The Petaluma Police Department responded to a call of residential burglary on Cordelia Drive this morning, which appears to be a crime of opportunity. According to an alert issued by the department, a suspect, later identified as Robert Arteaga, took advantage of an open garage to steal a leaf blower and other items.
Law enforcement officers were quick on the scene, with one responding officer spotting a man fitting the suspect’s description. Despite a brief attempt to evade police by fleeing on a bicycle and then on foot, Arteaga was arrested shortly after. Petaluma Police successfully deployed a drone, which played an instrumental role in locating the suspect attempting to conceal himself in a trash can in the backyard of a residential property.
Arrested without incident, Arteaga was found to have an outstanding warrant in addition to the new charges levied against him. He was booked into Sonoma County Jail, facing counts of residential burglary and prowling…