Latest news with #JoshGarzoli
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Petaluma man arrested after threatening to execute school official over Pride flags
PETALUMA, Calif. - A man was arrested Thursday after allegedly threatening to execute a Petaluma City Schools employee unless all Pride flags were removed from school grounds. Police arrested Josh Garzoli, 54, that same day and charged him with making a felony criminal threat. He is being held on $750,000 bail. "It was shocking, because that's not the kind of community we live in," said Sandra Larsen, president of the Petaluma Federation of Teachers. The threat came as schools in the district displayed Pride flags in recognition of Pride Month. "June being Pride Month, it made sense that the flags would fly, and kids know they belong," said Larsen. According to police, Garzoli initially contacted the district on May 30, leaving what officials described as a "concerning voicemail" demanding the removal of Pride flags and warning of "harsh consequences" if his demands weren't met. On Monday, police say Garzoli appeared outside the district's headquarters in an agitated state, again demanding the flags be taken down. Days later, he allegedly followed up with the threatening email that led to his arrest. In a message to the school community Friday, Petaluma City Schools said there was no direct threat made towards any specific school campus, but access to the district office was temporarily restricted Thursday as a precaution. In a separate statement to KTVU, the district stressed its commitment to inclusion. "One of our board goals is that all students have a trusted adult and a strong sense of belonging within their learning community. In addition, we fully believe in supporting the diversity of our students and within our community. To that end, we have proudly flown the Progress Pride Flag annually at the beginning of late May through the end of June," said the district. "It's vital, I would say one of the top jobs of any teacher, is to make their class feel welcome and safe and ready to learn," said Larsen.
San Francisco Chronicle
3 days ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Bay Area man threatened execution of school official over Pride flags, police say
A Petaluma man has been arrested on suspicion of threatening to execute a school district official if Pride flags weren't removed from city campuses, police said. Josh Garzoli, 54, was arrested shortly after noon Thursday after leaving a voicemail and email demanding removal of the LGBTQ flags, as well as a visit to the Petaluma City Schools administration office, police said. Garzoli first left an email with the district official on May 30 threatening 'harsh consequences' if the flags weren't removed from city campuses, according to the Petaluma Police Department. He also visited the district's office last Monday demanding removal of the flags, but left without further incident, police said. Officers responded at 9:18 a.m. Thursday after Garzoli sent an email saying he would have the district official, who has not been identified, 'executed' if the flags were not removed by the end of the school day, police said. The threat was time sensitive and caused safety concerns for school officials, police said. Detectives located and arrested Garzoli without incident and booked him on suspicion of making criminal threats, a felony, police said. The agency was granted a bail enhancement of $750,000, police said. Petaluma City Schools, which have flown the Pride flags on campuses from late May through the end of June since 2022 after a unanimous resolution by the board, issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to diversity, according to the Press Democrat. District officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday. 'The Petaluma Police Department takes all criminal threats seriously,' police said in a statement. 'We are working closely with Petaluma City Schools to ensure additional security measures are in place and that district personnel feel supported and protected. The safety of our school staff, students, and broader community is our highest priority.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
‘Harsh consequences': Petaluma man arrested for continued school threats over Pride flags
(KRON) — Police say a 45-year-old man is under arrest for allegedly making 'criminal threats' in several messages against a Petaluma City Schools District official in which he demanded the removal of Pride flags — saying 'harsh consequences' would follow if they weren't taken down. 2 teens arrested for throwing fireworks into crowd, yelling slurs at Redwood City Pride event The Petaluma Police Department says its officers took Josh Garzoli into custody just after 12:30 p.m. on Thursday after a series of reported confrontations between the suspect and the District Administrator. Police released the following timeline of events: 'On May 30, 2025, Garzoli left a concerning voicemail with Petaluma City Schools Officials demanding the removal of the Pride flag from school grounds. Garzoli reportedly told a School District Official there would be 'harsh consequences' if the flag was not removed. On June 2, 2025, Garzoli arrived at the Petaluma Schools Administration Office. He was reported as being agitated and angry, demanding the removal of Pride flags, but left without further incident. On the morning of June 5, 2025, at approximately 9:18 AM, the Petaluma Police Department responded to a report of criminal threats made toward a Petaluma City Schools District Official.' Investigators say that Garzoli then sent an 'alarming email' to the official in which he demanded the removal of the flags before the end of the school day on Thursday and said 'he would have the District Administrator 'executed' if the flags remained. 'The threat was considered specific, time sensitive, and caused safety concerns for school officials,' confirmed investigators. Petaluma PD says Garzoli was booked into custody on suspicion of violating 'California Penal Code 422 – Criminal Threats,' which is a felony offense. Police say the suspect's bail was increased to $750,000. 'We are working closely with Petaluma City Schools to ensure additional security measures are in place and that district personnel feel supported and protected,' say police. 'The safety of our school staff, students, and broader community is our highest priority.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
