On Thursday afternoon at approximately 3 p.m., police responded to what was a false alarm at Sonoma Bank, 135 W. Napa St.
According to an eyewitness account, six officers surrounded the bank, with some crouched and hiding in the parking lot between the bank and Chateau Sonoma. At least one of the officers had a rifle at the ready. Two police cars were parked across the sidewalk in front of the building.
According to La Donna Rodrigues, Sonoma Bank branch manager, the police telephoned and asked her to step outside the bank. She peeked out reluctantly and, seeing only one uniformed officer, was initially afraid the scene might be a set-up. However, upon noticing the other officers present, she complied with the request.
Police apparently responded to a bank alarm that had been tripped. Rodrigues said that none of her staff touched any of the alarms but she supposes one could have been bumped inadvertently, leading to the police action.
Within 30 minutes, the scene had dissipated and West Napa Street was back to normal.
