Sonoma Police Department

09/15/2026

Just a short while ago, the Sonoma Police Department became aware of a video, which we consider evidence in a homicide investigation that occurred in Sonoma, was released through a social media website. That social media page did not obtain this video from law enforcement and their expressed hearsay about this case is not based on facts collected by the Sheriff's Office Detectives of the Violent Crimes Investigation Unit, nor the deputies of the Sonoma Police Department.

As this video depicts violence against another person, we have requested that the video be removed as we find the posting of the video inappropriate and in very poor taste.

Death investigations are very difficult and sensitive. The video is accompanied by a narrative which is clearly attempting to disparage the victim whose life was taken by another person. Law enforcement has been investigating this case since it occurred so it can present ALL evidence to the District Attorney's Office for consideration of appropriate charges.

At this time, we do not have any further control of whether this social media page will remove the video. We appreciate the community reaching out to notify us of the posting.

09/14/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 14, 2026

FOUR ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH FATAL ASSAULT AT SONOMA PLAZA

SONOMA, CA — Four suspects have been taken into custody on charges of murder and conspiracy following a violent assault at the Sonoma Plaza that resulted in the death of a 64-year-old Sonoma resident.

On Monday, September 7, 2026, at approximately 10:30 PM, patrol officers responded to reports of an injured individual near the Italian Fountain within the Sonoma Plaza. Upon arrival, officers located a 64-year-old male victim lying unconscious on the ground. First responders rendered immediate medical aid, and the victim was transported to a regional trauma center in critical condition.

Despite intensive medical treatment, the victim succumbed to his injuries early in the morning on Sunday, September 13, 2026. The victim has been identified as John Francis Avila, a Sonoma resident.

Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Investigation Detectives launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident, utilizing area surveillance footage, Automated License Plate Readers, physical evidence, and witness statements. Investigators determined that four individuals physically assaulted the victim, causing the injuries that ultimately led to his death.

Following the investigation, detectives identified and located all four suspects. They were arrested without incident and booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility on Sunday (9/14/26).

Suspect Information and Charges:
• Cristian Vargas Collado, 20 year old Sonoma resident: Booked on PC 187(a) Murder, and PC 182(a)(1) Conspiracy to commit murder.
• Augustine Rossi, 20 year old Sonoma resident: Booked on PC 187(a) Murder, and PC 182(a)(1) Conspiracy to commit murder.
• Thomas Griego, 21 year old Sonoma resident: Booked on PC 187(a) Murder, and PC 182(a)(1) Conspiracy to commit murder.
• Anthony Kirk, 28 year old Sonoma resident: Booked on PC 187(a) Murder, and PC 182(a)(1) Conspiracy to commit murder.

The City of Sonoma, the Sonoma Police Department, and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office would like to express our condolences to the family of John Avila.

We would also like to thank the community members that provided information about the incident as well as the numerous businesses around the incident who provided security footage. While the details of the investigation cannot be disclosed at this time, the identification of the suspects was only made possible using the City of Sonoma’s Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology. Without access to our ALPR data for this criminal investigation, identification would have been delayed if not nearly impossible.

The Sonoma Police Department is a contract law enforcement agency under the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. This relationship allows the City of Sonoma to have the assistance of the staffing and experience of the Sheriff’s Office Investigation units. We appreciate the hard work and investigative professionalism of the Violent Crime detectives, Crime Scene detectives, Narcotic Investigation detectives, and Property Crime detectives.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Law enforcement urges anyone who witnessed the incident, has video footage, or possesses additional information regarding this event to contact the Sonoma Police Department 707-996-3601.

Press Release Prepared by Brandon Cutting, Chief of Police, Sonoma Police Department.

09/08/2026

Press Release- September 8, 2026
Sonoma Police Department

Last night (9/7/26) around 10:30 pm, Sonoma Valley Fire Department and the Sonoma Police Department responded to a report of an injured man who was unconscious by the fountain in the Plaza Park near First St East, Sonoma. The man was located and immediately transported by SVFD EMS to an area trauma center where he remains in critical condition.

The victim was found to have suffered significant head trauma, the cause of which is currently under investigation by the Sonoma Police Department and Detectives from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office. If you were in the area of the Sonoma Plaza, specifically in the area of First St East and the Fountain, between the time of 9:55 PM and 10:35 PM on 9/7/26 and have not spoken with law enforcement, can you reach out to us and let us know if you saw or heard anything? Based on information we have, we know that there were several witnesses to this person’s injuries who were no longer present when Sonoma PD and Fire arrived at the scene.

There are no ongoing safety risks as a result of this situation. The identity of the injured man is being withheld until we can connect him with his family.

Sonoma Police contact- 707-996-3601
Email- [email protected]

As always, we greatly appreciate the assistance of the community in these situations. We will provide an update as soon as more details are able to be released.

Prepared by Brandon Cutting, Chief of Police, City of Sonoma.

07/27/2026

The Sonoma Police Department is proud to announce that Deputy Todd Stankas has been awarded the prestigious Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Award!

This award recognizes law enforcement officers who demonstrate outstanding dedication to keeping our roadways safe by actively removing impaired drivers from our streets. Thanks to Deputy Stankas’ vigilance, proactive enforcement, and commitment to public safety, our community is a safer place for everyone.

"Driving under the influence is 100% preventable. Every traffic stop made and every impaired driver taken off the road is a life potentially saved."

Deputy Stankas has been assigned to Sonoma Police Department for the past few years, earning the MADD Award for this past calendar year after he made more than 30 DUI arrests.

Please join us in thanking Deputy Stankas for his continuous hard work and dedication to protecting our community!

07/03/2026

*** this puppy has been reunited with its family.

This young black lab was found near W Spain and 7th St West. It you know who it belongs to please have them call Sonoma Police at 707-996-3601 so we can reunite this beautiful puppy with its family.

07/02/2026

Things to know about the 2026 July 4th Celebration in Sonoma

Starting at 8:00 AM on Saturday, July 4th, the following road closures will be in effect around the Sonoma Plaza:
W. Spain St east of 2nd St West.
E. Spain St west of 2nd St East.
W. Napa St east of 2nd St West.
W. Napa St west of 2nd St East.
Broadway north of Andrieux St.
1st St West north of McDonnell St.
1st St East north of Patten St, and south of Blue Wing Dr.
1st St West at W. Spain will have limited access for residents of Norrbom Rd and High Rd area.

These closures are expected to be in place until the end of the parade, estimated between 12 and 1 PM. All roads will open when pedestrian traffic is cleared out of the roadway along the parade route.

Beginning at 8:00 PM on Saturday July 4th, West Spain St between 1st St West and 5th St West will be closed for all vehicle traffic. This closure will remain until all pedestrian traffic is cleared from the roadway following the fireworks show.

If you are dropping off personal belongings before the parade, but want to be able to drop off near where you will be viewing the parade from, please be early as we will not be able to allow anyone into the Plaza roadways after 8:00 AM.

No vehicles may be parked on the Sonoma Plaza after 5:00 AM on July 4th morning. Any vehicles left unattended/parked after 5:00 AM will be towed at the owners expense as currently marked all around the Sonoma Plaza.

THERE ARE NO LAWFUL FIREWORKS THAT CAN BE USED IN SONOMA AND THE SONOMA VALLEY AREA WITHOUT A PERMIT TO DO SO. THE SONOMA POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE SONOMA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE WILL BE RESPONDING TO FIREWORKS CALLS WHICH WILL LIKELY RESULT IN CRIMINAL CHARGES. DUE TO THE EXTREME FIRE HAZARD THAT UNPERMITTED FIREWORKS POSE TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY, THERE ARE NO LAWFUL FIREWORKS THAT CAN BE USED IN THE INCORPORATED OR UNINCORPORATED SONOMA AND SONOMA VALLEY AREA.

Here is a link to the Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters' website with a schedule of events for July 4th in the Plaza:
https://sonomavolunteerfirefighters.org/schedule-of-events/

We are very appreciative for all of the hard work that the Sonoma Valley Fire Department and the Sonoma Volunteer Firefighters put into making the 250th July 4th Celebration an amazing day for all.

2026 Fourth of July Festival Events Schedule – Coming soon! 2025 Schedule Download the Schedule Here (coming soon) 6 a.m. – Vendors begin set up on the Plaza 6 a.m. … Continue reading "Schedule of Events"

06/19/2026

Sonoma Valley Shooting

On June 19, 2026, at approximately 1:48 a.m., the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office began receiving reports of gunfire at a residence in the 20600 block of Pueblo Avenue in Sonoma. As deputies responded, the suspect, 21-year-old Damiano Serafini of Sonoma, took a family member’s SUV and fled the scene.

Despite multiple rounds being fired at the residence, none of the occupants were struck.

While deputies were at the Pueblo Avenue home, dispatch received a report of a vehicle crash in the 300 block of 1st Street East. The vehicle was confirmed to be the SUV taken from the residence. Upon arrival, deputies from the Sonoma Police Department and Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office found the vehicle unoccupied and immediately began searching the area for Serafini.

Within minutes, a single gunshot was heard approximately 40–50 feet from the deputy's location. Serafini was then observed running through the Casa Grande parking lot into the Barracks State Park area toward the Sonoma Plaza. For the next 45 minutes, he moved and hid in the area north of the Plaza, firing an additional 3–5 rounds from a handgun.

Shortly after 2:45 a.m., Serafini was located, still armed, near a vehicle in the Casa Grande parking lot behind the Sonoma Cheese Factory. A multi-agency response quickly formed, including deputies from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, Sonoma Police Department, Napa County Sheriff’s Office, officers from the Santa Rosa Police Department, and the California Highway Patrol.

On-duty hostage negotiators established communication with Serafini while the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office SWAT and Hostage Negotiation Teams (HNT) responded. After refusing to surrender for some time, Serafini eventually complied and was taken into custody without further incident. The situation was safely resolved at approximately 5:25 a.m.

The handgun used in the incidents was recovered. The Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Investigations Unit is leading the active investigation into the shootings at both the Pueblo Avenue residence and the Sonoma Plaza area.

No further information is available at this time. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to the safety of our community.

Serafini is being booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility for the following felonies:

245(d)(1) PC- Assault on a peace officer with a fi***rm
246.3(a) PC- Willful discharge of a fi***rm in a grossly negligent manner
11550(e) H&S- Under the influence of co***ne while possessing a loaded fi***rm
11370.1(a) H&S- Possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded fi***rm.

Press release prepared by:
Brandon Cutting
Chief of Police, City of Sonoma

05/27/2026

Community awareness bulletin:

On Friday evening, 5/22/26, a customer at a local restaurant had a very expensive purse, along with the contents of the purse stolen while the customer was seated at the restaurant’s bar. The purse was taken from the hook underneath the bar located in front of the purse’s owner when it was stolen. Due to the value of the purse and the contents of the purse, this crime was a felony level theft.

The attached image is the suspect who stole the purse and we are asking for our communities assistance in identifying this person. This theft was captured on the business video surveillance system and based on our review of that incident, we believe this suspect has done this before and likely will again if we cannot identify and hold this person accountable.

Please take a look at the image of the suspect and if you can identify him for us, please reach out in one of the following ways-

Call us and let us know, you may remain anonymous this way- 707-996-3602
Email- [email protected] (less anonymous)
Or you may use direct message through this page on Facebook.

Sonoma is still a very safe city and crimes like this occur and can occur in all areas of the world. We at Sonoma Police believe that when the community stands together against crime, it sends a message to those coming to our area to commit crime that we are united in keeping Sonoma a safe and lawful city.

05/20/2026

This posting is very lengthy as it addresses e-bike safety and laws that are applicable to the City of Sonoma as well as the rest of the County and State. It is important as we are seeing more e-bikes and human powered bikes on the roadways around Sonoma. As we head into the summer months, many of these riders being youth riders. We are hopeful that parents and youth will read this and understand the laws and lawful types of e-bikes before you put your children on the roadway with them. An important thing to remember is whether you are riding a human powered bicycle, or the electric variety, you must still follow the rules of the road and are subject to the same laws that govern all other vehicles. (California Vehicle Code 21200(a)(1))

As the e-bike’s appearance and enjoyment is evolving from a standard-looking bicycle to more of a motorcycle-like appearance, youth are finding their way to the seats of these modes of transportation. Safety of the youth riding these e-bikes as well as human powered bicycles starts at home with parents ensuring that their kids only have access to e-bikes that are legal to be ridden on public roadways and they know the rules of the road to keep them safe and riding lawfully.

The California Highway Patrol created an online “Electric Bicycle Safety and Training” course that is very informative for parents considering these for their kids as well as for the kids that are going to be riding these e-bikes. The course teaches you most of what you need to know about what a street legal e-bike is, what safety gear is required, rules of the road, and what to do in the event of an accident. The following link will take you directly to the training course: https://rise.articulate.com/share/yB3Hip8AYzOGdY0dqnd42mQ3k0c6Jza1 #/ Or you can visit the CHP Website that has the link above as well as other valuable links to bicycle and pedestrian safety on California roadways: https://www.chp.ca.gov/programs-services/services-information/Bike-and-Ped-Safety/

E-bikes are identified in the California Vehicle Code as Class 1-3. Each class has unique attributes and rules to follow. To simplify the law, Class 1 and Class 2 have two wheels and a pedal/crank system and an electric motor that will assist the rider in pedaling up to 20 mph. Once these reach 20 mph, the electric motor will no longer assist the rider. Class 1 has a pedal activated motor that will assist only when actively pedaling. Class 2 has a throttle that can be activated while pedaling or independent of the pedals moving. Both of these classes of e-bikes can be ridden by all ages where bicycles can legally be ridden. Anyone under the age of 18 must be always wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle, regardless of how it is powered.

Class 3 e-bikes can go faster than 20 mph but cannot exceed 28 mph and can only be ridden by someone over the age of 16. Class 3 e-bikes cannot be ridden on bike or pedestrian trails but can be ridden on public roadways so long as all rules of the road are followed by the rider. Anyone riding a class 3 e-bike must wear a helmet, regardless of age.

Any electric bike with a motor of 750 watts or more is not a class 1-3 e-bike and requires DMV registration, insurance, and a valid drivers license to operate. All e-bikes sold in California after 2017 are required to have a sticker affixed to them that displays the class and wattage of the motor.

Every e-bike is required to have “Fully Operable Pedals” (CVC 312.5). We are aware there are several companies that ship e-bikes to customers with both crank/pedals as well as a peg (like on a motorcycle) that can be attached when assembled. In California, if the bike does not have a fully operable pedal/crank, it does not qualify as an e-bike. This is a very important differentiation as this becomes a moped or motorcycle and will require a valid drivers license, registration, and insurance. To be clear, the meaning of “fully operable” is that the crank must be capable of propelling the bike manually.

The City of Sonoma has additional city ordinances that govern the use of bicycles on sidewalks and bicycle/pedestrian paths. These ordinances are like the above listed state laws, with a few further restrictions that are important to know. Specific to the Sonoma Plaza no bicycles, whether powered by humans or motor driven (including e-bikes) can be ridden on any sidewalk of the plaza, all four sides of the plaza and both sides of the roadways. This includes the Plaza Park itself, all bicycles must be walked through the plaza, not ridden. For the rest of the City of Sonoma, the ordinances allow the riding of bicycles and class 1 & 2 e-bikes on sidewalks and bike paths so long as the speed does not endanger the safety of pedestrians.
Link to Chapter 10.74 of the City of Sonoma Municipal Code- https://sonoma.municipal.codes/SMC/10.74

These laws have been designed to provide a safe mode of transportation for people of all ages across the city and state. We have seen some very dangerous bicycle and e-bike operations around the city. It is our hope that all parents can spend time with their kids reviewing the CHP link to bicycle safety before they head out of the door and enter the roadways where unsafe operation can lead to very serious physical and emotional injuries.

Electric Bicycles (E-Bikes) are a growing trend that allow riders to bike at higher speeds and travel greater distances.  With the increase in E-Bike popularity, the need for safety education and training is essential. Click on the link to take the E-Bike training under the “Electric Bicycle Trai...

05/19/2026

*** update. Owner and Sky have been reunited. This white lab was brought in to Sonoma pd this morning. She was found near the bike trail and 1st st west. Give us a call if she is yours. 707-996-3602.