The following is a press release issued by the Ukiah Police Department. This has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On 05-09-2023 at 10:19 A.M., Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to contact and adult female regarding an assault that had occurred during the early morning hours on that date in Philo, California.
The Deputies were unable to contact the adult female by phone, so they responded to the Boonville area. They searched the area of Boonville and Philo for the adult female and eventually located her in the Boonville area.
Deputies learned that shortly after midnight, the adult female was with her boyfriend and her boyfriend’s friend, Pedro Saldana, at an address located in the 12600 block of Anderson Valley Way.
At one point during the night, Saldana threw an unknown item at the adult female, with no provocation. Saldana then began arguing with the adult female. Saldana retrieved a handgun from the residence and pointed it at the adult female. Saldana then fired one shot over the adult female’s shoulder. The incident ended shortly thereafter.
The Deputies learned the property, which the incident occurred on, was owned by an uninvolved person and that no one was allowed to be on the property. The Deputies received consent to enter the property and all buildings.
The Deputies responded to the area and contacted the adult female’s boyfriend (adult male). At first the adult male denied Saldana was on the property and advised Saldana had recently left the property.
The Deputies observed the adult male was in possession of a two-way radio and there was a vehicle parked at the location. The adult male said the vehicle belonged to Saldana but could not articulate why Saldana did not take his vehicle when he left.
The Deputies detained the adult male and verbally announced for Saldana to come out of the residence. This went on for approximately 15 minutes before Saldana came to the door.
Saldana refused to leave the threshold of the front door of the residence, despite the Deputies verbally telling him to do so several times. Saldana eventually exited the residence and was detained.
The Deputies searched the building Saldana was in and located a handgun, a personal usage amount of suspected methamphetamine, methamphetamine paraphernalia as well as other items of evidence. The Deputies observed items of evidence in the vehicle which was in open view. The vehicle was searched, and items of evidence associated to the firearm were located inside the vehicle.
As a result of the Deputies investigation, they developed probable cause to believe Saldana committed the crimes of 245(a)(2) PC (Assault Deadly Weapon Firearm), 11370.1(a) HS (Possession of Controlled Substance While Armed with Loaded Firearm), 246.3 PC (Discharge Firearm Grossly Negligent Manner), felony arrest warrant, 1203.2 PC (Misdemeanor Violation Probation), 242 PC (Misdemeanor Battery).
Saldana was arrested and booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held on a No Bail status.
