A man was arrested on August 28 during a meeting with his probation officer after allegedly assaulting a woman with a wine bottle, trying to assault another person and stealing a purse early on August 26 morning, according to the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety.
Randy Solares, 27, allegedly struck a 44-year-old woman with the wine bottle when he tried to steal her purse on the Copeland Creek Trail shortly after midnight. The woman hit Solares and fled, but she and a witness gave public safety officers a description of the suspect, who fled on a bicycle.
Solares also allegedly tried to assault a male with a knife and a pipe in Santa Alicia Park around 1:30 a.m. Solares escaped, but he then threatened to stab a woman with a knife as she tried to call 911. The woman hid behind a vehicle and Solares left on a bicycle, public safety officials said.
Officers then responded around 4 a.m. to a Taco Bell restaurant on East Cotati Avenue where an employee said a man on a bicycle stole her purse. The manager of the restaurant had recently taken a photo of the suspect when he caused a disturbance by trying to order his food on his bicycle at the drive-thru window.
Officers recognized the man in the photo as Solares, who had prior police contacts. The victims and witnesses in the three incidents identified Solares as the suspect in a photo lineup, according to the Department of Public Safety.
Investigators determined Solares was scheduled to meet with his probation officer on August 28, and officers arrested him when he arrived. Solares was staying at a homeless shelter and officers found items from previous thefts in his bag of belongings.
Solares was booked under no bail in Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, brandishing a weapon, terrorist threats and violating probation.
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