Armed robbery suspect arrested in Rohnert Park field

Rohnert Park police officers standing atop a fire truck spotted a Wal-Mart robbery suspect hiding in a large field and sent in a police dog who helped apprehend the man, police said Tuesday.

Officers arrested Steve Lane Hall, 39, suspected of pointing a gun at Wal-Mart security employees while trying to steal a backpack, shoes and a couple of DVDs, Sgt. Jerry Marshall said.

Officers were called to the store at about 2 p.m. Monday. Employees said the armed man had run from the store, Marshall said.

The man headed into nearby fields in the area of Langer and Labath avenues and disappeared from view. CHP officers and Sonoma County sheriff’s deputies helped Rohnert Park officer surround the area and search.

One of the city’s fire trucks also responded and officers used the engine’s height and some binoculars to help them look, Marshall said.

When the man was spotted, canine Enzo was sent after him. The man refused to put his arms up and the dog bit him, Marshall said.

Hall, whom police said was a transient, was treated for the bite and booked into the Sonoma County Jail with bail set at $50,000. He was arrested on suspicion of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon, for pointing the gun at the workers.

Hall told officers the gun wasn’t real. He didn’t have it with him when he was arrested and said he’d dropped it in the field. A search of the area failed to turn up a gun, Marshall said.