Police: Heavily armed man arrested in attempted burglary at Cotati nursery

A 31-year-old Sebastopol man suspected of bringing an arsenal of knives, a pair of semi-automatic rifles and a medieval weapon to a Cotati plant nursery and trying to force his way into a building was arrested late Thursday, police officials said.

A resident at the property on the 8000 block of Highway 116 South called 911 about 11:30 p.m. to report a possible trespasser. The property includes a residence and buildings for a plant nursery, Lt. Bill French said.

Sgt. Craig Guydan found Ricky Georgantes near a nursery building where he’d apparently been trying to use a hammer to get through a door, police said. Police suspect he also fired one of the guns three or four times at the door lock in an attempt to get inside, and the bullets ricocheted into another building, French said.

“He got through a fence and was trying to get into the main nursery, but he couldn’t break the door down or was interrupted by the sergeant,” French said.

Georgantes had 12 knives, a ninja-style throwing star and a significant amount of ammunition, including large-capacity 20-and 30-round magazines banned in California, French said.

Two loaded rifles were nearby, leaning against a fence, with additional ammunition on the ground. French said the firearms were both SKS-45 rifles, and one was modified with a pistol grip and flashlight.

Georgantes also had a medieval weapon called a flail - a spiked ball on a chain - tucked into his waistband, French said. During his arrest, Georgantes admitted to being involved in a Dec. 9 pursuit with police. In that case, an officer tried to pull Georgantes over because of an outstanding misdemeanor theft warrant for Georgantes’ arrest, but Georgantes sped off and the pursuit was abandoned for safety reasons, French said.

Georgantes was arrested on suspicion of attempted burglary, shooting into an unoccupied building, negligent discharge of a firearm, vandalism and a variety of weapon violations. He was being held in lieu of $255,000 bail at the Sonoma County Jail. French said they were still investigating why Georgantes brought the large volume of weapons to the nursery.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 707-521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com.