San Rafael Police Year in Review for 2022

 SAN RAFAEL POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Year in Review for 2022

January:

01/03/22 – Officers were dispatched to a report of an intruder on a houseboat that was under construction in the San Rafael Canal.  Upon the officer’s arrival, the suspect jumped up onto the second story of the houseboat and then jumped into the water and was seen swimming under the deck of a commercial building.  The police boat and other officers responded and observed the suspect under the deck.  Several boards on the deck were removed and the suspect was taken from the water that he had been in for over an hour. He was taken to the hospital and then booked for trespassing.

01/07/22 – Lt. Scott Eberle was congratulated for having graduated from the 280^th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

01/07/22 – A SRPD officer was responding to a report of a burglary in progress at the Valero station at 108 Bellam Blvd. when the car in front of him came to a complete stop and then backed up into the patrol vehicle.  The suspect then drove off, but finally stopped on Larkspur Street.  The driver was arrested for DUI, his BAC was more than three times the legal limit.

01/11/22 – A suspect entered the Kohl’s Department store and approached the diamond display area, where he spoke with a sales associate. The suspect asked to see a $3,500 diamond ring and after examining the ring, the associate put the ring back in its box, however the suspect grabbed the box and fled out of the store.  However, the sales associate found the ring in the store as it apparently fell out of the box when grabbed by the suspect.  The suspect successfully fled with an empty box.

01/17/22 – The Marin County Public Pension Fund enjoyed a 32% investment return in the last year.  Prior to this, the pension fund had an unfunded liability of 499.5 million dollars.  This liability was wiped out by the return this last year. The gain was attributed to a large stock market gain and low interest rates.

01/19/22 – San Quentin State Prison reported an increase in Covid cases.  They logged 240 prisoner cases and 128 staff cases in the last 14 days.  San Quentin houses 3,140 prisoners.

01/21/22 – After a 10-year break, the department decided to reinstitute the baseball card program. Any employees interested were asked to apply to have their photo taken for the cards.

01/27/22 – It was reported that Marin County first responders had a high Covid vaccine rate as required by the county.  SRPD had a 96% vaccine rate.

01/31/22 – At 12:30 am, officers responded to a hotel on Francisco Blvd. regarding a report of suspicious activity.  Upon arrival, officers contacted two men, one who was holding several butane lighters.  When asked to put the lighters down, the man refused and scuffled with officers.  The man used one lighter that he had by lighting it in the officer’s face, causing burns to facial hair.  The suspect, Manolo Calderon-Pauc, 41 of Novato, was booked for assault with a deadly weapon.

February:

02/01/22 – The SRPD patrol boat was on patrol in the canal, when a male in a small, unregistered boat was observed. The suspect, David Moses, 51, was on the dock at the time of contact and he was told he was being detained.  The suspect refused and engaged in a fight with a patrol officer and a member of the boat crew.  A taser was deployed with no effect.  Other officers arrived and Moses was arrested and booked on a variety of charges.

02/03/22 – Officers responded to a report of an intoxicated male who was trying to hit people in the 1400 block of Francisco Blvd. When the first unit arrived, the suspect stood in front of the patrol car and tried to break out the side window of the patrol vehicle.  When a second patrol car arrived, the suspect jumped on the hood of the car.  The suspect was brought down and handcuffed, but not before spitting on a sergeant.  He was booked for assault on an officer and public intoxication.

 

02/04/22 – Officer Lee Masten completed his FTO program advancing as a solo patrol officer.

 

02/08/22 – Agencies in Marin reported a drop in property crimes compared to the year before, most likely due to the pandemic. SRPD reported 1,601 property crimes in 2021, a decline of 16% over the prior year and the lowest level since 2011. The largest decrease was in vehicle thefts, which decreased 28%.

 

02/09/22 – Officers responded to the area of Kerner and Fairfax Street regarding a man who was acting violently.  The man was seen holding a sharp object and he was trying to start a fire in a bin next to a building.  He also had garden shears, a can of gas and a lighter.  He told officers he was trying to burn away evil spirits.  Booked for arson and other charges was Isaias Gilberto-DeLeon, 32 of San Rafael.

 

02/09/22 – Officers took an indecent exposure report at Tan Bella Salon on Fourth Street.  A female employee reported that a male entered the business and while she was helping him, he exposed himself to her.  Detectives were able to I.D. the suspect after he fled, and they learned that he was a former gynecologist who had been charged with sexual assault in another state. It was also learned that he was a registered sex offender living in a hotel in San Rafael.  Detectives located him at the hotel and booked him on various felony charges.

 

02/12/22 – Officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Irwin Street on a report of a man wielding a baseball bat who was trying to hit cars.  When contacted, the suspect refused to drop the bat and he then lunged at the officers.  The suspect was taken into custody after a taser was used.  Booked for ADW and making threats was Melvin Diaz-Calderon 26 of San Rafael.

 

02/24/22 – Officers arrested a suspect connected to a purse snatch that took place in November of 2021.  On 11/15/21, a man took a purse from a female by the Shamrock Center and then fled in a car.  Detectives looked at surveillance video and also examined purchases that were made using the victim’s credit cards and were able to identify the suspect as Luis Roberto Linarte, 35 of Sonoma.  He was located in Sonoma and booked on various charges.

 

March:

03/01/22 – Two separate cannabis delivery drivers were robbed at gunpoint, one in San Rafael and the other in Novato.  The suspect set up fake deliveries to a residential area and then robbed the drivers.  The suspect used his real driver’s license to set up both transactions, which provided a quick way to I.D. him. Detectives learned that Oakland PD had six robberies committed by the same suspect. A warrant was obtained, and the suspect was located in Oakland and arrested after a struggle.  A firearm was also recovered.  The suspect was held in jail on a bail of 1.5 million dollars.

 

03/03/22 – Officers responded to a report of an assault in an apartment on Marion Court in the Canal District.  Officers arrived and learned that a male resident was threatening a relative with a knife.  The suspect fled; however he was located a short distance away.  Booked for assault charges was Isias Estuardo-Rodas, 27 of San Rafael.

 

03/09/22 – A male who had recently been released from Marin County Jail entered a mini-mart at a gas station in Terra Linda and helped himself to breakfast and left without paying.  He returned a short time later and took a desert and fled.  A MCSO deputy observed the suspect riding a bike going against traffic on Highway 101 and attempted to contact him. The suspect fled, however the deputy found the suspect’s bike with the suspect’s jail release papers attached to the handlebars.  A short while later officers received a report of a man trying to steal a bike at Vallecito School, however several witnesses stopped him and he fled once again. After a foot pursuit, the suspect was located and booked.  The next morning our suspect was released from jail and he immediately tried to steal a jackhammer from a job site. He was located and arrested again for his newest crime.

 

03/11/22 – Former SRPD Lt. Alan Piombo announced his retirement from the City of Mill Valley where he served as City Manager for about two years.  After leaving SRPD, he was hired as the Chief of Police in Mill Valley and after several years was appointed City Manager.

 

03/13/22 – A Glenwood resident was getting out of his car at his residence when he was confronted by two men, one who was armed with a firearm.  They took several items of property from the victim and fled in a vehicle.  Officers were investigating the case.

 

03/14/22 – A suspected shoplifter was arrested after he took merchandise from the Best Buy store. The suspect fled the store with stolen items and when confronted by the store manager, he pulled out a knife and threatened the manager.  The suspect was spotted a short distance from the store and when he saw the officers, he ran, but was caught and arrested.  Booked for robbery was Wyatt Hunter Brent, 23 of San Rafael.

 

03/16/22 – A motor officer working traffic at Third and Grand Avenue observed a vehicle run a red light nearly striking two pedestrians.  The officer pursued the suspect who was able to get away. The suspect vehicle was later located at the Lofts Apartments on Andersen Drive, but the suspect was not located.  Information was received later that the suspect, who the PD was able to identify, was moving out of his apartment.  The suspect was later located and arrested for felony evasion.

 

03/22/22 – SRPD set up a public forum regarding assembly bill 481, which requires local governments to develop policies on accepting military equipment and funds for law enforcement. SRPD reported that they did not own any equipment issued by the DOD. A forum is required to be held once every year.

 

03/23/22 – Officers responded to a report of a robbery at a gas station in the area of Second and D Street.  The suspect told the clerk that he was armed and took lottery tickets and other items of value.  A short time later Petaluma PD called our office to report that they were looking for a parolee who was wearing a GPS monitor and they had tracked him to the area of the robbery.  The suspect in the robbery matched the description of the parolee and officers, using GPS information, found the suspect on Cutting Blvd. in Richmond.  He was booked for robbery and other felonies.

 

03/25/22 – SRPD received a call of an assault with a deadly weapon in the area of First and E Street.  Witnesses reported two subjects involved in a fight and one of the participants went to his car and pulled out what appeared to be a handgun.  The suspect fired and struck the victim three times, hitting the victim in the face and stomach.  The weapon, fortunately, turned out to be a pellet gun.  The suspect was identified and found at his home and booked on assault with a deadly weapon charge.

 

03/28/22 – A San Rafael man was convicted of nine felony sex crimes involving a child over a period of three years. Javier Jesus Naalmay, 44 faced 45 years to life in state prison.  The crimes occurred from 2007 to 2010 starting when the victim was preschool age.  An investigation was done, and the suspect was arrested in 2018, however there were delays because of the pandemic and a mistrial.  The suspect, who was known to the family, was finally convicted at the end of March.  He had been out of custody during this time but was booked at the conclusion of the trial.

 

April:

04/02/22 – Just after midnight, SRPD received a report of shots fired at the 7-11 Store on B Street.  Officers arrived a short time later and found rifle and handgun casings on the ground, however the participants had fled.  Video surveillance showed a fight breaking out in the parking lot resulting in gunfire.  Detectives were working on the case.

 

04/04/22 – In July of 2021, the City of San Rafael set up a city sanctioned homeless camp under the Highway 101 overpass between Fifth Avenue and Mission Avenue.  Camp resident James Hellard, 49, initiated a class action lawsuit against the City of San Rafael, Caltrans and others, alleging that the freeway noise caused him permanent hearing loss.  He also claimed in the lawsuit that he was exposed to toxic fumes as a result of living at the site. A hearing was set at a later date to address the complaint.

 

04/10/22 – Officers responded to a report of a hit-run on Woodland Avenue.  They later learned that the suspect, who fled the scene, drove to the Richmond Bridge, however he entered the bridge going east in the westbound lanes.  He collided with several cars and finally stopped when he struck a vehicle head on.  The suspect received serious injuries. He had a BAC level of .24.

 

04/14/22 – Just after midnight officers responded to a Merrydale Road residence regarding a possible vehicle burglary in progress.  When officers arrived, the suspect fled in a van at a high rate of speed.  The suspect attempted to hit a SRPD vehicle head on, but the officer was able to get out of the way.  The suspect drove to the dead end of Merrydale Road and flipped the van.  He fled on foot and eluded capture.

 

04/21/22 – Officers working the Canal area were flagged down by a citizen who reported that a car struck his vehicle, and the driver would not provide any information.  When officers approached the car, the driver left at a high rate of speed on Kerner Blvd.  The driver then pulled onto Marian Court, a dead-end street, where he hit a dumpster. The driver refused to exit his car until Officer Brickell arrived with his K-9 Achilles.  Upon seeing the dog, the driver exited the car and was taken into custody.  He had a BAC of .21.  He was booked for DUI and other charges.

 

04/24/22 – Marin County announced that they received a four-year $1.9 million dollar grant to expand the Mobile Crisis Program, which responds to mental health emergencies. The grant was for a partnership between San Rafael and Novato.

 

04/24/22 – A parolee who had outstanding warrants in three Bay Area counties was arrested after a pursuit that started in Santa Rosa and ended in San Rafael.  The incident started when a Santa Rosa police officer contacted the suspect sitting in a car.  The suspect fled and the chase was on, going south on Highway 101 with speeds reaching 110 mph.  A Sonoma Sheriff’s helicopter joined in the pursuit and tracked the car as it took an exit into San Rafael.  The aircrew observed the suspect park behind a business, and he then fled on foot.  San Rafael Officers took him into custody shortly after.  Booked on a variety of charges was Craig William Carlson, 32 of San Jose.

 

04/27/22 – Officers responded to Terra Linda High School regarding a report of a teacher who was in her classroom possibly intoxicated. The school principal contacted the teacher and officers arrived shortly after.  Officers did an evaluation of the teacher and determined that she was over three times the legal limit for driving.  An expert also determined that the subject was under the influence of a prescription drug and Cannabis. Booked at Marin County Jail for intoxication and child endangerment was Teagan Leonhart, 46 of San Anselmo.  The teacher was not teaching students at the time she was contacted.

 

May:

05/06/22 – A group of Marin Law Enforcement agencies did a prostitution sting at a hotel in San Rafael.  Police placed ads on targeted websites for people interested to come to the hotel.  The operation lasted 6 hours and netted three arrests.  Booked for soliciting minors for sex were Jose Tucubal, 31 and Yefran DeLeon-Gomez, 22 both of San Rafael.  A third suspect, Jason Wright, 24 of Vacaville was arrested for assisting in soliciting prostitution.

 

05/18/22 – The Marin County homeless population grew by 8.4% in the first in person count since the pandemic.  Homelessness in Marin rose from 1,034 people in 2019 to 1,121 people as of Feb. 2022. Agencies receiving federal funds are required to do a count every two years.

 

05/22/22 – A citizen flagged down a passing police vehicle after he witnessed a disturbance in the Big 5 store in Terra Linda. The officer observed an intoxicated male exit the store holding two pellet guns as he walked out.  He was quickly taken into custody and booked for robbery and being drunk in public.  Further investigation revealed that the suspect, Jasper Ford, 36 of San Rafael, also burned an American flag at Safeway and had stolen property from Safeway.

 

05/25/22 – Officers responded to a residence on Woodbine Drive in the Terra Linda area regarding a report of a woman who had been stabbed.  Upon arrival, officers found a 55-year-old female in the house with multiple stab wounds.  Officers quickly identified the suspect, who had fled in a car, as Nicholas Wambach, a 24-year-old resident of Valley Springs, Ca.  It was also determined that the suspect was related to the victim.  Later in the day, a Marin Sheriff’s Deputy observed the suspect vehicle being driven on Pt. Reyes Petaluma Road in West Marin. Officers attempted to stop the car and the driver failed to yield, resulting in a 37-minute pursuit that ended at Muir Beach when the suspect crashed his car into a concrete retaining wall. Wambach, who was injured, was arrested for attempted murder.

 

05/25/22 – Three police recruits graduated from the Santa Rosa Police Academy after starting classes in January.  Graduates were Leslie Ahlenslager, Benjamin Rubio, and Alisha Shopp.

 

05/28/22 – A volleyball coach, who was the co-owner of Absolute Volleyball in San Rafael, was arrested after a police investigation revealed that he slapped one of his teenage students during a practice.  Booked for child endangerment was Konrad Ott, 51 years.  The youth suffered visible injuries and SRPD spent several weeks investigating the case.

 

June:

06/01/22 – Officers received a call from a woman who reported that her husband was screaming and breaking items in their apartment.  When the wife said that she was calling the police, her husband grabbed a machete in the belief he could use it to avoid going to jail.  Officers arrived and spoke with the man for over an hour, until he finally gave up. He was taken into custody and suspected drugs were found in his possession.  He had an outstanding warrant and was booked on the warrant.

 

06/09/22 – An officer patrolling in the Canal District observed a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed on Canal Street going towards Pickleweed Park.  The suspect crashed into several cars parked in front of the community center causing a good deal of damage.  The suspect fled however he was captured a short time later.  It turned out that he had just struck a parked car on Canal Street when the officer first saw him.  He was booked on various charges.

 

06/10/22 – Marin law enforcement agencies collected 552 firearms and 11,000 rounds of ammunition during a guy buyback event in San Rafael. Organizers offered $100 for functional handguns, rifles and shotguns and $200 for semi-automatic weapons. Four ghost guns were turned in. Over $50,000 in cash was dispersed.

 

06/15/22 – Officers responded to Kohl’s regarding a suspect who took a real-life mannequin from the store.  The suspect attempted to flee on his skateboard while holding the mannequin, however he crashed and the mannequin when flying with its arms coming off.  The suspect gathered up the body and parts and continued to flee.  Officers reviewed video footage and identified the suspect as someone who previously stole a “Perfect 10” sex doll. They were working on trying to find the suspect.

 

06/21/22 – SRPD announced that a department photo would be taken fronting the new Public Safety Center on August 10^th. The last department photo was taken in 2014.

 

06/22/22 – Members of the SRPD participated in the annual 25^th anniversary torch run. Law enforcement agencies in Northern California raise funds for the honor of running the Special Olympics Torch, “The Flame of Hope” through their communities as a sign of dedication and commitment to Special Olympics Athletes.

 

06/28/22 – An officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on Second Street at W. Francisco Blvd.  The officer contacted the driver, who gave his brother’s name, and he showed a driver’s license to the officer in the name of his brother.  As luck would have it, the officer ran the name, and it turned out that the brother had an outstanding warrant.  After being placed in cuffs, the suspect confessed to his real name.  He was cited on a variety of charges.  He thought that his license was suspended, so that was why he showed his brother’s I.D.  It turned out that his license was only expired.

 

July:

07/02/22 – Officers were dispatched to the CVS store in Terra Linda regarding a shoplift where several subjects had stolen items and one of them was reported to have brandished a gun.  The suspects fled and drove over the overpass that connects to Civic Center Drive.  Once on Civic Center Drive, they became entangled in heavy traffic because of the county fair.  Officers quickly spotted the car and took three suspects into custody.  They were arrested for robbery.  A gun was not found; however, the suspect car was identified as being involved in numerous thefts throughout the Bay Area.

 

07/07/22 – City officials announced that the sanctioned homeless shelter that had been set up under the freeway overpass at Fifth Avenue, would be closing after one year of operation. City officials reported that after closing the “Service Support Area,” the remaining residents would be assigned case managers to help them find housing.

 

07/11/22 – The San Rafael City Council voted to hire a crisis team dedicated to delivering emergency social services to support the mentally ill and homeless.  The council authorized the police department to find a local non-profit to staff a three-year pilot program with crisis intervention workers and emergency medical technicians.  The program would concentrate on the San Rafael area and was reported to relieve police and firefighters from about 4,000 emergency calls each year.  The cost of the program was reported to be about $775,000 annually to fund the program 12 hours a day.

 

07/13/22 – At 4:05 am, officers responded to a report of a car tampering in the 100 block of Canal Street.  Prior to the officer’s arrival, the vehicle owner went outside and confronted a male, who was attempting to steal the car.  The vehicle owner was kicked in the stomach and threatened by the suspect.  Upon the arrival of the officers, they located the suspect and arrested Idalia Hernandez-Arvizu, 24 of San Rafael for threats and attempted vehicle theft as well as other offenses.

 

07/15/22 – K-9 Officer Brickell conducted a search of a vehicle after a traffic stop and during the search, a Polymer80 9mm handgun was located in the center console of the car.  The owner of the car admitted that it was unregistered and a ghost gun.

 

07/15/22 – At about 5:10 pm, a woman parked her car in the Francisco Business Center at 555 Francisco Blvd to go into a restaurant.  She left her car running and when she returned to the vehicle, a female had entered it and was driving away.  The car owner ran in front of her vehicle and the suspect driver ran her down, causing traumatic injuries.  A short time later Vacaville PD observed the car and a pursuit ensued after the driver refused to stop.  Vacaville ended the pursuit for safety reasons; however a license plate reader scanned the plate in Rio Vista and that PD located the car and another pursuit started. The pursuit finally ended with the suspect ramming the victim’s car into a police vehicle.  As she exited the car, it was noted that she had no pants on.  She was booked on a variety of charges.

07/16/22 – The United States; first nationwide three-digit mental health crisis hotline went into effect on this date.  The federal government provided over 280 million dollars to help states create the system.  People who need assistance can dial 988 for help.  It was mentioned that it would take a while for all states to implement the new system.

07/16/22 – At 6:43 pm, dispatch observed a male standing in front of the Public Safety Building.  Day shift officers had dealt with this individual earlier. The doors to the PSC were locked, however the subject was able to force open one of the doors that allowed him access to the lobby.  When officers arrived, the suspect fled, but was caught in front of the fire department where the suspect took a fighting stance.  After a taser was drawn, the suspect offered no resistance, and he was arrested and booked for attempted vandalism and making threats.

07/19/22 – Officers responded to the 100 block of Canal Street on a report of tagging in progress.  Upon arrival of the officers, the suspects fled, however one suspect was found in a carport by a pickup truck.  The suspect had fresh spray paint on his fingers and upon looking into the bed of the truck, a gun was found, with a 33 round high-capacity magazine. Video surveillance showed the suspect putting the gun in the bed of the truck.  He was arrested and booked at MCJ. An examination of the gun revealed that it matched the casings found at a homicide scene at Medway and Mill Street that took place in June of this year.

07/25/22 – Burglars struck the corporate offices of Johnny’s Donuts in Terra Linda.  Cash was taken from the office as well as keys to a company vehicle.  Fortunately, the actual donut shop on Fourth Street was spared.  Detectives were reported to be working on the case.  The business owner, Craig Blum, stated that it was an unfortunate incident, however he was glad that no donuts or team members were harmed.

07/27/22 – Officer Ortiz completed the SRPD FTO program allowing her to work as a solo officer.  Officer Ortiz started her career at SRPD as a cadet in 2017.  Congratulations.

07/28/22 – Officers were dispatched to a nuisance call in the 600 block of Canal Street.  Upon arrival, officers contacted Josh Andrew Smoak, 41, of Santa Rosa.  Officers learned that he had a no bail warrant and when told he was being taken into custody, he jumped into the San Rafael Canal.  He swam for a short distance and then took a paddle board to aid in his escape.  He then exited the canal and ran but was taken into custody on Belvedere Street.  He was booked on the warrant among other charges.

August:

08/02/22 - SRPD participated in the annual National Night Out, with officers attending 11 events throughout the city. While the event was winding down at the Pickleweed Community Center, officers received a call of a fight in the park.  Upon arrival, officers found a male who was stabbed six times.  Officers searched the area and located the suspect, Cristhian Bautista Valledares, 18 of San Rafael at Canal and Novato Street.  He was booked for attempted murder.  The victim was expected to survive his wounds.

 

08/02/22 – Just after midnight, a couple was sitting in their car outside the A&W restaurant in Terra Linda. A man on a bicycle approached the driver, whose window was down, and the suspect pointed a gun at the driver ordering him to get out of the car.  When the suspect realized that a woman was sitting in the front passenger seat, he fled on his bicycle.  The area was searched for the suspect with negative results.

 

08/11/22 – Novato Police arrested stalking suspect Pablo Mariano Eusebio, 39 of Corte Madera as a result of the suspect stalking and bothering a woman in Novato.  This incident took place in July and officers were not able to locate him.  He was finally located and booked by Novato Police.  The suspect also had two criminal threats cases pending, where he bothered two different women at the San Rafael Transit Center and spat on one of them.  His bail was set at $500,000.

 

08/16/22 – SRPD personnel delivered backpacks to students at Davidson Middle School for the new school year.  Each backpack contained over 20 items to help students be ready for school.

 

08/18/22 – At about 11:54 am, SRPD received a call from a female who was hiking above Boyd Park.  She reported that a man was following her and making comments to her and other women.  The reporting party stated that the man said comments to her that made her think that he was going to attack her.  Officers responded and located the suspect in the park; however, he ignored the officer’s commands and he threw a rock at one of the officers.  He was hit with a 40 mm impact munition with no effect.  The man fled deeper into the park and a CHP air unit was called as well as a drone from MCSO.  At 5:05 pm, a resident on Culloden Park Lane observed a suspicious person on the street, who turned out to be the suspect.  He was apprehended and booked for assault with intent to commit rape and assault on a police officer. The suspect was identified as Connor John Hanley, 35 of San Rafael.

 

08/20/22 – Officers were dispatched to a report of a car crashing into a tree on D Street at San Rafael Avenue.  The driver struck three parked cars prior to striking the tree, which was fortunate for him as it most likely slowed his car down before hitting the tree.  The suspect had just left Marin General Hospital to buy cigarettes, as his wife was giving birth.  The suspect had a BAC of .16 and was booked while his wife gave birth at the hospital.

 

08/20/22 – San Rafael’s police patrol Boat, Mission City, and several other law enforcement and fire boats were kept busy on a windy day on the bay conducting multiple rescues.  In all, five adults, six children, one small boat and five paddle boarders were rescued and returned to shore with no injuries reported.

 

08/21/22 – While on patrol, Officer Cuddy pulled over a car for expired registration and upon contact with the driver, he observed that three people were in the car and there was a lot of property in the vehicle, including paint sprayers and tax returns.  An investigation revealed that prior to the stop, the suspects had committed 17 burglaries in Santa Rosa, and they were en route to San Francisco to sell the property. The recovered property exceeded $20,000 in value.

 

08/25/22 – SRPD apologized to first responders and residents of San Francisco after it was reported that an officer drove a homeless man to San Francisco and left him in a neighborhood there.  A San Francisco resident observed the man being dropped off from a San Rafael Police car and recorded the incident.  The incident, which occurred in July took place when the man was causing a disturbance at the Northgate Mall threatening security officers.  The suspect stated that he wanted to go to San Francisco, however after being dropped off, he took off his clothes and started a fire.  SFPD had to respond to handle the incident.  It was reported that an internal investigation was to follow.

 

08/27/22 – Officers were investigating a robbery when they observed a vehicle run a red light at Third and Grand Avenue.  They tried to pull the car over, however it got onto northbound Highway 101, reaching speeds of 100 mph.  The suspect took the Terra Linda exit and drove around the area until turning onto a dead-end street. Officers surrounded the car, however the suspect rammed two patrol cars.  When the suspect, identified as Dany Maldonado, 20 of San Rafael, exited the car, he ran, but was captured shortly after.  He was arrested on a variety of charges.  It turned out that he was not involved in the robbery.

 

September:

09/01/22 - The City of San Rafael homeless camp that had been set up under the freeway overpass about one year earlier, was shut down by members of the California Highway Patrol as the camp was on state property. Officers helped residents dismantle their tents and assisted them in carrying their possessions to the street.  Many of the residents were relocated, however a small group still had no housing.  The camp was meant to only be a temporary solution for the homeless.

09/07/22 – On August 27, 2022, officers responded to two back-to-back armed robberies.  One was at Famous Deli on Lincoln Avenue and the other was at the Dandy Market in Terra Linda. In each case, two suspects entered the store with one of them brandishing a handgun.  Detectives worked on these cases with other Bay Area agencies, and they were able to identify both suspects.  On 9/7/22, both suspects were arrested, and a search of their residences produced a considerable amount of evidence.  The suspects were linked to a robbery in San Pablo as well.

09/07/22 – Channel Seven News aired a police body cam video of two SRPD officers arresting a man who had been drinking in public on Windward Way.  The incident took place on July 27, 2022, but was first reported by the news station after they obtained the body camera footage. After the incident was broadcast, several demonstrations by citizens were organized, protesting the fact that the arrested man had a bloody face while being put in the patrol car.  The allegation was that the man had been assaulted by the officers. Demonstrations persisted with the City of San Rafael reporting that an investigation into the matter would be done.

09/08/22 – At 9:45 am, officers responded to the 3200 block of Kerner Blvd. regarding a man hitting and kicking a bus.  While officers were responding to this call, dispatch received calls about a man in the 200 block of Windward Way who demanded money from a person.  The suspect was reported to have a knife and fled before officers arrived.  The suspect was then reported to be fighting with a person a short distance away, however several citizens were able to pull the suspect off the victim.  When officers got there, the suspect fled on foot.  The suspect, Milton Garcia Colomo, 37 years, of San Rafael was located in a dumpster on Windward Way and was taken into custody.  It was discovered that Colomo was on probation for robbery, and he had an outstanding warrant for robbery.  He was booked on the warrant and new charges.

09/09/22 – Dispatch received a call from a citizen reporting that he was the victim of road rage and that he was standing by the Dandy Market in Terra Linda.  Upon arrival of the officers, the victim reported that a man had been following him and that the man had waved a gun at him and made threats.  Officers started a search for the suspect and located him and his car at China Camp. Booked for making threats was Jason Whitehorse, 52 of San Anselmo. No gun was found.

09/09/22 – At 4:00 am officers received a call of a disturbance at Falkirk. When officers arrived, they tried to talk with a male who was sitting in a car, however he fled in his vehicle that had an expired registration.  The man led officers on a slow speed chase through the downtown area, running several red lights.  After the suspect turned into a parking lot, police arrested Stefan Joseph Ascierto, 50 of Kentfield for felony evading and obstructing an officer.

09/13/22 – A San Rafael police officer was responding to a medical emergency when his car was almost struck by another vehicle at Third and Lincoln Avenue.  The officer was called off the medical emergency call and he began looking for the car that almost struck him.  A short time later he found the car and when he tried to pull it over, the suspect took off, leading officers on a chase going west on Fifth Avenue.  The suspect drove all the way to the end of Fifth Avenue and at the entrance to the cemetery, he turned onto Ray Court which is a dead end street.  Officers surrounded the car; however the suspect would not come out.  After 20 minutes of negotiating, the suspect exited his car.  The suspect, Bryan Donan Lopez-Lopez, 25 of San Rafael was booked on various vehicle code violations.

09/13/22 – The City of San Rafael announced that they had hired a company to investigate the use of force incident that took place on July 27 on Windward Way, involving two SRPD officers.  The person arrested by the officers reported that he was assaulted during the arrest.  The city hired Paul Henry, a retired Santa Rosa Police Lieutenant, who runs Independent Investigations Consultants in Windsor.  Charles Dresow, the attorney for the arrested man, complained about the city hiring a former officer to investigate the incident.

09/15/22 – At about 8:00 pm SRPD started receiving reports of a large number of vehicles in the Northgate Mall parking lot.  Upon arrival, officers observed several hundred vehicles in the lot with some cars doing sideshow activity.  County-wide assistance was requested and officers from throughout Marin County responded as well as the CHP helicopter and fixed wing plane.  Some cars were flying flags from Mexico and Guatemala as they caravanned south on Lincoln Avenue and into the Canal District.  A report was received of shots fired; however, no victim was found.  A truck then hit a person on a motorcycle on Canal Street.  The large crowd delayed the response of the fire department.  The next day was Independence Day in Mexico, which may have sparked this incident.

09/16/22 – The San Rafael City Attorney’s Office announced that the FBI had made a request to see evidence pertaining to the use of force arrest on Windward Way that took place on 07/27/22 by two SRPD officers. On this date, a group of residents staged a march protesting the fact that the City of San Rafael had hired a former police officer to investigate the incident.

09/19/22 – San Rafael City Attorney Robert Epstein defended his decision in hiring a retired police officer to investigate the use of force arrest on Windward Way on 07/27/22.  Epstein, at a city council meeting stated, “For those of you who believe that he will not be neutral in this particular case or cannot be neutral, I don’t believe that, or I wouldn’t have hired him.”

09/19/22 – Officers responded to the San Rafael Transit Center after receiving a 911 call reporting trouble there.  Upon arrival, officers learned that a man with a dog had turned his dog on several citizens who were at the transit center.  One citizen was bitten on the hand and had to be taken to the hospital.  Officers searched the area and located James Roy Kinslow, 58 of Crockett a short distance away.  He was booked on felony assault.  His dog was taken by the Humane Society.

09/20/22 – After a two-year pandemic hiatus, the San Rafael Police Department’s Citizen Academy resumed.  The academy is a 10-week program for citizens who live or work in San Rafael.

09/26/22 – Marine Auxiliary Volunteer John McGinnis retired after serving for 33 years and 5 months.  During that time he put in 16 hours a month and racked up a total of 6,416 volunteer hours. John was awarded the Gold Medal of Valor; several Lifesaving awards and he also received a Unit Citation during his time on the boat. His volunteer service will be greatly missed.

09/30/22 – Officers investigated a case where a male, identified as James Keating, 61 of San Rafael, confronted a San Rafael City Schools official at a shopping center.  The suspect walked up to the school official and accused the official of teaching racism and he then struck the school official.  The suspect was charged with battery.

October:

10/03/22 – Reports prepared by officers involved in the use of force incident that took place on 07/27/22 were released.  One of the reports related that the officers were afraid that the suspect would take their weapon.  Many protests had been organized after the incident took place.  The incident is being investigated by an outside investigations company.

 

10/05/22 – At 8:00 am SRPD received a report of a reckless driver on Pt. San Pedro Road.  Upon arrival, officers found a car with a broken axle in the middle of the road near Riviera Drive, with a male walking back to the car.  Witnesses reported that the driver had run up onto the center divider and was running around yelling and holding a gun.  The suspect then tried to enter several homes and a school bus.  It was also reported that he threw the gun in the bay.  The Marin Sheriff’s dive team was called, and they recovered a loaded Glock.  The suspect, Richard Harrison Hickey, 28, of Petaluma was arrested on drug charges and illegal possession of a firearm.

 

10/05/22 – Officers arrested three women and one man they suspected of stealing merchandise from Kohl’s and from CVS.  The total amount was over $5,000.  After receiving reports of the thefts, officers located a suspect vehicle as it was starting to go over the Richmond Bridge.  A traffic stop was initiated on Cutting Blvd. in Richmond and the merchandise was recovered.  Arrested for burglary and conspiracy were Kiana Riviore, 27 of Marin City, Diamond Cooper, 24 of San Jose, Matthew Johnson, 18 of Vallejo and Kaylonie Reynolds, 23 of San Rafael.

 

10/06/22 – Officers received a report of a disturbance at a business on Fourth Street.  Upon their arrival, witnesses at the business reported that employee Julian Carlos Rodriguez, 31 of San Anselmo, showed up for work under the influence.  When asked to leave by a coworker, the suspect struck the employee with a moving dolly and a full can of White Claw alcoholic seltzer.  The suspect then retreated into a crawl space and he remained there for four hours, until police negotiators coaxed him out.  He was arrested for battery.

 

10/07/22 – Officers were dispatched to Pickleweed Park on a report of a man with a gun who was pointing it at people.  The suspect left the area prior to the officer’s arrival, however witnesses reported that two of the suspects had entered the complex at 260 Canal Street. Two suspects were observed in the complex parking lot, and when officers attempted to contact one of them, he fled.  After a brief foot pursuit, the suspect was apprehended.  He had discarded the gun, but officers retraced their steps and located the weapon.  The suspect was booked on a variety of charges.

 

10/14/22 – Over the past year, SRPD had been receiving reports of an older man entering the Northgate Movie Theaters and purchasing tickets to children’s movies.  Reports were received that the male would sit behind a child and then remove his shoes and socks and then touch the child with his feet.  The theater staff was able to obtain a description of the suspect, but he always left before the police arrived.  On this date, a theater employee observed a male purchasing a ticket to a children’s movie and the employee called the police.  Officers arrived and started searching the theater for the subject.  He was located, sitting behind a 10-year-old girl with his shoes off.  The girl reported being touched in the back during the show. Booked for annoying a child was Thomas Dean Erickson, 65, of Napa.

 

10/16/22 – Officers responded to a residence on Marinita Drive after receiving reports that a man had entered the property of two homes on the street.  Upon arrival, officers encountered Jonathan Evans, 26 of Oakland.  The suspect attempted to flee, but was taken into custody, however he violently resisted the officers.  When one officer displayed a taser, the suspect challenged the officer to use it.  When the suspect tried to break free, the taser was fired and the suspect was arrested.  A dog, who was with the suspect, bit three officers, breaking the skin on two of them. He was booked for felony battery.

10/24/22 – Many local residents attended a forum at Pickleweed Community Center put on by SRPD.  The subject of the meeting was to give citizens the chance to report on how they felt the police department was doing its job.  Many of the citizens wanted to discuss the July 27, 2022 arrest of a man on Windward Way where the suspect reported being struck by an officer.  However, the response by the city was that the incident was still under investigation and therefore, it could not be discussed.  The representative for the city in attendance was Francine Tournour, the Sacramento County Inspector General, whom the city hired on a contract as a community liaison on police matters.

10/31/22 – The department announced the following promotions:  Dispatcher Anndora Lee to Police Dispatch Lead; Officer Scott Brooks to Corporal; Officer Rick Cuddy to Corporal; Cpl. Mike Mathis to Sergeant; Sgt. Carl Huber to Lieutenant.

November:

11/03/22 – At 10:15 pm officers responded to Macys regarding a burglar alarm that was going off.  Upon arrival, officers noted that the store was closed. At that moment, dispatch received a 911 call from a female who reported that she was locked in the store.  Officers interviewed her and she stated that she was in the bathroom when the store closed without her knowledge.  Further investigation revealed that there was a bag of high-end merchandise hidden in a janitor’s closet.  Upon further questioning, the woman admitted that she decided to do a little shopping while locked in the store.  She was booked for burglary.

 

11/05/22 – At 11:00 pm, officers were sent to a report of a large party on Fourth Street in an apartment above a barber shop.  Upon arrival, officers found about 50 to 60 people at the party who ranged in age from 18 to 21 years, many of whom were intoxicated.  A fight then broke out and the entire shift had to respond to break up the party and send people on their way.  The host was cited.

 

11/06/22 – While on patrol, Officer Mendoza located a vehicle parked behind the Target store. He contacted the male and female occupants and they consented to a search of their vehicle.  During the search, a loaded Glock Ghost Gun was found.  The male admitted that he carried it for protection.  He was cited for having a loaded unregistered firearm.

 

11/11/22 – At 2:00 am officers were dispatched to the Mobile gas station on Ritter Street regarding a disturbance.  Police contacted the victim, who reported that a male approached him and asked for a lighter.  When the victim told the suspect that he did not have one, the suspect yelled at the victim multiple times that he was going to shoot the victim.  Officers located the suspect, who did not have a weapon, however he had an outstanding warrant.  Booked for the warrant and felony threats was Marlen Charles Corben, 40 of San Rafael.

 

11/12/22 – Officers responded to a residence on Portofino Road in the Canal District on a report of a male prowling through several backyards.  Upon arrival, a witness reported that the suspect tried to enter their residence and threw a flowerpot at them and then fled.  Officers located the suspect on Novato Street, however he refused to cooperate.  The suspect ran; however he was apprehended after a short chase.  While being taken into custody, the suspect bit an officer. Arrested for assault, threatening and prowling was Marcos Velasquez Xuya, 25 of San Rafael.

 

11/13/22 – At 1:45 pm, SRPD dispatch received a call of a disturbance at the McDonalds Restaurant in Terra Linda.  Reports received were that a male was threatening employees and customers of the restaurant and that he had assaulted several persons with an aerosol can containing an unknown substance.  In addition, the suspect attempted to stab several people with a knife.  Officers arrived and the suspect was still there, however he refused to drop the knife or cooperate with officers.  Negotiations started and lasted four hours in the restaurant parking lot, however the suspect would not surrender.  Officers then sent in a police dog who bit the suspect; however, the suspect got the dog in a chokehold.  Officers were finally able to subdue the suspect with a taser.  Robert Michael Chernoff, 35 of Novato was booked for felony assault and assault on a police dog.  Other charges were added as well.

 

11/28/22 – Lt. Lisa Holton retired from the department after 22 years of service.  She started her law enforcement career in 1994 in Mill Valley and was hired by SRPD in 2000.  Lisa served as a patrol officer, detective, field training officer, a school resource officer and she was a member of the street crimes unit. Lisa was the first female officer in the department to achieve the rank of Lieutenant.

 

11/30/22 – Marin put its Santa Cop program into motion for another year.  The program provides presents to less fortunate kids in the county.

 

December:

12/02/22 – A father called SRPD dispatch to report that his 16-year-old son told him that he woke up and he found a man standing in his bedroom.  The son also reported that the man was holding a screwdriver and a box cutter.  When the teen ran out of his room to tell his parents, the suspect fled.  Officers responded and observed the suspect as he was leaving the apartment complex.  A foot pursuit began, and the suspect climbed into an apartment patio and tried to hide but was located and taken into custody.  He was booked for burglary, possession of burglary tools and resisting.

 

12/02/22 – At 10:29 pm, officers found a suspicious vehicle with no plates parked by the Marin Rod and Gun Club.  The two occupants of the car reported that the car had broken down, however when officers ran the VIN number of the car it came back stolen out of Oakland.  It also stated that the vehicle was taken in a carjacking where one of the suspects had a firearm. During the investigation, one of the suspects fled the car and a foot pursuit began.  The suspect was taken down, however he resisted and attempted to get his hands to his waistband. After the suspect was brought under control, a loaded 9mm Ghost Gun was located under the suspect. The suspect, a juvenile, was booked into juvenile hall on a variety of charges.

 

12/06/22 – Officers responded to the San Rafael Yacht Harbor at 557 Francisco Blvd. regarding a man who had broken into a boat.  Two employees of the yacht club confronted him, and the suspect threatened them with a screwdriver, injuring one of them.  The suspect fled but was later located in the downtown area and arrested for assault, threats, and burglary.  The suspect, Dwayne Anthony Crosby, 39 of San Rafael threatened the employees telling them he knew where they lived.

 

12/08/22 – SRPD command staff attended the graduation of SRPD’s newest officer, Lyla Marshall, from the Santa Rosa Police Academy.  Marshall started at SRPD as a cadet and will be starting her FTO program.

 

12/08/22 – At 4:45 pm, a Black male 25 to 40 years old, walked into the Mercedes dealership on West Francisco Blvd. and took a black 2021 Mercedes GLS 450 SUV. Officers attempted to locate the vehicle using the car’s GPS application, however it was not working.  At 10:15 pm, the owner of the vehicle reported that the GPS system was now working, and it showed the car as being in the Canal neighborhood.  The car then entered the parking lot of the Harbor Center at 555 Francisco Blvd.. An officer entered the parking lot and pulled up behind the suspect vehicle.  He stood behind the driver’s door to his patrol car and gave the suspect commands.  The suspect put the car into reverse and struck the patrol car’s door, pinning the officer and injuring him.  The suspect then rammed a patrol car as it pulled into the parking lot. The suspect drove to the back of the parking lot and then turned around and started to drive towards the injured officer. Two officers got in front of the injured officer, who was Rick Clary Jr. and pointed their firearms at the suspect vehicle.  The suspect drove to the back of the lot again and exited the car with a female.  Both suspects disappeared and could not be located on that night.  On 12/19/22, the suspect, James Henry Flournoy, 44 years, was arrested by the San Pablo Police Department after SRPD developed leads that identified Flournoy as the suspect.  He was also involved in other car thefts in the East Bay. Officer Clary was treated at a hospital for his injuries and will return to full duty after he recovers.

 

12/11/22 – While assisting in the arrest of a violent felon, Officer Karl Luhmann collapsed at the scene, lost consciousness and he appeared to have stopped breathing.  Fellow officers rendered aid and initiated CPR. Paramedics arrived, provided advanced life support, and transported him to Marin General Hospital.  The cause of the medical event appeared to be a cardiac issue.  Officer Luhmann was treated at Marin General Hospital and was eventually transferred to UCSF for further treatment.

 

12/16/22 – SRPD set up a DUI Checkpoint at Lincoln and Grand Avenue from 6:00 pm to 11:30 pm.  Police arrested one person for DUI and cited 21 drivers for driving without a valid license.  Staffing for the operation was funded by state and federal grants.

 

12/19/22 – SRPD and San Rafael Fire responded to a structure fire at 400 Canal Street.  The three-alarm fire damaged seven apartments on the second and third floors of the building.  An estimated 30 people were displaced.  The cause of the fire was linked to a bathroom renovation to a unit on the second floor.

 

12/21/22 – A memorial hosted by San Rafael based Street Chaplaincy at the First Presbyterian Church of San Rafael, held a reading of the names of 21 people who died while homeless in Marin during 2022.  A total of 45 people died in 2021.

 

Homicides:

There was one homicide reported in San Rafael in 2022.  There were four reported homicides in San Rafael in 2021. In addition to the San Rafael homicide this year, there were two additional homicides in Marin County in 2022.  Both homicides occurred in Marin City, one in March and the other in July.

06-04-22 – SRPD received a call of a man who had collapsed in the street at Medway and Mill Street.  It was discovered that the victim had been shot and he was taken to Marin General Hospital by paramedics where he died.  The victim was identified as Erick Boliver Mendez-Vasquez, 33 years old.  It was reported that this was a gang related shooting, and the victim was an innocent bystander.  On 06/15/22, SRPD officers arrested Alan Estuardo Aceitu-Perez, 20 of Novato for murder.  Investigators believed that this incident was the result of a gang confrontation that took place about 90 minutes prior to the homicide.  Detectives ended up arresting six additional persons on various charges.

In Memoriam:

01/19/22 – Retired CHP Officer Keith Chapman passed away after a battle with lung cancer.  He grew up in San Anselmo and served in the U.S. Navy from 1960 to 1962. Chapman had a 30-year career with the CHP and after retirement he became a Major League Baseball Scout with the Cincinnati Reds and several other teams, earning him a World Series ring. Chapman was 79 years old.

02/18/22 – Retired Marin CHP officer Mike O’Brien passed away due to post surgery complications in Tennessee.  Mike served many years in Marin.  His father was Richard O’Brien, also a Marin CHP officer. Mike O’Brien was 67 years old.

02/18/22 – Former Marin County District Attorney’s Office employee Lorelei Evans (Niederberger) passed away at home of cancer.  Lorelei grew up in the Stockton area and graduated from Lodi High School.  She was a 4-H leader and was chosen to be in a photo with then Governor Ronald Regan.  In 1977 she moved to Marin County to take care of a relative.  She was hired by the Marin County District Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Program and while there she married Deputy DA Peter Evans. She worked for several years at the D.A.’s Office and finished her career teaching school.  Lorelei Evans was 70 years old.

02/26/22 – The Honorable Richard Briener, a Marin County lawyer who spent 20 years on the bench, died at his home in San Rafael. Briener served as a first Lieutenant in the U.S. Army serving in California and South Korea. Briener represented various cities and public safety unions from 1965 to 1977.  He was appointed to the judgeship position by then Governor Jerry Brown.  Judge Briener was described as a respected person who had many friends.  He was 86 years old.

03/03/22 – Former San Rafael Police Officer Jim Beam, #245 passed away after dealing with multiple health issues, including a heart transplant.  Jim worked for SRPD for about 2 years and then transferred to the San Leandro Police Department.  Jim had a great attitude and was a great person to be around.  He was one of our first African American officers.  Jim was in his 60’s at the time of his passing.

03/24/22 – Retired CHP Lt. William Brennen passed away at Kaiser Hospital in San Rafael from pneumonia. Brennen grew up in Middletown, Ca. and graduated from Vallejo Senior High in 1947. He served in the Korean War and was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant. After graduating college, Brennen found that he loved motorcycles and purchased a Harley Davidson. Brennen’s passion for motorcycles led him to join the CHP in 1962 and he was soon assigned to ride a motorcycle. He became a Traffic Sergeant in 1969 and was assigned to East Oakland. In 1975 he was promoted to Lieutenant and was assigned to the Corte Madera office where he finished his career.  William Brennen was 91 years old.

04/02/22 – Florence Elaine Oefinger passed away at Kaiser Hospital after an illness.  Florence grew up in New Jersey and worked for New Jersey Bell and General Electric.  In 1965 she moved to Marin County with her family where she lived for the last 57 years of her life.  After moving to Marin, she was hired by the CHP and worked in the Corte Madera office for 16 years. After retirement, she enjoyed serving in many clubs, especially Our Lady of Loretto Church in Novato.  Florence Oefinger was 89 years old. 

04/05/22 – Retired Marin County Deputy District Attorney Peter Evans passed away on this date. Evans graduated from Marin Catholic High School, St. Mary’s College, and USF Law School.  Evans practiced law for 46 years in Marin County.  After serving in the D.A.’s office, he entered private practice. Evans was a friend of law enforcement and helped set up the San Rafael PAL program. Evans was known in the community for his integrity, easy smile, quick laughter and for driving a 1967 Jaguar XKE.  Peter Evans was 79 years old.

05/03/22 – Retired Marin County Probation Officer Tim Garthwaite died peacefully at his home in Tiburon.  Tim graduated from Berkeley High School and earned his college degree at San Francisco State University. In 1966 he started a 30-year career working as a Marin County Probation Officer in the Juvenile Division, where he met his future wife Maryann Dilmore. In his work Tim always considered himself as a kind of social worker and was, “dammed proud of it.” Tim Garthwaite was 86 years old.

05/21/22 – Retired SRPD Captain Walter P. Kosta, #132 passed away after a short illness.  Kosta attended San Rafael High School and was hired as SRPD’s first cadet on 8/1/66. He served in that position and then left to join the military reserves.  He returned in 1968 where he was hired as a police officer. Walt served in many positions, including Commander of the Major Crimes Task Force.  He also served in the detective division and on more than one occasion received complaints from defense attorneys about how he obtained confessions from criminals.  Walt had a Pinocchio figure hanging from the ceiling above his desk and when suspects started to lie, Walt would lower the figure, telling them their nose was getting longer. One of his cases went to an appeals court in an attempt to throw out a confession, however the court denied the request.  If you served with Walt, you were a lucky person to have done so.  Walter Kosta was 75 years old.

05/25/22 – Word was received that former SRPD Officer William Mohler, #142 passed away from cancer on 10/12/20.  Bill grew up on a cattle ranch in Eads, Co. After graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Army in 1965 and served as a military police officer in Sinop, Turkey and in Petaluma.  He was honorably discharged in 1971.  Bill joined the San Rafael Police Department in 1969 and served until 1976 when he and his family moved to Klamath Falls, Ore. Bill was hired as a police officer for that city and then was appointed as Chief of Police for the City of Merrill, Ore. in 1980 where he served until 1982.  Bill and his family made a final move to Salem, Ore. where he worked as a correctional officer until his retirement.  Bill was always referred to as the sweetest and kindest man anyone knew, which is how he was at SRPD. Bill is survived by his wife Berry and four children and lots of grandchildren.  Bill Mohler was 75 years old.

06/29/22 – Retired Marin County Sheriff’s Lt. Robert Klein passed away from cancer. Bob grew up in Marin, having graduated from Tamalpais High School in 1965. After graduation, Bob worked a variety of jobs while attending Sacramento State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Administration and Police Sciences.  In 1970, Bob went to work for the Sausalito Police Department as an officer and then transferred to the Marin County Sheriff’s Department where he retired as a lieutenant in 2010.  Robert Klein was 74 years old.

07/08/22 – Retired Marin County Probation Officer Barney Griswold, passed away in Austin, Texas from Parkinson’s Disease.  Barney spent most of his growing-up years in the San Luis Obispo area, graduating from Coast Union High School.  After school, Griswold joined the Navy where he served as a medical Corpsman for three years, having never served on a ship.  Griswold started his career working as a counselor at a boy’s ranch in San Mateo.  In 1970 he moved to Marin where he was hired as a probation officer and ended his career as Director of Family Court Services in 2000.  After retirement, Griswold moved with his family to Chico where he and his wife traveled extensively.  Barney Griswold was 83 years old.

07/22/22 – Former Marin County Superior Court Clerk Harriett Grant passed peacefully at her home.  Hattie traveled the world with her husband Capt. Donald Grant who worked for the American President Lines.  Hattie met her future husband while on a cruise where Don was the captain of the ship.  On that cruise, Don chained Hattie to the railing while he attended to  hisduties, causing Hattie to be extremely angry with him, but all ended well as they were later married.  Among other jobs that Hattie held, she worked as a superior court clerk at the Marin County Civic Center.  Harriett Grant was 97 years old.

08/03/22 – Retired Marin County Sheriff’s Deputy Lance Mannetter passed away.  Lance “The Cat” was one of a kind who had a lot of stories to share. Lance Mannetter was in his late 70’s.

08/07/22 – The Rev. Daniel Ross White, who was a Police Chaplain for SFPD and the Marin County Sheriff’s Department, passed away after an illness.  Dan was born in Marin County and raised in Larkspur, graduating from Redwood High School in 1967.  Dan graduated from Sonoma State University and while there married his wife, Becky.  After earning a Master of Divinity, he began a 30-year career as a Pastor at various churches in the Bay Area.  When Dan’s son entered law enforcement, he became a Chaplain for the San Francisco Police Department and the Marin County Sheriff’s Department. The Rev. Daniel White was 73 years old.

08/09/22 – Former SRPD Cadet and Marin County Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas Odetto passed away. Tom started his law enforcement career with the San Rafael Police Department in 1973.  He was later hired as a Marin County Sheriff’s Deputy where he worked for many years.  His brother, Matt Odetto was San Rafael’s Police Chief from 2006 to 2011.  Tom’s mother was also employed by the MCSO.

10/28/22 – Retired MCSO Deputy and Coroner’s Investigator Gary Erickson passed on this date in Kettle Falls, Washington, of cancer.  Gary was born to a military family and during his early years, the family moved to many places throughout the world.  At age 10, Gary’s family settled in San Antonio, Texas, which he called his hometown.  Gary served in the U.S. Marine reserve with one active-duty assignment.  Gary moved to California where he lived with an aunt and uncle.  In the 1970’s he accepted a job offer from the Marin County Sheriff’s Office where he served as a deputy sheriff. Gary transferred to the Coroner’s Division of the Sheriff’s Office where he served as a Coroner Investigator.  After 30 years of service with the County of Marin, Gary moved to the state of Washington where he became involved in various organizations in Stevens County.  Gary Erickson was 76 years old.

12/03/22 – Retired State of California Senior Special Investigator Reno Angiolini passed away on this date.  Born in Ross, Angiolini attended school in San Rafael.  After graduation, he went to work for the Marin County Fire Department and while serving there, he was drafted into the Army and served in Korea.  After his military service, Angiolini obtained a degree in Criminal Science at Sacramento State University.  He then went to work for the State of California where he served as a Senior Special Investigator for 30 years.  Reno Angiolini was 86 years old.

12/12/22 – Tiburon Police Sergeant Sean Christopher was found deceased at the Tiburon Police Department from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.  Christopher was born in Sacramento and started his law enforcement career working for the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.  In 2009, Christopher transferred to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office where he served as a deputy.  In 2019, Christopher was hired by the Tiburon Police Department, and he was promoted to sergeant in October of this year.  Christopher was an accomplished training officer and defensive tactics instructor. Sgt. Sean Christopher was 46 years old.

High Profile Criminals Who Have Departed:

02/28/22 – Robert Durst, a wealthy New York real estate heir, who was convicted of killing his best friend, died of natural causes at a hospital outside of the prison where he was serving a life sentence for murder. Durst was convicted of murdering Susan Berman at point blank range in Los Angeles in 2000.  Durst was reported to have killed Berman because she helped him cover up the murder of Durst’s wife in 1982 in New York.  The case went cold until 2000 when Durst was charged and convicted of the murder. Robert Durst was 78 years old.

06/02/22 – Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela, an elderly leader of the former Cali Cartel that smuggled cocaine from Columbia into the United States, died in a U.S. prison as reported by his lawyer.  Orejuela and his brother Miguel built a large criminal enterprise that succeeded the Medellin Cartel, which was run by Pablo Escobar.  The two brothers were captured in Colombia in 1995 and imprisoned, however they continued to run their criminal enterprise from behind bars. In 2004, Gilberto was extradited to the U.S. to serve his time with a parole date of 2030. Gilberto Orejuela was in his 80’s at the time of his death.

06/29/22 – Ralph “Sonny” Barger, the figurehead of the Hells Angels motorcycle organization, died of liver cancer at his home in Livermore. Barger was a founding member of the Oakland Chapter of the Hells Angels in 1957. Barger, the unofficial spokesman of the Hells Angels, downplayed their outlaw reputation. Barger’s arrest record consisted of DUI and attempted murder.  He spent 13 years in various prisons during his life. In 1988 a jury found Barger guilty of conspiracy to violate federal firearms laws in plots to kill members of rival gangs. He was sentenced to a 6-year prison term and was paroled in 1992.  Sonny Barger was 83 years old.

08/18/22 – A California inmate who killed 13 people over a four-month period in the early 1970s, died in prison in Stockton of natural causes.  Herbert W. Mullin’s victims ranged in age from 4 to 73 and included a priest he killed in a confessional.  During his parole hearing last year, he admitted to the 13 murders, however he blamed his poor upbringing and said that his parents and sister should have been held responsible. Herbert Mullin was 75 years old.

 

End of Report

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