A brazen break-in bid turned violent early last Thursday when a man tried to force his way into a Santa Rosa apartment, sparking a scuffle that left three deputies injured, authorities said.
Deputies responded to the 3000 block of Santa Rosa Avenue around 4:15 AM after receiving a call about a male suspect attempting to enter an apartment armed with a knife, according to the Sonoma Sheriff's Office. The man, later identified as 32-year-old Jorge Morales of Santa Rosa, was located walking away from the scene by deputies who arrived swiftly at the location.
Morales appeared to cooperate with the deputies' commands initially, but the situation quickly escalated when they attempted to handcuff him. A struggle ensued as Morales fought fiercely, keeping his hand near his waistband — an action that prompted deputies to Tase him numerous times to no avail. Finally, after several intense minutes, the deputies managed to subdue and restrain Morales fully.
The deputies' search revealed a screwdriver and suspected methamphetamine on Morales, but no knife was found. Following the altercation, the three deputies were treated for minor injuries at the local hospital and were subsequently released. According to the Sonoma Sheriff's Office, Morales received medical attention before being booked into jail on a string of charges, including three felony counts of resisting arrest and three misdemeanor counts of battery on a peace officer.
Morales's arrest record now includes misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and violation of probation. He remains incarcerated with bail set at $130,000 per the official case number 240309006 report published by the Sonoma Sheriff's Office on March 13.
