San Rafael, CA – David Jonathan Margoliash, a 48-year-old San Rafael resident, was arrested and booked into Marin County Jail on several felony criminal violations after he broke into a residence and attacked the occupants, and then later attempted to kidnap an elderly patient from a skilled nursing facility.  Margoliash has a history of dangerous and violent criminal behavior, and due to the nature of these two cases, a bail enhancement was granted.  Margoliash is currently being held without the ability to post bail.

On Saturday, 11/30/2024, starting at 1:12 A.M., SRPD received a 911 call from a resident in the unit block of Ross Street. The resident reported that Margoliash had entered his house through the back door and attacked both him and his pregnant wife. The caller reported that Margoliash fled on foot in an unknown direction after being thrown out of the house. 

Officers immediately responded to the scene.  Upon arrival, officers learned that a suspect matching Margoliash’s description had entered the house through a back door while the occupants were asleep.  Margoliash made noise while moving through the house, waking the pregnant wife.  She investigated the noise and began walking through the house when she found Margoliash in their living room. 

Surprised and scared by Margoliash’s presence, she began to scream, which woke up her husband. Margoliash struck her in the head with a flashlight, causing minor injuries.  During the altercation, the wife was able to take the flashlight away from Margoliash.  The husband then confronted Margoliash and began to fight with him to get him out of the house.  During the struggle, Margoliash bit the husband’s hand.  The struggle continued, and the husband finally got Margoliash out of the house.  Once outside the house, the husband pushed Margoliash down a flight of patio stairs.  Margoliash fell to the pavement below and fled the scene.

Because of the severity of the incident, SRPD officers were determined to locate and apprehend Margoliash.  SRPD requested the assistance of the Marin County Sheriff’s Office and Novato Police Department’s K-9.  The immediate and surrounding area was searched for several hours without locating Margoliash.

Both victims in this case were treated for their physical injuries at a local hospital.  Based on the preliminary investigation in this case, officers believed the suspect to be Margoliash.

At 5:18 A.M., SRPD received a call from a skilled nursing facility in the 1600 block of Fifth Avenue about a suspect claiming to be an employee of a transport service and wanting to take an elderly patient.

Officers arrived at the scene within minutes and learned Margoliash had walked in and out of the facility several times and claimed to be a patient transport service employee.  Margoliash wanted to take an elderly patient from the facility to Santa Rosa.  The care facility employees challenged Margoliash’s statements and demanded credentials.  Margoliash could not verify his claims, and the employees quickly determined that Margoliash was lying about being a transport service employee.  The care facility employees successfully prevented Margoliash from being able to take the patient.  Margoliash then left the facility.  The care facility employees provided a description of Margoliash.

During this time, two nurses still following Margoliash alerted an officer checking the area.  The officer detained Margoliash without incident.

Margoliash was positively identified as the suspect in the earlier residential burglary and the suspect in the attempted kidnapping of a patient from the care facility.  

While in police custody, Margoliash made several incriminating statements about his actions in both cases. Margoliash was booked into the Marin County Jail for felony burglary, felony assault with a deadly weapon, and felony attempted kidnapping.  Due to the violent and dangerous nature of these two cases, Margoliash’s criminal history, and the need to protect the public, SRPD Investigators obtained a bail enhancement.  A Marin County Judge approved the enhancement, and Margoliash is currently being held without the ability to post bail. 

Margoliash has an extensive history with SRPD, where he has been arrested for several violent crimes.  Margoliash is currently pending sentencing in Marin County Superior Court after pleading guilty to criminal violations related to an attack at the Islamic Center of Marin in Novato that occurred in March of this year.