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Rohnert Park Felon Arrested With Loaded Weapon In Car

ROHNERT PARK (BCN) - An investigation into a reported suspicious vehicle in southern Rohnert Park on Friday led to the arrest of a convicted felon for possessing multiple guns, at least one of which was loaded, police said.

Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety officers responded to a call about a man in a suspicious vehicle in the area of Bonnie and Blair avenues around 4:15 p.m. Friday, police said.

Officers located the older-model Toyota Camry and spoke to the occupant, 29-year-old Petaluma resident Craig Hardy, outside of the vehicle, police said.

While they were talking to Hardy, one officer looked through the window on the passenger's side of the car and saw what appeared to be a rifle sticking out from under the front seat, police said.

After Hardy confirmed to police that it was a rifle, they ran a records check on him and found Hardy to be a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history, police said.

When the officers tried to arrest Hardy, he resisted and physically fought with the officers, according to police. During the scuffle, a loaded handgun fell from the felon's waistband onto the pavement, police said.

Officers used a Taser gun on Hardy in their efforts to subdue him, but he continued to fight them, police said. He was eventually overcome and taken into custody, police said.

Hardy was treated at a local hospital before being booked into Sonoma County jail on charges including resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia, and a felon in possession of ammunition and firearms, which are two separate counts, police said.

The officers involved in the altercation with Hardy suffered minor cuts and abrasions, but were not seriously injured in the fight, police said.

Due to the nature of his crimes on Friday and the extent of his criminal history, Hardy's bail was increased from $20,000 to $200,000, police said.

(© CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Bay City News contributed to this report.)

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