Barricaded Man Surrenders To Petaluma Crisis Negotiators

PETALUMA, CA —A Petaluma man was safely taken into custody Thursday night after he barricaded himself inside a home in a domestic violence incident, Petaluma police said.

Nicholas Adrian Dale, 26, forced his way into the female victim's home on Grouse Lane around 7:15 p.m. Thursday, police said in a news release. The victim was on the phone with 911 dispatchers to report a domestic violence incident involving Dale when she reported he broke through the door and entered the residence, police said.

To protect against Dale, who reportedly had a gun, the woman retreated to a bedroom where she barricaded herself and her two children.

Dale was seen closing the garage door, then barricading the front door as officers arrived and they were not able to establish any communication.

They were able to speak with the victim, however, and confirmed she and the children were still barricaded in a bedroom.

After multiple failed attempts at contacting Dale, the Petaluma Police Crisis Response Unit —comprised of a SWAT team, hostage negotiators, tactical dispatchers and tactical medical personnel — was requested.

As the crisis unit negotiated with Dale, the Petaluma Police Department sent a Nixle alert about the police activity and asked the public to avoid Quail Drive between Crinella and Daniel drives.

Dale came outside after several minutes of negotiations and was safely taken into custody, police said.

Police did not find a gun but said Dale was wearing a bulletproof vest under his clothes.

The scene was cleared at 10:07 p.m.

Dale was booked in Sonoma County jail on suspicion of inflicting corporal injury on a former spouse or domestic partner.

He was no longer in custody Friday morning, according to jail records.