Suspect Arrested for Slashing Tires on 18 Cars in Downtown Area

On Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at approximately 8:32 am, the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) Communications Center received a 911 call regarding a man armed with a knife, slashing car tires in the area of A Street and 8th Street. The suspect was described by witnesses as a White male adult in his fifties, wearing a light brown sweater and black pants. Officers arrived in less than three minutes and located the suspect shortly thereafter. The suspect, Thomas Wheat, a 49-year-old resident of Santa Rosa, was detained without incident. 

Numerous officers responded to the area to locate additional witnesses, victim vehicles, and to canvass the area for security cameras. Officers identified 18 victim vehicles, many of which had multiple tires slashed. The vandalized cars were located on A Street, 7th Street, and Morgan Street. 

Wheat was arrested and booked into the Sonoma County Jail for 594(a)(2) PC, felony vandalism. At the time of his arrest, Wheat was in possession of two box cutters.  

Victims were notified of the damage to their vehicles in person by officers or by a case information card left on vehicle windshields in the absence of an owner.   

SRPD officers are still actively investigating this incident and are asking area residents to review their home security camera footage for any video possibly related to this incident. If you have information that may assist in this investigation, you are encouraged to contact Officer Steve Darden at sdarden@srcity.org.  

Santa Rosa Police Department case number 25-6711. 

Media inquiries can be made to Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org.