Suspected shoplifter arrested after fleeing into Santa Rosa home

The 28-year-old Santa Rosa man grabbed about $200 in merchandise at a gas station, police said.|
PAUL PAYNE
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

A suspected shoplifter was arrested Friday night in Santa Rosa after he fled into an apartment and wouldn’t come out, police said.

The incident happened around 6 p.m. at apartments near Highway 12 and Mission Boulevard, Sgt. Marcus Sprague said.

Sprague said the 28-year-old Santa Rosa man, whose name was not released, grabbed about $200 in merchandise off the shelves of the Highway 12 Valero station and ran out the door.

Store clerks chased him and fought with him, but the man escaped into the apartment of an elderly woman, Sprague said.

Officers kicked down the door and found him inside, sitting on a couch next to the woman, Sprague said.

He was arrested without incident and booked into the Sonoma County Jail.

“It could have gone the wrong way but it didn’t,” Sprague said.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.

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