The following is a press release 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 02-18-2022 at about 9:30 PM, a Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputy stopped a vehicle for a vehicle code violation in the 28000 block of North Highway 101 in Willits, California.
The Deputy contacted the solo occupant and driver, who was identified as Darryl Dempsey.
The Deputy conducted a records check and found Dempsey was on federal probation and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.
The Deputy noticed Dempsey behavior was odd and he was very nervous. The Deputy conducted a search of the vehicle due to probable cause factors and consent.
Inside the vehicle, in reach of Dempsey, was a backpack that was found to contain a loaded semi-automatic handgun.
Also in the backpack, the Deputy located a full ski mask, gloves, a screwdriver, pliers, and a California license plate that did not belong to the vehicle. The Deputy also located bolt cutters, a large sledgehammer and a large box of black garbage bags.
All these items are consisted with items used in burglaries and/or robberies. The firearm was also not registered to Dempsey.
Dempsey was arrested for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a prohibited person (29800(A)(1) PC & 30305(A)(1) PC), Carrying a loaded firearm (25850(C)(6) PC), unlawful possession of tear gas (22810(A) PC) and Possession of burglary tools (466 PC).
Dempsey was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $25,000.00 bail.
Come on, he’s just a man looking for that lucky break
He was coming to Mendocino on a nature adventure….and a kidnapping if convenient.