Suspect arrested after vandalizing numerous vehicles with bricks and rocks before arming himself with a shovel and threatening officers

On November 20, 2023, at approximately 5:30 pm, officers with the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) were dispatched to the 700-block of Mendocino Avenue to a report of a possible shooting into a vehicle. The victim had been sitting in the driver’s seat of her parked vehicle when she heard a loud noise just prior to her back window shattering. She saw an unknown male walking away from her vehicle, holding what appeared to be a rifle. After calling 911, and when it was safe to do so, the victim examined the damage to her vehicle and located a brick in the backseat. 

As officers responded to the area, the SRPD Communications Center began receiving additional information about a person in the area throwing rocks at passing vehicles. A vehicle owner who had a car window broken by one of the rocks was able to provide the dispatcher with a description and location of the suspect. The officers who initially responded to the scene were able to determine no shooting had occurred and the suspect had armed himself with a large shovel, not a rifle.

The suspect, Indugo Williams, was located by officers as he was walking down the middle of Mendocino Avenue, violently swinging the shovel at patrol cars coming into the area. Officers quickly stopped traffic in both directions on Mendocino Avenue as they tried to contain Williams’ movements and de-escalate the situation. Officers gave Williams multiple verbal instructions to drop the shovel; however, Williams responded to the requests by violently swinging the shovel in the direction of officers and repeatedly yelling “Shoot me! Shoot me!” 

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, “Henry-1” arrived overhead and began providing SRPD with information about Williams’ behavior and movements. Williams, a 46-year-old transient from Santa Rosa, then ran toward the 800-block of Mendocino Avenue. A sergeant aboard Henry-1 advised SRPD units Williams had fled to a yard on Howard Street. SRPD officers responded to the location and saw Williams in the yard with the shovel on the ground next to him.

Due to the fact Williams had threatened officers with the shovel multiple times and had been challenging the officers to shoot him, SRPD officers maintained a safe distance from Williams and provided him with instructions on how to safely surrender and submit to arrest. Williams was advised multiple times that a police K-9 would be used to apprehend him if he failed to comply with the instructions. At this time, Williams began to re-arm himself with the shovel. K-9 Ghost was deployed by his handler. Ghost was able to successfully apprehend Williams with a bite to Williams’ left shoulder. SRPD officers immediately rushed in and detained Williams in handcuffs.

Williams sustained a superficial injury to his shoulder. As per department policy for treatment following a canine apprehension, Williams was examined at a local hospital prior to being medically cleared to be booked into jail. While Williams was being examined, several officers remained at the scenes of the original crimes to complete the investigation into Williams’ vandalism spree. 

In addition to throwing a brick through one car window and a rock through another, Williams threw a brick at a third vehicle; committed a strong-arm robbery of a victim by threatening the victim and forcibly stealing a bicycle; damaged a fence while trying to flee; and threatened numerous officers with a shovel.

Williams was arrested and booked into Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility for the following charges:

211 PC - Robbery

422(a) PC - Criminal threats of death or great bodily injury

594(b)(1) PC - Felony vandalism (four counts)

69(a) PC - Resisting a peace officer through threats and/or violence

It was also discovered Williams had been recently released from custody on a conditional pretrial release for a pending drug and resisting/obstructing arrest charge. Because of the likelihood Williams’ criminal behavior would continue if out of custody, SRPD officers requested a bail enhancement of $250,000 for Williams. 

The Santa Rosa Police Department wishes to thank the many community members who provided us with information about Williams' various crimes, and to SCSO Henry-1 for assisting in yet another safe apprehension of a violent suspect.

Santa Rosa Police Department case number 23-14770.

Media Contact:

Sgt. Patricia Seffens
Public Information Officer
707-543-3634
pseffens@srcity.org