Full Notification

PRESS RELEASE For Immediate Release
Wednesday December 16, 2020
Issued By: Lt. Ed Crosby, Petaluma PD, 707.778.4325
Incident: Suspicious Circumstances (Updated)
Report Number: PPD 20-4267
Incident Date : Monday December 7, 2020
Incident Time: Approximately 1032 hours (10:32 am)
Location: 1300 block of North McDowell Blvd., Petaluma

Incident Summary:

UPDATE TO ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE:

The Petaluma Police Department has been in contact with the persons of interest from the incident of December 7, 2020 at Michael’s crafts in Petaluma. Contact was established through social media, and they are cooperating with the investigation.

Community safety demands a thorough investigation of alleged criminal conduct (particularly when the nature of the offense is serious). Evidence must be gathered and carefully evaluated before conclusions can be reached and such cases can be closed. We appreciate the community’s patience as the investigation progresses.

The Petaluma Police Department continues to seek any independent witnesses to the incident of December 7, 2020, whether such witnesses were inside the store, or in the parking lot.

Witnesses or persons with knowledge pertaining to this incident are asked to contact Lt. Ed Crosby at 707-778-4325, or Detective Corie Joerger at 707-778-4456.

ORIGINAL RELEASE:

On Monday December 7, 2020 at approximately 10:32 a.m., a woman drove to the Petaluma Police Department to report suspicious behavior exhibited by two adults (a man and woman) at Michael’s craft store on North McDowell Boulevard.

The woman reported being followed inside the store by the couple as she shopped while pushing her two young children in a stroller. The woman said the couple made comments concerning the appearance of the children.

The couple was said to have followed the woman to her car, where the couple lingered near the stroller as the woman placed her children in the vehicle.

On Monday December 7, 2020 the woman said she did not want anyone arrested but wanted to draw attention to the concerning behavior exhibited by the couple. Petaluma Police Department patrol officers had searched the area where the incident occurred but were unable to locate the involved parties. At the time this incident was initially reported, there was insufficient evidence to establish that a crime had occurred.

On Monday December 14, 2020 the Petaluma Police Department became aware of a social media post made by the reporting party in which she recounted and elaborated upon the aforementioned incident; this post included information that had not been initially presented to the Petaluma Police Department on December 7, 2020.

A still photograph from the store’s security video system contains an image of the couple identified by the reporting party as persons of interest in this matter (see attached).

Petaluma Police Department officers and detectives have subsequently conducted follow-up; inconsistencies between the two accounts of the incident need to be resolved before criminal charges can be considered.

Michael’s crafts has been cooperating with this investigation and has been diligent in providing video evidence to investigators. If anyone has information pertaining to this incident or was a witness to it, they are asked to contact Petaluma Police Department Detective Corie Joerger at 707-778-4456.