The following press release on the Petaluma Police Department’s Nixle system:
On Monday December 7, 2020 at approximately 10:32 a.m., a woman drove to the Petaluma Police Department to report suspicious behavior exhibited by two adults (a man and woman) at Michael’s craft store on North McDowell Boulevard.
The woman reported being followed inside the store by the couple as she shopped while pushing her two young children in a stroller. The woman said the couple made comments concerning the appearance of the children.
The couple was said to have followed the woman to her car, where the couple lingered near the stroller as the woman placed her children in the vehicle.
On Monday December 7, 2020 the woman said she did not want anyone arrested but wanted to draw attention to the concerning behavior exhibited by the couple. Petaluma Police Department patrol officers had searched the area where the incident occurred but were unable to locate the involved parties. At the time this incident was initially reported, there was insufficient evidence to establish that a crime had occurred.
On Monday December 14, 2020 the Petaluma Police Department became aware of a social media post made by the reporting party in which she recounted and elaborated upon the aforementioned incident; this post included information that had not been initially presented to the Petaluma Police Department on December 7, 2020.
A still photograph from the store’s security video system contains an image of the couple identified by the reporting party as persons of interest in this matter (see attached).
Petaluma Police Department officers and detectives have subsequently conducted follow-up; inconsistencies between the two accounts of the incident need to be resolved before criminal charges can be considered.
Michael’s crafts has been cooperating with this investigation and has been diligent in providing video evidence to investigators.
If anyone has information pertaining to this incident or was a witness to it, they are asked to contact Petaluma Police Department Detective Corie Joerger at 707-778-4456.
