In a crackdown that reads like a plot straight out of a crime drama, two juveniles in Santa Rosa have landed in hot water after police uncovered a hoard of illegal assault weapons, drugs, and evidence of financial crimes at two separate locations in Sebastopol. The first raid, which unfolded in the early hours of February 13, saw detectives from the Santa Rosa Police Department's Gang Crimes Team descend upon a residence on the 4500 block of Daywalt Drive, according to a Facebook post by the department.
Armed with a search warrant, the SRPD Gang Crimes Team discovered not only drugs but a wide array of illegal firearms, including a modified .45 caliber Glock with a "glock switch" - a device capable, when attached to the handgun, converting it into the equivalent of a fully automatic weapon, as detailed in the SRPD post. Unregistered weaponry such as an AR-15 pistol, a 9mm handgun, and an illegal 12-gauge shotgun fleshed out the illicit arsenal. High-capacity rifle magazines were also found at the scene, leading to the 17-year-old male occupant's arrest and subsequent booking at Sonoma County Juvenile Hall.
Continuing their coordinated operation, police served a second search warrant at a different Sebastopol address on Murphy Avenue the same day. Here, they apprehended another 17-year-old male and seized a Tek-9 9mm assault weapon. Similar to the first bust, additional fraudulent access cards and stolen identification information surfaced amid the search. This second teenager was similarly booked into Sonoma County Juvenile Hall. Both suspects are facing serious charges, including possession of assault weapons and machine guns, possession of controlled substances for sale, and unauthorized possession of identification information.
The Santa Rosa Police emphasized the significance of these busts, indicating a serious approach towards rooting out gang-related crimes that involve weapons, drugs, and identity theft. As reported by the SRPD, these operations form part of ongoing efforts to disrupt criminal activity and safeguard communities from the violence and exploitation associated with these illicit dealings.
