Armed Suspect In Ill-Fated Water Escape Identified: Petaluma Police

PETALUMA, CA — Petaluma police on Saturday identified a man suspected of threatening a restaurant employee with a knife and making threats, authorities said on Saturday.

Police say that at about 8:45 p.m., 42-year-old Jason Earl Collins of San Diego was using chalk to write something on the sidewalk in front of the Easy Rider restaurant at 190 Kentucky Street on Monday.

When an employee asked Collins to move along, he allegedly brandished a knife and moved toward them, police said.

The employee was able to get back inside the restaurant and lock the door, according to police. Two other restaurant employees then followed Collins down the street and called police, who soon found the suspect on C St. near where it dead ends at the Petaluma River, police said.

Collins then allegedly got into the river and waded and swam toward the D St. Bridge. With help from a Sonoma County Sheriff's Department helicopter and a Petaluma Fire Department boat crew, officers were able to follow Collins, pull him from the water and make an arrest.

After being examined at hospital, Collins was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, making criminal threats, brandishing a weapon and resisting, and obstructing or delaying a police officer.

Although he allegedly refused to give his name, Sonoma County Jail officials eventually were able to identify Collins, who police say has outstanding warrants in Wisconsin, Colorado and Arizona.

By Bay City News