Yesterday deputies arrested a man after he broke into a winery, then later stole a car with two guns in the trunk.
On February 3 at 4:10 PM, a resident in the 400 block of Westside Road saw a suspicious man on her doorbell camera when she was away from home. She called the Sheriff’s Office and provided his photo. Deputies identified him as Colin Curtis, 39 years old, Geyserville.
Just after 6:30 PM that same day, Sheriff’s dispatchers received a call that a man was walking around with a flashlight in a winery in the 2300 block of Magnolia Drive, Healdsburg. The winery is close to the home of the woman who reported Curtis a couple hours earlier. Deputies responded but did not find a suspect or any property damage.
Around 3:30 PM on February 4, that winery called to report a break-in. Security video showed Curtis on the property with a flashlight and what appears to be a chainsaw. He broke into a storage building and damaged the interior wall trying to access another room in that building. Nothing appeared to be missing. However, deputies saw a car that Curtis had driven into a ditch, which became stuck. Deputies learned he had a warrant for failing to appear on a drug-related case.
Deputies started driving to Curtis’ address. While on the way to his house, dispatch received a call that Curtis had stolen a car with two handguns inside it. Deputies found Curtis driving the car and pulled him over in a high-risk traffic stop. This is a technique deputies use to slowly and deliberately order people out of a car in dangerous situations, such as when a car is stolen. Curtis complied and got out of the car, but then became agitated. Deputies calmed him down as they handcuffed him and put him in the patrol car. There were two passengers in the car; both were compliant and not involved in the crimes.
Deputies starting searching the car and Curtis began shouting, banging his head against the car, and kicking the door, causing it to bend out slightly. The deputies called an ambulance and asked for more deputies to respond. Medical personnel evaluated Curtis and he was transported to jail. Deputies found the two handguns and returned the car and handguns to the registered owner. The car owner would not sign the required form that would have allowed deputies to arrest him for stealing the car.
Curtis was booked into the county jail for his outstanding warrant, felony burglary, and felony vandalism. He is being held on $25,000 bail.
Prepared by: Misti D. Wood, Community Engagement Liaison
Case no: 200204-017
Media Inquiries: 707-565-3941
