A brazen attempt to commandeer a car was foiled in Petaluma on February 5 when a 41-year-old suspect, identified as Krystle Hogan from Clearlake, was apprehended after a scuffle with a 74-year-old man. The encounter, which escalated quickly from a denied request for a ride to physical violence and a threat with a screwdriver, unfolded near O'Reilly Auto Parts on 361 E. Washington Street.

According to the Petaluma Police Department, Hogan's bid to illegally appropriate the vehicle was thwarted when she failed to ignite the engine. During the altercation that ensued, the suspect reportedly struck the veteran male multiple times and then tried to deter him from calling law enforcement by snatching away his cellphone. Hogan was later nabbed close to a CVS entrance while officers responded to the incident, informed by community members who had observed the confrontation.

In a statement obtained by the police, the victim, who hailed from Sebastopol, was unharmed despite the attack. Hogan now faces a slew of charges, including robbery, attempted vehicle theft, brandishing a deadly weapon, impeding a 911 call, elder abuse, and resisting arrest.

The police have expressed their gratitude towards the locals whose prompt calls to 911 were critical to the suspect's apprehension. The concerned citizens' alertness also helped quickly direct the officers to Hogan's location, arresting her before further trouble could be stirred. Hogan's less-than-successful heist attempt is a reminder of the importance of community vigilance and has resulted in her being booked into the Sonoma County Jail on multiple charges.

For media inquiries, Lieutenant Garrett Glaviano of the Petaluma Police Department is the point of contact, reachable at (707) 778-4439. Additional information about the incident can be found on the Petaluma Police Department's official communication.