Arrest Made In Downtown Petaluma Fight

PETALUMA, CA— An arrest has been made in connection with a recent fight in downtown Petaluma that left one person seriously injured, police said.

Officers with the Petaluma Police Department were dispatched shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 22, to multiple reports about the altercation outside a restaurant in the 0-100 block of Petaluma Boulevard North.

When they arrived, they found a man who had been knocked unconscious and was suffering from severe injuries, according to Kelsey McCarthy, a spokesperson for the Petaluma Police Department.

The person believed to be responsible for the assault had left the area.

The victim was rushed to a local hospital for treatment of serious injuries, McCarthy said.

Officers worked to track down the suspect, which included reviewing video surveillance cameras from the downtown area. A witness also provided video of the assault.

Petaluma police put out a news release and requested the public's help to identify the suspect in the assault.

"We thankfully received numerous calls providing tips on the identity of the suspect,"
McCarthy said.

Before long, officers identified the suspect as William Werner, 30, of Petaluma. A felony arrest warrant was issued for Werner for assault with a deadly weapon and battery causing serious bodily injury.

Werner was arrested Wednesday by members of the police department's Community Impact Response Team and was booked into Sonoma County Jail later that day.

"Thank you to the numerous community members who provided tips that played a crucial role in advancing the investigation," McCarthy said. "We are grateful for our partnership with the public that allows safety to continue in Petaluma."

Jail records showed Friday that Werner was no longer in custody, indicating he posted bail.

According to Sonoma County Superior Court records, Werner pleaded no contest in December 2023 to a misdemeanor charge for battery on a person.