For Immediate Release

Author: Sgt. J. Graham
Date: August 15, 2019 3:00 AM
Case Number: SR19-06007

Woman Arrested for Standoff With Knives

San Rafael, CA – On 08/14/19, at 5:58 PM, Sherry Marie Petrakis, a 51-year-old San Rafael resident, was arrested for several felony charges after she refused to drop two knives while in a standoff with officers who were called to the scene to check on her welfare.

At 5:44 PM, Officers arrived at an apartment complex in the 200 block of Bayview Street, to assist in checking the welfare of Petrakis. Officers were going to meet with mental health counselors who were also trying to contact Petrakis.

Officers approached Petrakis in the parking lot while she was pushing a shopping cart. When two officers approached her, she grabbed two fixed blade knives and began threatening them and the counselors.

Officers created distance and began using de-escalation techniques. Fortunately, Petrakis did not advance on the officers and they began talking to her.

Additional officers were called to the scene to assist with crisis negotiations and to keep onlookers away. SRPD also initiated a call-out for the Crisis Negotiations Team.

A police sergeant and an officer negotiated with Petrakis for more than 15 minutes and were able to convince her to drop the knives. Petrakis was then arrested and taken into custody without incident.

Petrakis was booked into the Marin County Jail for assault with a deadly weapon, brandishing a weapon, resisting a peace officer, threatening a peace officer, and violating the terms of her probation.

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Posted: August 15, 2019 6:15 PDT by Sgt. J. Graham

Updated: August 15, 2019 6:18 PDT by Alex Holm