4 Cited for Selling Magazines without Permit in Petaluma

By Bay City News

Petaluma police issued citations to four people Wednesday who were selling magazines door-to-door without a city permit, a police sergeant said.

Police have received more than two-dozen complaints in the past few weeks about aggressive, hostile and suspicious behavior by solicitors operating without a permit, Sgt. Ken Savano said.

The behavior includes refusing to move on when asked, not providing identification and generally causing concern from the people they approach, Savano said.

Police received six more complaints in west Petaluma Wednesday between 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., Savano said.

Four solicitors were arrested and released on citations to appear in court, Savano said. They were identified as Randall Tyron, 32, of Midland, Texas, Arlexus Gaines, 22, and Grover Bruce, 36, both of Oakland, and Keidrow Brant, 22, of San Jose.

Gaines had a $30,000 warrant in Pasadena, and Pasadena authorities asked Petaluma police to issue her a citation and a new date to appear in court in Pasadena, Savano said.

The four magazine sales solicitors said they were employed by Excellent Sales located in Omaha, Neb., Savano said.

The company claims to be a job and business training program, but calls to the company went unanswered, Savano said.

"It is unknown if they are a legitimate business or a scam," Savano said.

The four solicitors were dropped off by a van in Petaluma and were supposed to return to San Jose, Savano said. 

Copyright © 2014 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.