Pair Busted For Retail Theft, Drugs, Gun: Petaluma PD

PETALUMA, CA — Police arrested a man and a woman on suspicion of stealing merchandise Thursday from a Petaluma outlet store.

Officers were sent at 3:05 p.m. to a theft that had just occurred at Factory Brand Shoes at Petaluma Village Premium Outlets, Petaluma police Sgt. Jake Gutierrez said.

Security officers reported that several people had just taken merchandise from the store, then took off in a red-colored Buick sedan. Officers found the car a short time later as it pulled into the Gateway Shopping Center in Petaluma.

Taylor Jones, 31 of San Rafael, and Jaewon Hwang, 43, of San Rafael were in the car, along with three other people who were not identified by police because they were not arrested.

While officers investigated the theft, an officer with the Community Impact Response Team saw drug paraphernalia in plain view inside the car, Gutierrez said. Based on the officer's observation, there was probable cause to search the car.

Officers started the search and found merchandise stolen from Factory Brand Shoes. In addition to the drug paraphernalia, officers also found illegal narcotics, and an unregistered gun, and ammunition in a bag near the back passenger seat where Hwang was sitting, Gutierrez said.

Officers placed both Hwang and Jones under arrest in connection with the theft from the outlet store.

As officers searched Jones pursuant to her arrest, 23.1 grams of suspected methamphetamine was found hidden on her person, Gutierrez said.

Hwang and Jones were booked into the Sonoma County jail on suspicion of petty theft, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle.

According to Petaluma PD, there has been a dramatic increase in organized retail theft and illegal gun possession because legislation and voter-approved initiatives have significantly reduced the consequences for people who repeatedly engage in nonviolent criminal activity.