The Sunday lunch hour in downtown San Rafael turned tense when, according to witnesses, a 31-year-old man advanced on someone with a knife. Quick-acting bystanders grabbed hold of the suspect and kept him there until officers arrived, and police took him into custody. No injuries were reported.
According to The Press Democrat, the confrontation unfolded around 12:15 PM near Tamalpais Avenue and Third Street. Sgt. Justin Graham told the outlet that the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Feliciano Hernandez Perez, had been arguing with two people he knows before allegedly moving toward one of them with a knife. Witnesses detained him until police arrived. He was booked into Marin County Jail on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats and remained in custody on $50,000 bail.
Where it happened
The run-in took place in San Rafael’s downtown corridor near Third Street, an area lined with shops and transit connections that stays busy for much of the day. The San Rafael Police Department has responded to several serious incidents there in recent months, including a March homicide on Andersen Drive. The department shared an update on that case on its website, and San Rafael Police Department officials provided the March statement.
Legal implications
Hernandez Perez was booked on allegations often filed under California law: assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threats. Assault with a deadly weapon is described in Penal Code 245(a)(1) and can be charged as a felony. Criminal threats fall under Penal Code 422 and can bring jail time, depending on how prosecutors choose to file the case. Penal Code 245 and Penal Code 422 spell out the elements and the potential penalties. Hernandez Perez is presumed innocent unless and until he is proven guilty in court.
Police request tips
San Rafael police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or has information to contact the department’s nonemergency line or use its online tip form. Tips can be made by calling (415) 485-3000 or by submitting information through the department’s tip form, according to the San Rafael Police Department. Investigators say the case remains open and under active review.
