Casino theft suspect
PETALUMA – According to a recent Community Bulletin by the Petaluma Police Department (PPD), an officer patrolling in the vicinity of the Petaluma Fairgrounds located an unoccupied stolen vehicle parked on Payran Street at approximately 1:15 pm on Monday, August 8.
The vehicle was reported stolen out of Rohnert Park on August 6. The officer’s report alerted the Sonoma County Auto Theft Task Force Detectives who were called in to take over the investigation. At approximately 4:30 pm Auto Theft Detectives observed two suspects get into the stolen vehicle and drive away. PPD Officers made a traffic stop on the vehicle and took the suspects into custody without further incident.
The suspects were identified as 34-year-old Adam Hager of Cloverdale who was driving the vehicle and 39-year-old Elizabeth Ardley of Petaluma who was the passenger.
During a search after taking the two into custody, Hager was found to be in possession of methamphetamine and Ardley was in possession of drug paraphernalia and prescription medication not prescribed to her.
Hager was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of a controlled substance with bail set at $10,000. Ardley was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. Ardley’s bail was set at $1,000.
In a separate incident reported in a Community Advisory, PPD Officers received a report of grand theft at Park West Casino located at 5151 Montero Way in Petaluma on Saturday, August 6th, just before 10 am. Officers contacted the victim there who reported that she was gambling and discovered a large amount of money and casino chips had been stolen from her purse which had been hanging on the back of her chair while gambling.
Upon reviewing surveillance footage an unidentified Asian female suspect was observed taking the victim’s purse from the chair and into the casino’s restroom. A few minutes later the same suspect was seen returning the purse.
The suspect was described as an Asian female adult, approximately 50-years-old, approximately 5’5” tall, 120 lbs, with short brown hair, wearing a blue colored sweater, a grey colored long sleeve shirt, grey colored jeans, and gold colored shoes.
The PPD is asking the public’s assistance in identifying the suspect. Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspect is encouraged to notify Petaluma Police Officer Howard by phone, 707-781-1274.
