Santa Rosa police deploy chemical agents, Taser to arrest burglary suspect

(KRON) — Authorities in the North Bay used chemical agents, less-lethal projectiles, a Taser and a K-9 during a standoff to take a residential burglar into custody on Wednesday, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department.

Santa Rosa police responded at 8:35 p.m. to the 2500 block of Meda Avenue after a homeowner reported a burglary in progress. The homeowner, who was not at the residence, saw a man whom she did not know enter her home, SRPD said.

Arriving officers observed the suspected burglar, later identified as Jiovanny Rivas, 23, of Santa Rosa, inside the kitchen, according to police. After Rivas refused to leave the home, Santa Rosa PD said officers approached with a police K-9 in an attempt to arrest him. Rivas then allegedly grabbed a large kitchen knife.

Officers retreated from the home “to avoid an armed confrontation,” police said. The suspect then barricaded himself inside a bedroom while the Santa Rosa PD SWAT and Crisis Negotiator teams responded.

“After approximately 4 hours of unsuccessfully trying to engage and speak with [Rivas], officers deployed chemical agents to get him to exit the residence voluntarily,” SRPD said. According to authorities, Rivas left the bedroom with the knife but did not leave the residence. More chemical agents were used, and the suspect again barricaded himself inside a bedroom.

Officers said Rivas was seen no longer holding the knife, but “continued with his uncooperative and resistive behavior and attempted to hide under clothing and other items, which concealed his hands from view.” Police then used less-lethal projectiles and a Taser to take Rivas into custody.

Rivas was treated for injuries at an area hospital before being booked into jail for burglary, resisting an officer and violation of pre-trial release.

SRPD said two officers sustained minor injuries in the incident.