Full Notification

On January 24^th, 2024, at approximately 5:00 a.m., the Petaluma Police Department dispatch center received a phone call of a vandalism at Martial Arts USA (822 Petaluma Boulevard North). Officers responded and noticed the suspect had used a rock to shatter a window to the business; the rock was located inside the business.
 
While officers were canvassing the area for evidence, they located a second business which had been vandalized. A glass window had been broken/shattered to Blazing Ace Smoke Shop located at 860 Petaluma Boulevard North. Officers were able to review video surveillance at this business and identify the suspect responsible for the vandalism(s). The responsible party was identified as Jeffrey Berg (36-year-old Petaluma resident); law enforcement officers were familiar with Berg from previous incidents and similar crimes. Berg had previously been on supervised released but is/was not currently under supervision.
 
Unfortunately, on the morning of January 24th as our community members were waking up and beginning their days, the dispatch center began receiving several more vandalism reports. In total, we received ten vandalism reports in the downtown area with similar patterns of behavior; the suspect(s) used a rock or blunt object to break windows to businesses and/or vehicles. Below, we have indicated the locations and the times we (PPD) received the vandalism reports.
 

• 822 Petaluma Boulevard North_at 5:00 am
• 860 Petaluma Boulevard North_at 5:00 am
• 356 Petaluma Boulevard North_at 6:44 am
• 224 B Street_at 7:37 am
• 350 North Water Street _at 9:10 am
• 350 North Water Street_at 10:25 am
• 114 Petaluma Boulevard South_ at 10:38 am
• 23 4^th Street_at 10:46 am
• 107 North Water Street_at 10:47 am
• 190 2^nd Street_at 11:53 am

 
 
As stated above, officers received tangible information which linked Berg to the first two vandalism reports. On 01/24/2024 at approximately 11:13 am, officers with the Petaluma Police Department Community Impact Response Team (CIRT) located Berg in the area of the Trestle Bridge (north of Payran Street at the railroad tracks). After identifying Berg, the CIRT officers were able to safely take him into custody.
 
Berg was taken into custody on two counts of felony vandalism. As for the other eight reported cases of vandalism, our officers are working diligently with our community partners to collect evidence which includes surveillance footage, instruments of the crime (i.e. rocks), fingerprints, and biological evidence.  With such evidence, officers and our support staff could potentially connect the other vandalisms to our known offender.
 
We are thankful to those community partners who called the police and reported such egregious acts. The Petaluma Police Department is committed to working to reduce crime and improve the quality of life throughout the City of Petaluma and encourages community members to partner with us by contacting the Police Department when a police response is appropriate.
 
If you have any information concerning these incidents, your encouraged to contact the Petaluma Police Department at [email protected] or by calling (707) 778-4372.
 
Media inquiries may be directed to Lt. Matthew Parnow at [email protected] or phone 707-778-4372.