A report of a single gunshot near a Santa Rosa walking and bike path ended with officers arresting a 42-year-old man and recovering a loaded "ghost gun" yesterday, according to police.
Neighbors told dispatchers they heard a gunshot and saw someone with a firearm near the Sebastopol Avenue smart walking path by the railroad tracks. When officers arrived, they found two expended 9mm cartridge casings on the path. A short time later, they located a loaded 9mm privately manufactured handgun - the type commonly referred to as a ghost gun - near Earle Street and Corby Avenue. Police said no victims or injuries were found, and the suspect was booked into the Sonoma County jail on multiple firearms and court-order violation charges.
In a Facebook post, the Santa Rosa Police Department said its communications center received a 911 call of a person with a firearm and a gunshot heard near Sebastopol Avenue and the railroad tracks, and that officers arrived within two minutes. Officers then found a man matching the caller's description near Earle Street and Corby Avenue, noticed an empty holster concealed in his waistband, and ultimately seized the loaded, privately manufactured 9mm handgun.
The Facebook post identifies the arrestee as 42-year-old Alphonso Yulfo, notes he was out on pretrial release from a January arrest, and lists Lieutenant Josh Ludtke as the media contact for the case.
Pattern of ghost-gun enforcement in the city
Santa Rosa officers have recovered unserialized, privately made firearms in several recent operations, and the department's Special Enforcement Team has made getting those weapons out of public spaces a priority. The Press Democrat has reported on another recovery along a city bike path, and Hoodline coverage earlier this year detailed a Roseland raid where officers said they found an unserialized Polymer80 pistol and parts used to convert firearms.
Charges and legal context
According to the SRPD post, Yulfo faces counts that include negligent discharge of a firearm (Penal Code 246.3), carrying a loaded firearm in public (PC 25850(a)), possession of a concealable firearm in public (PC 25400(a)) and violating a court order (PC 166(a)(4)). Under California law, negligent discharge can be charged as a felony when a firearm is fired in a grossly negligent way that could cause injury. PC 25850 generally bans carrying a loaded firearm in a public place unless a specific statutory exemption applies. The California Legislative Information site and the Judicial Council's criminal jury instructions outline the elements and potential penalties for those statutes.
What happens next
Police said Yulfo remains booked in the Sonoma County jail while the Sonoma County District Attorney's Office reviews the case for possible charges. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Santa Rosa Police Department; the original post lists Lt. Josh Ludtke ([email protected], 707-543-3641) as the media contact.
