Suspected Santa Rosa serial tire slasher arrested
Apr 28, 2026
SANTA ROSA, Calif. (KRON) -- A suspected serial tire slasher is off the streets Tuesday night in the North Bay. Santa Rosa police say at least 50 cars were targeted in a string of overnight vandalism.
A few of the cars with their tire slashed can be seen on Third Street in Santa Rosa. Many of the d
ozens of cars targeted were across the street in the Marriott hotel parking lot, police said. Business owners here say this has never happened.
A string of vandalism left dozens of Santa Rosa drivers waking up to slashed tires on Monday morning. Police said it happened during the pre-dawn hours in the historic Railroad Square District.
Railroad Square Association President Mike said he was shocked when he saw the aftermath of the vandalism.
"We haven't seen anything like that. Maybe a car window broken at night once every couple of years, but that's about it," Montague said. "We saw some tow trucks taking some of the cars away... on one of the buildings our family owns; we have cameras and took a look; we didn't see anything."
Police say surveillance video helped them zero in on a suspect -- a man seen wearing dark clothing and carrying a bright red bag (pictured below).
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(Photo: Santa Rosa Police Department)
(Photo: Santa Rosa Police Department)
Photo of a slashed tire in Santa Rosa taken on Tuesday, April 28. Photo of a slashed tire in Santa Rosa taken on Tuesday, April 28.
While officers were investigating, they got a call about a man matching that description — allegedly popping tires with a knife inside their parking garage.
This is actively happening in a gated neighborhood off Sebastopol Road.
Investigators believe the man is also responsible for a broken window at a business over the weekend on Jennings Avenue.
32-year-old Keith Johnson, who investigators described as a transient from Santa Rosa, is now facing multiple charges, including felony vandalism and burglary.
Police said a total of 50 cars were damaged, but there could be more.
"We tried to find every possible victim, whether it was reported or not -- left business cards on cars when they couldn't reach the owners by registration. But it's possible we didn't get everybody," said SRPD Public Information Officer Patricia Seffens. "So if any of our residents or visitors discovers that their tires were slashed, call our non-emergency number at 707-528-5222."
If you believe your car was targeted in this string of vandalism or you have video that would help this investigation, you're asked to call Santa Rosa police.
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