Petaluma motel evacuated, 2 arrested in knife threat

A Petaluma motel was evacuated Friday night as police were searching for a pair suspected of attempting to hit a man with a car and threatening him with what was initially believed to be a gun.|

A Petaluma motel was evacuated Friday night as police were searching for a pair suspected of attempting to hit a man with a car and threatening him with what was initially believed to be a gun.

Police said they had been searching for the suspects around 7:30 p.m. when Officer Corie Joerger spotted their vehicle outside the Motel 6 on North McDowell Boulevard. Celeste Vogler, 44, and Abraham Santos, 36, both of Petaluma, were arrested outside near their room, Sgt. Rick Cox said in a statement. Several rooms had been evacuated.

Cox said the victim, who was not identified, reported that Vogler tried to run him over and that Santos stepped out of the car and pulled out what looked like a gun before fleeing. Officers later determined it was a knife.

β€œThe item Santos had in his waistband was a large, fixed blade knife,” Cox said.

Police dog Jeff and his handler, Officer Aaron Lindh, found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during a search of the car and hotel room, Cox said.

Vogler was arrested on suspicion of possessing meth and drug paraphernalia.

Santos was on probation and had several misdemeanor arrest warrants. He now faces charges related to suspected probation violation, displaying a deadly weapon in a threatening manner and possession of meth, drug paraphernalia and concealed dirk or dagger.

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