Petaluma woman finds stranger asleep on couch

A Petaluma woman who had been asleep in her home was startled to find a stranger asleep on her couch when she got out of bed Thursday afternoon, authorities said.

The intruder, later identified as James Adams of Placerville, apparently had eaten some food, as well, after making himself at home in the Caulfield Lane abode, police said.

The resident discovered him at about 2 p.m., when she came downstairs and saw him sleeping on the sofa. She quickly ran back upstairs and locked herself in her bedroom, calling 911 and provoking an extensive response from police officers who surrounded the house, authorities said.

The woman remained on the phone with an emergency dispatcher, who, when instructed by police, cued her to flee the house, which caused the suspect to wake up and run out the back door, police said.

He kicked down two fence boards to escape her backyard but quickly encountered two police officers who handcuffed him after a brief scuffle in which they twice used a stun gun to overcome his resistance, authorities said.

Adams was taken to a local hospital to be medically cleared before being booked into the Sonoma County Jail.

Police said Adams, 44, has a history of arrests for being under the influence of drugs, possessing weapons, battery on a peace officer and other offenses in California and Oregon.

He was arrested Thursday for suspected burglary and resisting arrest, and was to be evaluated for possible drug use, police said.

Adams remained at the jail Thursday night with bail of $40,000, jail personnel said.