Theft of Tequila Turns into Armed Robbery When Suspect Flashes a Knife
The two suspects were caught in Grocery Outlet surveillance video
PETALUMA – According to a recent Petaluma Police Department (PPD) Advisory, two men entered the Grocery Outlet at 80 East Washington Boulevard in Petaluma shortly after 7 pm on Monday, October 19th. One of the men was observed shoplifting a $22.00 bottle of tequila and putting it in a pull-along suitcase.
Once they were outside, a clerk from the store confronted them and said that he would call police if they didn’t return the stolen merchandise. At that point one of the men pulled out a knife and threatened to stab the clerk. Both men then left in the direction of Water Street, where one of them was later arrested.
McEvoy was captured on Water Street, just a block down from Grocery Outlet
The suspect arrested shortly after the theft was identified as a 52-year-old transient from Santa Rosa, Daniel McEvoy. He was charged with public intoxication and shoplifting. He claimed to have just met the other man who brandished the knife and didn’t know his name.
McEvoy had been arrested just a few weeks prior, on August 26 in Santa Cruz for petty theft and public intoxication. He had three other arrests earlier in the year on disorderly conduct – public intoxication charges, all while living in Santa Cruz.
The man with the knife was still at large until Thursday, October 22nd. He was then seen walking on Hopper Street in Petaluma wearing the same clothes and bearing the same appearance as described by witnesses earlier.
Carlos Alberto Bernal is a 35-year-old transient originally from San Bernardino County, with recent arrests in San Mateo County. He was detained and interviewed and made several admissions to his crime. He was later booked for robbery at the Sonoma County Jail.
