Shoppers at a Mendocino Avenue shopping center were sent scrambling yesterday when a Santa Rosa woman allegedly chased people into the street while armed with a large knife near the Safeway in the 2200 block. Police say the woman, identified as 53-year-old Tiffany Espinoza, was found near the front of the Chase Bank building, where she reportedly pointed the blade at officers and ordered them to stay back. After a less-lethal projectile failed to stop her, officers used a taser and took Espinoza into custody. Police reported no other injuries.
Police response and arrest
According to KRON4, which carried a Bay City News Service dispatch, multiple 911 callers reported a woman with a large knife chasing people into the street and attempting to stab them near the Safeway. Officers located Espinoza near the front of the Chase Bank on the 2200 block of Mendocino Avenue. Police first fired a less-lethal projectile that did not stop her, then deployed a taser to subdue her. She was treated for minor injuries at a hospital before being booked into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of criminal threats, brandishing a weapon and resisting officers.
Where it happened
The disturbance unfolded in the Mendocino Marketplace shopping center, anchored by a Safeway at 2300 Mendocino Ave. That stretch of Mendocino Avenue is described as a busy retail corridor, and the store listing confirms the address. Police briefly blocked southbound Mendocino Avenue during the response, which temporarily affected nearby businesses and traffic.
Legal process
Espinoza was booked on suspicion of criminal threats, brandishing a weapon and resisting officers. Prosecutors in the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office will review the case and decide whether to file formal charges. The DA’s site explains that deputy district attorneys examine police reports and other evidence before issuing a complaint that lays out the charges a defendant faces. Espinoza, like all suspects, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
What police are asking
Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or who has video of it to contact Santa Rosa detectives, according to KRON4. Authorities reiterated that there were no other reported injuries and said the suspect was transported to a hospital for treatment after the arrest.
