Homeless Petaluma Man Arrested for Lynch Creek Trail Assault

PETALUMA, CA -- A man suffered minor injuries after being attacked by a knife-wielding homeless man while walking in the Lynch Creek Trail area.

At about 7:40 pm on November 7, a female called 911 reporting that her boyfriend had been stabbed in the area of the Lynch Creek Trail and the 101 Freeway. Officers responded to the area and located the female caller and her boyfriend, the victim. It was quickly determined that neither of them had been stabbed.

The victim stated he and his girlfriend had been walking on the Lynch Creek Trail in the area of the 101-pedestrian underpass. They were confronted by a subject who became irate after the victim shined his flashlight towards them. The subject began yelling and punched the victim in the face. The victim’s girlfriend immediately fled the area while the victim responded by producing a large knife they had been carrying.

The subject continued yelling at the victim and began swinging a jacket towards them in an attempt to strike the victim, police say. While this was occurring, three other subjects came out of the bushes in the surrounding area and told the subject to stop. Despite this the subject continued confronting the victim and hitting him with their jacket. Five other subjects then came out of the surrounding bushes as well and began yelling at the victim at which time the victim fled the area.

Officers responding to the area located a subject, later identified as Todd Naus. Naus had injuries consistent with being involved in some sort of an assault. Naus was detained and later identified by the victim as being the subject who had punched them. Naus admitted punching the victim and stated during the altercation the victim produced a knife had cut one of his hands.

Naus was treated at the scene by the Petaluma Fire Department and placed under arrest for a violation of 242 PC, battery. The other involved subjects in this incident were not located. Anyone with further information regarding this incident or who have may have witnesses these subjects are encouraged to contact Officer Hutchinson at (707) 781-1290.

The Petaluma Police Department continues to respond to numerous issues occurring in the area of the Lynch Creek Trail. Despite the reassignment of two Homeless Outreach Support Officers the Petaluma Police Department remains committed to improving the safety in the area. Anyone who observes suspicious activity in the area is encouraged to report it by calling our non-emergency line at (707) 762-2727.

For additional information regarding the reassignment of the two Homeless Outreach Support Officers and others go to https://local.nixle.com/alert/...

Suspect mugshot via Petaluma Police