FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 24, 2018
Contact: Robert Brownlee, Police Lieutenant
Phone: (707) 524-1820
Santa Rosa, CA - On July 24, 2018 at approximately 12:02 p.m., the Sonoma County Junior College District (SCJCD) Police Department received notification of a verbal disturbance in Bech Hall on the Santa Rosa Campus. The reported disturbance involved a male instructor who was in a verbal argument with a student and another employee. A district police officer was dispatched to the call and arrived on scene within minutes to find two female victims outside the building, visibly upset.
The officer entered the building and immediately heard a loud male voice arguing with other individuals. The officer detained the male instructor creating the disturbance, John Peter Melbardis, a 44-year-old Rohnert Park resident.
In the following investigation, the officer obtained statements from the two female victims and other independent witnesses. The officer determined Melbardis had used aggressive language, including cursing, likely intending to provoke a violent reaction.
Melbardis then assumed a threatening fighting stance against one of the females, held up his arms, clenched his fists and cocked one hand back, as though to throw a punch. He then turned his attention to the second female and began yelling and walking towards her, eventually backing her into a wall. His actions prevented her freedom of movement by blocking her path with his body.
John Peter Melbardis was arrested for section 273(a) of the California Penal Code (False Imprisonment) and section 415.5(3) of the California Penal Code (Disturbing the Peace on School Grounds). Melbardis was transported and booked into the Sonoma County Jail without further incident. Due to the fact that Melbardis disturbed the orderly flow and operation of campus, he is not authorized to be on any SCJCD property for the period of fourteen days per section 626.4 of the California Penal Code.
Anyone with additional information regarding this case can contact the SCJCD Police Department at (707) 527-1000.
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