Petaluma Police Look For Water Street Knife Assailant

PETALUMA - An altercation between two groups of men escalated into violence early Saturday morning in downtown Petaluma when one man was stabbed nine times by an unknown assailant.

Police say that a little after 2:00 a.m. on Saturday February 13, they received a call of a stabbing that had occurred on Water Street near Main Street in downtown Petaluma.

According to the police report, a 20-year-old man from Santa Rosa was found with multiple stab wounds to his chest and torso. The victim was transported to a local hospital and is undergoing surgery at this time. Prior to entering surgery, the police say the stabbing victim was talkative, and he is expected to survive.

The stabbing occurred on Water Street along the waterfront; after being stabbed, police say the victim walked from the scene up Main Street toward Petaluma Boulevard North, where he collapsed and was found. The man suffered approximately nine puncture wounds to his chest and torso.

According to authorities, the man had been socializing in downtown Petaluma with two friends prior to the stabbing. Both are from Petaluma. At some point, the trio became involved in an altercation with two other white men on Water Street. Police say one of them was the suspect who stabbed the victim.

The suspect is described as a white male adult between 25-35 years old, standing 5’09 tall and weighing approximately 140-150 lbs.

The suspect wore a goatee and long sideburns, a black beanie knit cap, a black jacket, and blue jeans.

Petaluma Police say the victim’s two friends were contacted near Taco Bell on a secondary disturbance call, along with another involved party from the original fight.

These subjects were interviewed and released from the scene. Details were lacking from the victim’s associates, one of whom stated he did not want to be a “snitch”, according to police.

The crime scene was processed for blood and other evidence left behind during the melee. The knife used in the stabbing has not been located.

Anyone with information concerning this crime is asked to contact the Petaluma Police Department at 707-778-4372 or Detective Lance Novello at 707-778-4334.