Petaluma Man Arrested After Vandalizing Cars, Assaulting Officer

PETALUMA, CA — A 34-year-old man was arrested early Friday morning after police said he vandalized 10 vehicles with a shovel and caused about $5,000 in damage before he assaulted a police officer while being taken into custody, police said Friday.

Jeffrey Berg, who police listed as a transient from Petaluma, was charged with 14 counts of vandalism, violation of parole, resisting a police officer and battery on a police officer after being booked into the Sonoma County Jail on Friday, police said.

Berg was arrested after police responded to multiple 911 calls in the 100 block of West Payran Street just before 6:30 a.m. Residents called the police after spotting a man later identified as Berg walking down the street carrying a shovel. Police later learned that Berg had vandalized at least 10 cars with the shovel and was using the shovel to hit the windshields and windows of the cars as he walked down the street, police said.

Once spotted, Berg took off on foot but was quickly caught by police near a Lucky’s supermarket. Police said he no longer had the shovel in his possession but refused police orders to surrender. Berg needed to be taken to the ground by police officers and was eventually subdued and placed in handcuffs, police said.

Berg made statements to police that he could not breathe, and paramedics were called to assist, police said. Upon arrived, medical personnel determined that Berg was not suffering from a medical emergency, police said.

When Berg got close enough to the patrol car to be taken to jail, he kicked it, police said. He damaged the police’s car by denting and cracking the taillight. Berg then kicked an officer in the stomach, which resulted in no injuries. Berg again was again forced to the ground and eventually placed in a maximum restraint device for his own safety and the safety if officers safety before he was taken to jail.