Petaluma Police Department
News Release
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
Incident: 3 Arrested after Attempted Burglary, Pursuit
Report Number: 23-0200
Occurred Date : Tuesday, January 17, 2023
Occurred Time: 2:48 a.m.
Location: Ely Road North, southbound Hwy 101
Suspect: Joshua Hawkins-Butler, age 29, Oakland
Suspect: David Hill III, age 18, San Pablo
Suspect: Shawntanique Blocker, age 31, Oakland
Charges: 2800 V.C. Evading w/ disregard for safety
182 P.C. Conspiracy
148 P.C. Obstruct officer/resist arrest
466 P.C. Possession of Burglary Tools
Incident Summary-
On 1/17/2023, at approximately 2:48 a.m., the Petaluma Police Department received information about a commercial burglary in progress on Ely Road North at a marijuana dispensary, in county jurisdiction, just outside of city limits. The Sheriff’s Office requested the assistance of Petaluma police officers.
Petaluma police officers responded to the scene. While doing so, officers observed several vehicles leaving the area. Three of the vehicles matched the description of suspect vehicles from a burglary of a marijuana dispensary in Santa Rosa the previous morning. Officers attempted to stop the vehicles, but they fled. Officers followed the vehicles as they entered southbound Hwy 101 and a pursuit ensued. During the initial pursuit one of the suspect vehicles was observed taking the San Antonio Rd. exit. As speeds increased to over 100 mph, officers decided to terminate the pursuit.
Petaluma officers returned to the San Antonio Rd. exit where they had observed one of vehicles (Mercedes) exit during the pursuit and located it just off the highway offramp. Officers attempted to contact the occupants of the vehicle and it fled southbound on Silveira Ranch Rd, a frontage road near the Waste Management Redwood Landfill in Novato. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the vehicle refused to stop and continued to flee.
The Mercedes continued south to the dead-end of the road, drove through a cattle fence and then a chain-link fence in an attempt to escape, before crashing into a solar panel. The occupants of the vehicle quickly exited and fled on foot. Officers on scene requested additional resources to search the area.
Petaluma PD officers were assisted by CHP officers and deputies from the Marin and Sonoma County Sheriff’s Offices. Additionally, CHP provided an air unit (H-32) to help coordinate the search. With the assistance of H-32, officers were able to locate and arrest the above listed suspects without further incident. All three were booked into the Sonoma County Jail.
This is an active investigation. We are working with allied agencies in the area to determine if this incident is related to any other investigations. Media inquiries may be directed to Lt. Garret Glaviano at [email protected] or 707.778.4372.
