Sonoma County Man Arrested After Bizarre String Of Burglaries, Threats
KNIGHTS VALLEY (CBS SF) -- A Sonoma County man was arrested Monday afternoon on suspicion of burglary, home invasion robbery, vehicle theft, and criminal threats to a Knights Valley family over the weekend and a woman Monday.
Ned Kohler, 49, of Knights Valley, was arrested without incident at a residence in the 19300 block of state Highway 128 in Knights Valley near the Napa County line around 3:10 p.m., Sonoma County sheriff's Sgt. Cecile Focha said.
A woman called the sheriff's office around 2:30 p.m. Monday and said Kohler broke into her house while she was alone, Focha said. The woman said Kohler threatened to kill her and she ran to a neighbor's house to call 911, Focha said.
Kohler surrendered to a hostage negotiations team and was cooperative, Focha said.
He is also a suspect in a burglary reported around 8 a.m. Sunday on Franz Valley School Road in Knights Valley after a woman said a man broke a window of her home and came inside, Focha said.
The man was "rambling incoherent threats," and the frightened woman went to a neighbor's house to get help, according to Focha.
The woman said her bedridden husband was still home and she had left food cooking on the stove, Focha said. The husband was found safe as of Sunday afternoon and was reunited with his wife.
Kohler's family also reported Saturday that Kohler had made multiple calls threatening them, and was walking without clothes or shoes and talking nonsensically at a property off Highway 128 about a mile from the reported burglary, Focha said.
Kohler's family also said he is frequently armed and possesses firearms, Focha said.
He was booked in the Sonoma County Jail in connection with the weekend incidents and on suspicion of first-degree burglary Monday, Focha said. He is being held under no bail and is expected to be arraigned this week in Sonoma County Superior Court.
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