Police use Taser on Santa Rosa homeless man suspected of throwing concrete blocks

Police investigating reports of squatters living in the former Sonoma County Water Agency headquarters arrested a man who allegedly climbed to the roof and threw concrete cinder blocks at officers early Friday.

Three other people found inside the West College Avenue building were given verbal warnings and released, police said.

Police said they have received numerous calls over the last few months about people trespassing in the building. Officers sent to investigate the reports spotted Robert Payment, 37, walking inside the building around ?1:42 a.m. Friday.

A few minutes later, Payment was on the rooftop pacing back and forth about 20 feet above the officers. Police say Payment threatened officers and threw two concrete cinder blocks that landed on the pavement next to them.

When officers reached the rooftop and attempted to arrest Payment, they say he failed to comply with commands. An officer used a stun gun to subdue the man before taking him into custody.

Payment was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon against a peace officer, trespassing and obstructing a peace officer. The Santa Rosa Fire Department helped to bring Payment down from the rooftop.

You can reach Staff Writer Susan Minichiello at 707-521-5216 or susan.minichiello@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @susanmini.