Full Notification

For Immediate Release                                                                  
Thursday, August 27, 2025
Issued By: Community Engagement Liaison Kelsey McCarthy, [email protected]  

On Saturday, August 23, 2025, Petaluma Police officers conducted a traffic stop on Michael Calapati, (44, Vallejo) for a California Vehicle Code violation. During the stop, officers observed several San Francisco 49ers jerseys in plain view inside the vehicle with security devices attached.
 
DICK’S Sporting Goods later confirmed that a theft had just occurred at their store with the stolen merchandise matching the property in Calapati’s vehicle. In addition to the stolen merchandise, officers located a scale and several individually packaged baggies of suspected methamphetamine. Calapati was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Jail for the following charges:
666.1 P.C.- Theft with priors
11378 H.S.- Possession of controlled substance with intent to sell
 
Petaluma detectives were able to identify Calapati as the suspect in other retail theft cases. Based on Calapati’s extensive history of theft, detectives obtained a search warrant for his residence. During the search, officers recovered two firearms, ammunition, drug paraphernalia, and thousands of dollars’ worth of stolen merchandise. Calapati, who is still in jail, will face additional charges related to the items recovered at his residence today.
 
The Petaluma Police Department is committed to combating organized retail theft and keeping our community safe. We would like to thank the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Property Crimes Investigation Unit and the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office Investigations Bureau for their assistance in this successful operation.

Media Inquiries may be directed to Detective Sergeant Ryan McGreevy [email protected]