Marin 911: Cops swoop in to confiscate a stash of coke, pot and cash

COUNTY SHERIFF

Drug Bust: On Nov. 9, detectives from our Specialized Investigative Unit (SIU), Coordination of Probation Enforcement Unit (COPE) assisted the Central Marin Police Authority (CMPA) with an investigation. During CMPA’s investigation it was determined the suspect who was arrested for a no bail warrant had a storage unit in Berkeley. The suspect was on probation and was subject to search along with any property under his control.

The following items were located during the search of the storage unit in Berkeley by Detectives:

– Approximately 1 ounce of suspected cocaine HCL.

– Approximately 21 pounds of processed marijuana.

– Drug packaging materials each associated with selling cocaine and marijuana.

– Digital scales.

– A bag containing approximately 50 empty 90 count (or 4,500) Farmapram Xanax bottles believed to have been already sold.

– A bag containing 17 empty pint sized Promethazine bottles believed to have already been sold.

– $59,980.00 in US paper currency, which is believed to be proceeds for selling illicit narcotics.

– A credit card reader/writer used to fraudulently make credit cards.

– Numerous blank credit cards.

– Numerous credit cards suspected to belong to various people.

All items were seized and the suspect was booked on the following charges:

– 11351 H&S- Possession of a controlled substance for sales.

– 11359 H&S- Unlawful possession of marijuana for sales.

– 484i PC- Manufacturing and/or Possession of equipment to make or traffic counterfeit credit cards.

– 484j PC- Publishing credit card information to defraud a person or entity.

NOVATO

Barricade: About 2 p.m. on Nov. 15, officers were dispatched to the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center, on the report of a stolen vehicle. Upon arrival, officers found the vehicle and initiated a “high risk” traffic stop in the Cambridge Street area. “High-risk” traffic stops are typically initiated when a vehicle is reported as stolen or when the stop may pose a significant risk to the officers or community when dealing with the occupants of a vehicle.

The man driving failed to obey officer commands to stop his vehicle and proceeded to drive around traffic in an unsafe manner. When the driver finally stopped to pull over, he did not exit the vehicle and proceeded to barricade himself inside.

Once officers realized the man was not going to exit the vehicle willingly, the Novato/San Rafael regional Crisis Negotiation Team was deployed along with the Armored Response Vehicle to assist with negotiations. At the time, it was not known if the driver was armed with a weapon. After several hours of negotiation efforts, the suspect exited the vehicle and was safely taken in custody.  The driver was identified as 35-year-old, Jaris Wilcox.

Officers are trained in negotiation tactics. By using their de-escalation skill and other tools, a safe resolution was reached. No officers, community members, or the suspect were injured during this incident.

Wilcox was arrested and booked into Marin County Jail for possession of a stolen vehicle and resisting arrest.

SAN RAFAEL

Standoff: On Nov. 13, Robert Michael Chernoff, a 35-year-old Novato Resident, was arrested on several felony charges after verbally threatening and physically attacking customers and an employee at a McDonald’s in Terra Linda.  Chernoff refused to cooperate with police before being taken into custody and caused a nearly four-hour-long standoff with police.   

At 1:50 p.m., SRPD officers responded to a disturbance at the McDonald’s located on Merrydale Road in Terra Linda.  It was reported that the suspect, identified as Chernoff, had verbally threatened and assaulted victims with an unknown aerosol spray, used hand strikes, and also attempted to stab them with a knife. 

When police officers arrived, they located Chernoff outside the restaurant.  He was uncooperative and refused to discard the knife he was holding in his hand.  Police quickly evacuated the restaurant and surrounding area to protect bystanders from Chernoff. 

Since the area is generally busy with vehicle and pedestrian traffic, SRPD called for additional assistance from the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, which assisted with establishing a safety perimeter.  At the same time, SRPD attempted to keep Chernoff contained.  The safety perimeter caused the closure of Merrydale Road, Willow Avenue, and Redwood Highway.

An extended standoff occurred with Chernoff.  Chernoff continued to be uncooperative.  When the arrest team approached Chernoff, they were forced to use less-than-lethal munitions and a police K9.

Chernoff was bit by the police K9. The arrest team continued to advance on Chernoff, who remained uncooperative.  While Chernoff resisted, a Taser was used to subdue and Chernoff was taken into custody. 

Chernoff was treated for injuries then booked into the Marin County Jail for felony assault with a deadly weapon/knife, felony criminal threats, misdemeanor assault and battery, misdemeanor resisting and obstructing police officers, and misdemeanor harming a police K9.   Investigators are still trying to determine the motivation behind the attack.

Other than Chernoff, no one was injured in this incident.  The police K9 did not suffer significant injury other than a small scuff to the dog’s nose.

This case has been forwarded to the Marin County District Attorney’s Office.

MILL VALLEY

Argument: A man and woman argued in Portuguese on Blithedale Avenue regarding an issue with their daughter.  Police were called, along with a language helper,  and calmed the two down.

Homeless: A resident of Hamilton Drive called police about a homeless man who has lived in the area for months. Police were familiar with the man and he has refused help in the past. Police checked on him again and he refused services.

Shots Heard: Police fielded a call saying gun shots were heard on Nov. 14 near Azalea Drive. Police checked the area. It was clear.