Parolee carrying hatchet, knife in Santa Rosa police parking lot arrested after pursuit

A man who bicycled into a Santa Rosa police parking lot carrying a hatchet and knife was arrested and jailed Wednesday evening after a brief pursuit, authorities said.

But it remains unclear what Nicholas Brown, 30, had in mind when he entered the permit-only parking area on Sonoma Avenue across from the police station, trailing after an off-duly sergeant around 6 p.m. Wednesday, police said.

Brown, later discovered to be on probation and state parole, had one item in each hand and followed the sergeant for several feet before the officer inquired about his purpose, police said. At that, Brown dropped the weapons, and the sergeant called for on-duty personnel to respond, police said.

Brown then retrieved his belongings and rode away, only to follow two other off-duty employees back into the parking lot as on-duty patrol officers arrived, authorities said.

He fled again onto Sonoma Avenue and refused to stop for the pursuing patrol vehicle until a second patrol unit joined the pursuit, at which point he stopped and was handcuffed, police said. Officers discovered a concealed double-edged knife in his jacket, in addition to the other knife and hatchet, police said.

Brown refused to give a statement, and his motives are unknown, police said.

Brown was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Jail for suspected possession of a concealed dirk or dagger, obstruction of police, violation of parole and violation of probation, authorities said.

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan at 707-521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MaryCallahanB.