The following is a press release issued by the Willits Police Department. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On April 12th, 2023 at about 8:25pm, the Willits Police Department (WPD) received a 911 call from a woman claiming that suspect Luis Hernandez (41, Willits) had just taken her cell phone from her by threat of violence, threatened to harm her, and brandished a pistol while making threats to harm her.
The victim told WPD Officers she and Hernandez (on parole for a conviction of 288 PC – Lewd Acts with a Child) had been dating for about 2-3 months. The victim stated she and Hernandez engaged in an argument because she was not answering her phone despite his repeated calls.
The victim was driven by a relative to Hernandez’s residence to pick up her belongings. While inside the residence, Hernandez told the victim if she left him that he would kill her. Hernandez reportedly brandished a large silver pistol at the victim to prove his point. Hernandez then ordered the victim to exit the residence and tell her relative to leave as she was staying. Hernandez ordered the victim to leave her phone with him, intimating that he would harm her otherwise. The victim exited the residence and fled the scene with her relative to the WPD station.
Hernandez agreed to meet the victim at a closed shopping center to return her phone. Hernandez, still under direct surveillance, parked in the shopping center at which point the WPD Officers conducted a High Risk Traffic Stop and arrested Hernandez at gunpoint.
A search of Hernandez’s vehicle revealed methamphetamine and the victim’s cell phone. As Hernandez has been convicted of a sex crime, possession of methamphetamine is a felony. A thorough search of Hernandez’s residence revealed drug paraphernalia and a pistol holster, but no firearm.
Hernandez was transported and booked into the county jail for the following charges:
211 PC – Robbery by Fear (Felony)
422 PC – Criminal Threats (Felony)
3056 PC – Parole Violation (Felony)
11377(a) HS – Possession of Methamphetamine (Felony)
496(a) PC – Possession of Stolen Property (Felony)
417(a)(2) PC – Brandishing a Firearm (Misdemeanor)
Now keep him in prison! Stop letting people like this roam our streets. It’s a matter of time and he will kill a child or an adult. Then what? This state’s idea of letting criminals out is ridiculous. #getgavinout #cleanupthejusticesystem
Brandishing a firearm is just a misdemeanor?
It’s a “wobbler”
Misdemeanor. Or felony depending on circumstances. I would think in a domestic violence situation and actually a attempted kidnapping(showing gun and telling her she can’t leave) it would be a felony…. maybe since no gun locat we d they chose misdemeanor.