Crime & Safety
Retired Petaluma Police Sergeant Acquitted In 2020 Assault Charges
A jury acquitted retired Petaluma police Sgt. Lance Novello following a two-week trial in Sonoma County Superior Court.
PETALUMA, CA — A Sonoma County jury acquitted a retired Petaluma police sergeant Friday who had been charged with assault following an interaction nearly two years ago with a citizen in a hospital parking lot.
Following the incident between retired Sgt. Lance Novello and the citizen on July 20, 2020, Novello was charged with simple assault and assault under color of authority.
The jury acquitted Novello following a two-week trial in Sonoma County Superior Court.
Find out what's happening in Petalumafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Reality is much different than it is so often portrayed when it comes to cases like this," said Andrew Ganz, Novello's attorney.
"I believe the jury recognized that very quickly here. It's time to stop using the criminal justice system as a political tool and to start actually and honestly working toward improving our society."
Find out what's happening in Petalumafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Copyright © 2022 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.
