A Santa Rosa man with what deputies describe as a long history of bookings in Sonoma County is back in jail after authorities say he challenged a plainclothes officer to a fight inside a liquor store, then threatened deputies and their families while on the way to jail.
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, the man was identified as 48-year-old Frank Pinola. The Chronicle reports that deputies booked him on suspicion of public intoxication and added a count of making criminal threats against an executive officer after investigators say he referenced a gang affiliation and threatened deputies and their families during the transport to Sonoma County Jail.
What deputies say happened
SFGATE states that Pinola was taken into custody at about 5 PM at a liquor store on West 3rd Street in Santa Rosa. According to that account, the person he allegedly confronted was a plainclothes field-training deputy who was inside the store with another deputy.
Sheriff’s post points to a long record
The sheriff’s office told the public in a social media post, cited by the Chronicle, that it considered this latest booking to be Pinola’s 32nd arrest in Sonoma County. The agency said his prior contacts include allegations ranging from attempted murder to felony weapons and narcotics violations. Those past bookings were part of the reason, the agency said, that deputies added the criminal threats allegation after the reported in-transit threats.
What the charges mean
Making criminal threats falls under California Penal Code section 422, which can be charged as either a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances, and it can carry stiffer penalties in some situations. Public intoxication is usually charged as a misdemeanor under Penal Code section 647(f), although in some cases officers may place intoxicated people into civil protective custody instead of pursuing a criminal case. For the statutes and exact language, see Penal Code section 422 on the California Legislature website and Penal Code section 647(f) on the California Legislature website.
What comes next
It was not immediately clear whether prosecutors would file formal charges on the threats allegation or what bail, if any, might be set. Arraignment and court filings will show any formal case information. For now, the booking stands as another example of the repeat law-enforcement contacts that officials say they see in the county, and a reminder that even a routine liquor store visit can turn into something much more complicated for deputies on the job.
