The following is a press released issued by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On 01-10-2021, Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to a reported burglary of Pacific Woods Glass in Gualala, California.
Over the course of the investigation, Deputies were able to identify a suspect vehicle related to the incident.
On 01-23-2021 at around 11:00 AM, Deputies received information that the suspect vehicle was observed in the area.
Deputies arrived and located the vehicle in a driveway, within a mile of the burglarized business.
Deputies contacted Santiago Amado Castro-Rossi, who was standing near the vehicle. During the contact with Castro-Rossi, Deputies observed a large amount of construction tools in the rear of the vehicle.
The vehicle was searched and the majority of the items reported stolen from the Pacific Wood Glass burglary, over $6,000.00 in value, were subsequently recovered.
During the search of the vehicle, Deputies also located a loaded pistol, suspected heroin, Xanax tablets, and possible fentanyl.
Castro-Rossi was arrested for the following offenses:
459 PC – Burglary
496 PC – Possession of Stolen Property
463 PC – Looting During a State of Emergency
29820 PC – Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person
30305 PC – Possession of Ammunition by a Prohibited Person
A Mendocino County Superior Court Judge was contacted and a bail enhancement was requested, due to the COVID-19 pandemic emergency “ZERO BAIL” for non-violent offenses. The Judge ordered that Castro-Rossi be held in lieu of $50,000.00 bail. Castro-Rossi was transported and booked into the Mendocino County Jail.
Additional charges for possession of controlled substances will be sought through the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office when the suspected narcotics are laboratory tested.
