On the night after Christmas, the Santa Rosa Police Department's routine patrol took a tense turn on the Prince Memorial Greenway trail. Robert Penister Jr., 52, a known felon, attempted to escape arrest but was swiftly caught by the officers after a brief chase. According to a social media post by the Santa Rosa Police, the incident occurred around 8:10 p.m. yesterday.
Penister, a Santa Rosa resident, was wanted on a no-bail warrant related to violations of his Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS). When confronted, he resisted and ran, but the officers were quick to apprehend him, even resorting to the use of a Taser. During the arrest, a loaded .22 caliber Ruger Mark II handgun was found in Penister's possession. While the gun wasn't reported as stolen, and Penister was not the registered owner, an investigation is underway to determine how he came to have it. The scenario, highlights a critical moment where police vigilance potentially averted a more severe threat to community safety.
Post-arrest, Penister faced an array of charges, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a loaded firearm not registered to him, and possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. His attempt to avoid arrest also earned him a charge of resisting arrest by force. The Santa Rosa Police Department expressed that Penister's arrest "underscores the Santa Rosa Police Department’s commitment to proactive enforcement and ensuring community safety."
After a medical evaluation, Penister was booked into the Sonoma County Jail. Reflecting on the gravity of his offenses, a Sonoma County Superior Court Judge set his bail at a steep $750,000.
