Chainsaw-Wielding Man Chops City Signs: Police

PETALUMA, CA — A Petaluma man is accused of vandalizing Petaluma city signs with a chainsaw Sunday morning, then running onto the freeway, obstructing officers when they tried to detain him, a police sergeant said.

Several people called 911 around 10:30 a.m. Sunday to report that a transient was using a chainsaw to cut down city signs at the intersection of North McDowell Boulevard and East Washington Street, Petaluma police Sgt. Ryan Suhrke said.

The suspect, later identified as 39-year-old Kristopher Paul Weber of Petaluma, dropped the chainsaw as officers approached him, then walked away — pulling the chainsaw behind him in a cart, Suhrke said.

"Due to his erratic behavior, being in possession of a chainsaw and being suspected of vandalizing public property, officers continued to follow him and ordered him to stop, but he refused," Suhrke said.

Officers were following him, trying to de-escalate the situation and convince him to stop, when he picked up the chainsaw and ran onto the East Washington Street offramp from northbound U.S. Highway 101, the sergeant said.

"He fled southbound toward the freeway and ran along the shoulder as officers pursued him on foot," Suhrke said. "Simultaneously, other officers approached their location from the south on northbound US Highway 101 from Lakeville Street."

Officers surrounded Weber and he dropped the chainsaw and peacefully surrendered, Suhrke said.

Weber was booked into Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of vandalism less than $400 damage and obstructing a police officer.

Jail records Monday indicated he was no longer in custody.

Police asked anyone who witnessed the incident to call the police department at 707-778-4372.