Suspected prowler arrested in south Santa Rosa

A homeless man suspected of trying unsuccessfully to break into a south Santa Rosa home late Saturday evening was arrested with the help of police dogs, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office reported.

Deputies got a call at 10:40 p.m. from residents of a home on the 3400 block of Santa Rosa Avenue that a man was trying to get inside through several doors and windows. The callers locked themselves in a bathroom and called police as he tried to get in, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Deputies arrived with a police dog and, after searching the property, found Mark Baker, 36, hiding in the residents’ car, sheriff’s officials said. He refused to get out and began fighting when deputies tried to remove him, sheriff’s officials said. That prompted deputies to use the police dog.

With the dog’s help, he was taken into custody and arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary, resisting arrest, prowling and threatening a police officer, according to the Sheriff’s Office. He was booked into Sonoma County Jail after being treated for bite wounds at a local hospital.

Staff Writer Jamie Hansen blogs about education at extracredit.blogs.pressdemocrat.com. You can reach her at 521-5205 or jamie.hansen@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jamiehansen.