Petaluma parolee suspected of firing gun at deputy arrested at bus stop

<p>A 21-year-old Petaluma man believed to have fired a gun at a pursuing patrol deputy New Year's Eve was arrested in San Francisco late Wednesday night as he prepared to board a Greyhound bus for Arizona, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said.</p><p>Connor Timothy Woods, who already was on parole for a weapons violation that earned him a short stint in state prison, is being held without bail in the wake of his 9:30 p.m. arrest at the Folsom Street bus depot, sheriff's Sgt. Mike Raasch said.</p><p>Woods is believed to have been the subject of a manhunt begun around 11:45 p.m. Saturday after the unidentified deputy pulled over a car for a traffic infraction on Stony Point Road at West Hearn Avenue, Raasch said.</p><p>Woods is believed to have been a rear passenger seen tossing a backpack from the car before bailing out and fleeing on foot with the deputy in pursuit as he ran through several residential yards and hopped two fences, officials said.</p><p>The deputy was about 40 feet behind the suspect when he heard a loud popping sound believed to have been gunfire, Raasch said. The deputy was not struck or injured.</p><p>A .22-caliber revolver with one expended round of ammunition was later found in the area and found to have been stolen during a Dec. 24 residential burglary near Piner and Fulton roads, Raasch said.</p><p>A second deputy who arrived to provide back-up heard the gunfire and immediately ran to his colleague's aid before he had a chance to call in the license plate of the Honda, which left the scene with three occupants, Raasch said.</p><p>More than 20 law enforcement officer joined the search, setting up a perimeter, but were unable to locate the fleeing suspect or the escaped Honda, Raasch said.</p><p>But identification in the backpack led investigators to Woods, he said.</p><p>Detective Brandon Cutting tracked down a mobile phone number for Woods and spoke with him one or twice Monday night in an unsuccessful effort to have him turn himself in, Raasch said.</p><p>On Wednesday, investigators learned Woods had picked up a Greyhound ticket for a 10 p.m. bus. They were waiting for him with several San Francisco police officers when he checked in before boarding, Raasch said.</p><p>Woods was being held without bail after his arrest for suspected assault with a deadly weapon, violation of parole, possession of a loaded firearm, possession of stolen property, possession of a gun by a felon and a gang enhancement, authorities said.</p>