Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Fort Bragg Police Apprehend Armed Suspect Brandishing Illegal Firearm

The following is a press release from the Fort Bragg Department. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:


Elijah Zapata [Mugshot from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Booking Logs]

On April 15, 2024 at approximately 11:14 PM, Fort Bragg police officers were dispatched to an escalating verbal disturbance in the 500 block of Kempe Way.

Officers arrived and saw a male, later identified as Elijah Zapata, 21, of Santa Rosa, immediately run from the area. Officers pursued on foot and after a short chase, caught Zapata. The other individuals involved stated Zapata had threatened them with a gun. Officers searched the area Zapata fled and located an unregistered, unloaded revolver.

No one was injured in the altercation, which was verbal only. After the investigation, officers determined the other individuals involved were victims. It was also confirmed Zapata was currently out of custody on his Own Recognizance on an unrelated case with terms to Obey All Laws.

The revolver allegedly confiscated from the suspected [image from the Fort Bragg Police Department]

Captain Thomas O’Neal said, “I’m very proud of our officers. While most of our community slept, these officers chased and arrested an armed suspect. They also recovered an illegal firearm, getting it out of the hands of a criminal. They undoubtedly made our community safer.”

Zapata was arrested and booked in the Mendocino County Jail for 422(a) PC – Criminal Threats (Felony), 148(a)(1) PC – Resist/Obstruct/Delay Arrest (Misd), 415(2) PC – Disturb the Peace (Misd), 166(a)(4) PC – Violate Court Order (Misd), 417(a)(2)(A) PC – Brandish Firearm (Misd), and 25400(a)(2) PC – Carrying a Concealed Firearm (Misd). Officers requested a Bail Enhancement of $50,000, which was authorized by a judge.

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Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact Officer Frank of the Fort Bragg Police Department at (707)961-2800 ext 210.

This information is being released by Chief Neil Cervenka. All media inquiries should contact him at ncervenka@fortbragg.com.

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6 COMMENTS

    • I’d say it is. There’s shell pop offs almost nightly. Most days the neighbors just call the police on everything though. Which is scary enough to consider.

  1. If only there was some way to open up the border and get a 3rd world influx of barbaric lawless machete wielding criminals into our country we cd do away with civility and the American dream !!!

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MendoFever Staff
MendoFever Staff
Editor's Note: Whenever an article's byline reads "MendoFever Staff", the contents of that article were not composed by any of our reporters. Types of writing that will be attributed to "MendoFever Staff" include press releases, letters to the editor, op-eds, obituaries— essentially writing that is not produced by a reporter.

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