Full Notification

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                                    Friday, May 20, 2016

Issued By:

Sergeant Rick Cox, Petaluma PD, 707.778.4372, email: [email protected]

Incident: Warrant Suspect Arrested After Displaying Replica Firearm at Police  

Report Number:          16-2645

Occurred Date:           05-20-2016

Occurred Time:           Approximately 7:20 pm

Location:                     Hopper Street at Caulfield Lane, Petaluma

Charges:                   148(a)(1) PC, Obstruct Police Officer

                                    417.8 PC, Display Deadly Weapon to Police Officer

Suspect:                      Jesse Pruett, 27 year old, Petaluma Transient

Incident Summary:

On May 20, 2016, at approximately 7:20 pm, Officer Rivera was patrolling the area around Hopper Street and Caulfield Lane.  There has been an increase in homeless camps in the area.  Officer Rivera noticed a white male adult leaving the area on foot.  Officer Rivera recognized the male as Jesse Pruett.  Officer Rivera requested a warrants check on Pruett, which revealed he had three outstanding arrest warrants: 166(a)(4) PC, Contempt of Court 459.5 PC, Shoplifting, No bail;  166(a)(4) PC, Contempt of Court, 369i(b) PC, Trespassing on Railroad Property, No Bail; 166(a)(4) PC, Contempt of Court, 148(a)(1) PC, Obstruct Police Officer, No Bail.

Officer Rivera attempted to detain and arrest Pruett for his warrants.  While standing approximately 25 yards from Pruett, Officer Rivera saw Pruett draw a black semiautomatic firearm from his waistband area.  The firearm was later found to be a BB-gun that closely resembled a real handgun. After seeing the firearm, Officer Rivera retreated back to his patrol vehicle and radioed for additional officers to respond and assist.

Pruett appeared to put the firearm into his sweatshirt’s pocket. He then climbed a nearby fence and positioned himself in a large, open, fenced enclosure.  Officers were not able to approach Pruett believing he was still armed with the firearm.   Communication was made with him using a patrol vehicle’s Public Address (PA) system.  Pruett refused to listen to officers’ orders and submit to arrest.

Pruett started to walk around the fenced enclosure and became much more unpredictable.  Officers feared for the large gathering of innocent bystanders who were now gathered around the area to watch the incident unfold.   Officers entered the area and continued giving orders for Pruett to submit to arrest.  Pruett refused and an officer was forced to use his Taser to help take Pruett into custody.  The Taser was effective and Pruett was taken into custody without further incident.

A search of Pruett’s person revealed that he was no longer in possession of the suspected firearm.  A search of the area revealed he had discarded the weapon in tall weeds before he entered the fenced enclosure. 

After being checked at a local hospital, Pruett was booked at the Sonoma County Jail for his outstanding arrest warrants, 148(a)(1) PC, Obstructing/Delaying a Police Officer, 417.8 PC, Display Deadly Weapon to Police Officer, and 1203.2, Violation of Probation.  His bail was set at No Bail.