’s officials said. The deputy tried to catch up to the Infiniti, driving 55 mph, but the Infiniti pulled ahead. The posted speed limit is 40 mph.

The deputy was eventually able to pull over the Infiniti at the intersection of Larkin and Napa. After checking, the deputy learned the driver was on probation. In the car was a “tooter” (a substance abuse tool made from a hollowed-out plastic pen body) with a sticky black substance inside, sheriff’s officials said.

Not only the tooter, but a long glass pipe with a bulbous end and a burned black and white residue inside and multiple used syringes were discovered in the car, according to sheriff’s officials.

The driver, Charles Berardi, 33, of Sacramento, was cited on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and parole violation and released from the scene.

Reach Janis Mara at janis.mara@sonomanews.com.

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