Intersection of Martin & Ellis, Petaluma | Google Maps
PETALUMA – According to a community bulletin issued Friday, March 11th, by the Petaluma Police Department (PPD), an officer located a vehicle in connection with a kidnapping investigation within a neighboring jurisdiction.
Shortly before 8:15 am, Officer Accornero attempted to stop the suspect vehicle when the driver failed to yield. When the vehicle was stopped by traffic the passenger exited the vehicle and fled.
Officers in pursuit split up. One gave chase to the passenger while the other pursued the vehicle. Officer Accornero was able to stop the driver of the vehicle within a short distance away on Ellis at Martin Circle. The driver was detained without further incident.
A witness saw the fleeing passenger throw a firearm into Washington Creek as he continued to flee northbound. He was pursued and arrested on Lynch Creek Trail by Officers DeBaeke and Miller and Detectives Shoemaker and Stemmer. He was also taken into custody without further incident.
Officers from PPD were assisted by the Petaluma Fire Department in entering the water to search for the firearm by hand.
Officers Dan Miller and Rob Hawkins recovered the 9mm handgun in 3 feet of water after a 40-minute search in the area where the witness saw the suspect throw it into the water.
Also assisting the PPD in searching the creekbed was Ellen Kruger from Marin County Search & Rescue and her canine partner “Nike”. K9 Officer Joerger and her partner “Basko” and Officer Clare Torina also participated in the search of the Washington Creek area.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as 22-year-old Alicia Lugo.
Lugo is facing charges of attempting to evade a police officer, driving on a suspended license, driving without a court-ordered ignition control device and a violation of probation.
The passenger was identified as 26-year-old Jake Tran.
Tran faces charges of being in possession of a loaded firearm and resisting arrest. Both suspects are Petaluma residents and were booked into the Sonoma County Jail. The kidnapping investigation continues, however the reported victim is not talking to authorities.
