Prowler Assaults Woman, Breaks Into Several Petaluma Homes

PETALUMA, CA — A Montana man is accused in a series of violent encounters with Petaluma residents Monday morning.

Police were first alerted to the situation involving 37-year-old Hans Rudolph Schweitzer at 8:44 a.m. when a resident in the 400 block of Bodega Avenue reported a man was trying to break into her home, Petaluma police Sgt. Zilverio Rivera said.

When her dogs scared him off, he got into a car and drove away.

Fifteen minutes later, the police department received multiple reports from the vicinity of Eden Lane — under a mile from Bodega Avenue — where a man went into several homes and was trying to break into more. Officers responded and detained the man later confirmed to be Schweitzer.

"Early in the investigation, Schweitzer was identified as the same prowler reported minutes earlier at the Bodega Avenue address," Rivera said. "Once at Eden [Lane], Schweitzer attempted to enter one residence but was unsuccessful. Schweitzer approached another residence and entered the home. Once inside the residence, Schweitzer pinned an adult female resident against the wall and attempted to kiss her. A struggle ensued and the female resident was successful in freeing herself and called 911 as she and her young child fled to a nearby neighbor’s residence."

After Schweitzer left the woman's home he tried to gain access to another home but was unsuccessful so he crossed over onto Cherry Street where he went into another residence where a man confronted Schweitzer rifling through his kitchen. The male resident physically struggled with Schweitzer to remove him from his home, police said.

When Schweitzer left that home he was confronted by neighbors who detained him until officers got there.

Schweitzer was arrested and booked into Sonoma County jail on suspicion of two burglaries, two attempted burglaries, assault with intent to commit sexual assault, and false imprisonment.

Because of "the egregious nature of the violations," Petaluma police sought and were granted a bail amount of $1.5 million for Schweitzer, Rivera said.

Petaluma PD thanked the "reporting parties and alert neighbors" who took "appropriate and decisive action to help keep the community safe," the sergeant said.