A suspect who fled from a traffic stop in West Petaluma remains at large this evening. Deputies were dispatched to the Friedman Brothers home improvement store on Santa Rosa Ave at about 7 PM last night. It was reported that two suspects entered the store and fled with a number of power tools in a black Chevy Corvette. A license plate was also given by store security.
Several minutes later a deputy spotted the Corvette near the County Refuse facility on Mecham Rd in West Petaluma. The deputy made a traffic stop on the car at Mecham and Pepper Rd. As soon as the Corvette stopped a suspect, later identified as Elliot Malone, a 28-year-old Petaluma man fled from the passenger seat of the car and ran into a grove of trees at that location.
The driver, 70-year-old John Silva was taken into custody for grand theft and conspiracy charges without incident and all the stolen property was recovered from the Corvette. Deputies responded and formed a perimeter around the grove of trees in an attempt to capture Malone, who is also wanted on a no-bail felony warrant for violating his conditions of mandatory supervision. A Sheriff’s canine and helicopter were brought in to search the thick, brushy terrain.
After about 1 ½ hours of searching for Malone, the search was called off due to darkness. Malone remains on the loose. If anyone knows of his whereabouts they are encouraged to call Sheriff’s Dispatch at 707-565-2121.
