Combative Man Tries To Steal Car From Tow Yard In Petaluma: PD

PETALUMA, CA — A Petaluma man was booked into Sonoma County jail on Sunday after police say he tried to steal a car from a tow yard and became combative when officers tried to take him into custody.

The incident started around noon Sunday when a resident called police and said a man scaled a barb-wired fence at a tow yard in the 500 block of East Washington Street and was trespassing, Petaluma police Sgt. Ryan Suhrke said.

The front gate of the business was heavily damaged and a lot of debris was on the ground when officers got there, the sergeant said.

Officers believe the trespasser, later identified as 27-year-old Logan Reece, took a car from the lot and rammed the gate with it.

The gate was severely damaged but did not completely open — preventing Reece from escaping in the vehicle, Suhrke said.

Officers set up a perimeter and confirmed Reece was inside the fenced lot, police said.

"Reece refused to listen to officers for several minutes and a negotiation ensued," Suhrke said.

Reece eventually came out of the tow yard but as officers were detaining him, he became combative and tried to take off, according to police.

"Reece was placed onto the ground after a brief struggle and taken into custody," Suhrke said.

Reece continued to be combative, Suhrke said, so officers used a WRAP restraint — a device that put him into a seated position and restricted his leg and arm movements.

Neither the officers nor Reece were injured, police said.

Reece was cleared at a hospital, then booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of vehicle theft, resisting arrest, felony vandalism and trespassing.

Reece remained in custody Monday in lieu of $225,000 with a court appearance scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, according to jail records.