Juvenile Arrested for Alleged Possession of Stolen Handgun
MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA — “On 01/06/2026 at approximately 12:03 P.M., the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office was contacted by a Round Valley High School official regarding a juvenile subject who reportedly brought a firearm to the school.
Sheriff’s Deputies working Patrol in Covelo immediately contacted the school official on the telephone to obtain additional investigative information.
The school official informed Sheriff’s Deputies they received information that a 15-year-old male juvenile brought a firearm to the school. Sheriff’s Deputies learned the school was not in session due to the lunch hour and the juvenile in question was likely not on school campus at the time, so they obtained a general description and clothing information to search the surrounding area for the subject.
Sheriff’s Deputies and Round Valley Tribal Police Officers began canvassing the surrounding area for the subject.
On 01/06/2026 at approximately 12:30 P.M., the male juvenile was observed walking westbound in the 23600 block of Greely Street in Covelo, CA. This area was determined to be approximately 150 yards east of the high school, so law enforcement immediately contacted the juvenile to investigate this incident.
When approaching the subject, Sheriff’s Deputies observed the juvenile reaching towards his front sweatshirt pocket. Due to the nature of this investigation and reports the juvenile was armed with a firearm, he was detained and immediately searched for weapons. The Sheriff’s Deputies felt what they believed to be the grip portion of a firearm in the front waistband of the juvenile’s clothing.
Sheriff’s Deputies placed the juvenile in handcuffs and removed a handgun from the front waistband area of the juvenile’s clothing. The handgun was determined to be a loaded .380 caliber semi-automatic handgun. Sheriff’s Deputies discovered there were 10 live .380 cartridges loaded in the handgun magazine.
When performing a records check on the .380 caliber handgun, Sheriff’s Deputies determined the firearm had been reported stolen from Santa Rosa, CA.
Based on the circumstances of this investigation, the 15-year-old male juvenile was advised and placed under arrest for 29610(a) PC – Minor in possession of a handgun, and 25850(a) PC – Carrying a loaded firearm in public. The juvenile was transported and lodged at the Mendocino County Juvenile Hall for the above charges.
The Sheriff’s Office provided information to the Round Valley High School officials, so they were aware of the circumstances of this investigation and arrest of the juvenile who reportedly brought a firearm to the school.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086 (option 1).”
