Rohnert Park Man Accused In Stabbing As His 2 Young Kids Witnessed: PD

PETALUMA, CA — A Rohnert Park man who was sought for child endangerment and assault with a deadly weapon turned himself in at the Petaluma Police Department early Tuesday morning, Petaluma police said.

The assault charge was from a stabbing reported at 8:23 p.m. Monday at an apartment complex at 745 N. McDowell Blvd. Officers were dispatched to reports of a domestic disturbance and found a male victim suffering from significant stab wounds to his face and other parts of his body, Petaluma police Sgt. Jake Gutierrez said.

Medics with the Petaluma Fire Department treated the victim at the scene. The victim was then rushed to a local hospital where he was listed in serious but stable condition, Gutierrez said Wednesday morning.

The suspect was identified as 37-year-old Rohnert Park resident Juan Martinez-Montano.

Officers learned the victim and Martinez-Montano knew each other, and that Martinez-Montano had his two young children with him when he drove to the complex Monday night.

It is alleged that as Martinez-Montano stabbed the victim in the face and other parts of his body, his children remained in the car and witnessed the stabbing.

Martinez-Montano ran away after the stabbing and threw out the knife, apparently while his young children were left behind in the car.

A large perimeter was set up and Petaluma PD enlisted the help of Sonoma County Sheriff’s H-1 helicopter crew and Cotati Police Department's tracking K9, Dolly the Bloodhound, in an extensive search of the area.

Martinez-Montano was not found.

Detectives with the Petaluma Police Department were called out and took over the investigation and crime scene investigators processed the scene for evidence.

Detectives got an arrest warrant for Martinez-Montano for suspected assault with a deadly weapon and child endangerment charges.

Then, at 12:25 a.m. Tuesday, Martinez-Montano walked into the Petaluma Police Department, turned himself in, and was detained without further incident, Gutierrez said.

During interviews with detectives, Martinez-Montano admitted to stabbing the victim and said he threw away the knife as he fled the scene, Gutierrez said.

Martinez-Montano was booked into Sonoma County jail.

Detectives later recovered the knife.

"This incident is an excellent example of the coordination and collaboration between Sonoma County Law Enforcement agencies which occurs daily in our communities," Petaluma police said.