Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Unlicensed Teen and Passenger Arrested with High-Capacity Handgun in Fort Bragg

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


The baseball bat and high capacity, semi-automatic firearm found by officer [Photo provided by FBPD]

On July 12, 2024 at approximately 9:47 A/M, a Fort Bragg police officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop on a vehicle for multiple violations of the California Vehicle Code in the 200  block of Maple Street.  

During the traffic stop, it was learned the driver, a 17-year-old male juvenile, resident of Fort  Bragg, was operating a motor vehicle while unlicensed. From prior history, it was known the male juvenile had been cited for the same offense in the past, and was taken into custody without incident for this current violation. 

An inventory search of the vehicle was completed which yielded in the discovery of a club  (mini-bat) and a loaded, unregistered, high-capacity handgun both concealed under the front seat.  The female passenger, identified a, Andrea Romero-Serrano, 19, resident of Fort Bragg, was also taken into custody post investigation. The handgun located upon further inspection, was determined to have a threaded barrel allowing for a suppressor to be attached, therefore classifying the handgun as an “assault weapon”.

The male juvenile was transported to Mendocino Juvenile Hall and Romero-Serrano was booked into the Mendocino County Jail. Both individuals were charged with the following: 22210 PC – Possess Concealed Club, 25850(a) PC – Carry Loaded Firearm in Public, 25850(c)(6) PC – Loaded Unregistered Firearm, 25400(a)(1) PC – Carry Concealed Weapon on Person or Vehicle,  30515(4)(A) PC – Possession of an Assault Weapon and 182(a)(1) PC – Conspiracy: Commit  Crime. All felonies. The juvenile was also booked for 12500a VC – Driving While Unlicensed,  a misdemeanor. 

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact Officer Frank of the Fort  Bragg Police Department at (707)961-2800 ext 223.

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This information is being released by Sergeant Welter. All media inquiries should contact him at  awelter@fortbragg.com. d

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21 COMMENTS

  1. High capacity? 13 rounds is a normal magazine. If you had a 50 round extended magazine that would be one thing but it’s a regular magazine.

    • If the magazine fits in the firearm well it’s a “standard capacity” magazine full stop. “High capacity” is a term invented by politicians to scare people who have no exposure to or experience with firearms. These people also vote.
      What’s really interesting is that the ammunition in the photo appears to be of at least two different calibers. If those rounds actually were in the gun in question those kids should thank those cops for saving them from having that gun explode in their hands. Probably saved a few fingers and eyes.

  2. Fort Bragg seems to have developed a real problem with Hispanic gangs lately. Twenty years ago this wasn’t even an issue, so what caused this influx of sureno and norteno scum? And these rural wannabe gangsters are graduating to more brazen acts, carrying and using firearms with increasing frequency. This should be very concerning, especially so for a town that depends on its reputation as a family tourist destination.

    Anyway, thank you to FBPD officers for wrangling these little thugs-in-training. Hopefully the DA and the state of CA can back you up and finish the job with tough sentences, even for the juvenile. We need to bring back harsh sentencing for crimes involving gangs, hard drugs and/or weapons because this is getting ridiculous

    • How did you extract this was gang related? Was the white guy campground murder Gang related? 20 years ago crime was still same crime.

      • Do you drive around this county with your eyes closed? Our state and county are in shambles and it’s not because of Maga.

      • Not sure what MAGA has to do with cartel-connected mexican gangs rapidly metastasizing in a small rural town. I would think that would be a non-partisan local issue. Either way you are being disingenuous, and a bad-faith actor. In fact it sure sounds like you’re affiliated with one of these gangs. That, or maybe you just sympathize with violent criminals.

    • So what caused the influx of the sureno and norteno and to be fair and honest other races and colors of gangbangers and wannabe gangsters?
      Golden opportunities and easy Pickens for dirtbags that were for far too long left unbridled to wreak havoc.
      The current situation was well underway at least inland speaking back in the 1980’s and into the 90’s.
      When pot was at a premium and ripping off plants and drying sheds and doing home invasions etc was well worth the risk.
      As in risk versus reward.

      • I agree the seeds of outlaw mentality were planted here years ago. The difference is there aren’t really any pot farms to burglarize anymore and a lot of that money is gone too. But the gang members are still coming. And now they are staying. The rip off gangs used to drive home to Oakland and Sacramento with their stolen loot. Now they are comfortable setting up shop in the sleepy small towns like fort bragg, being visible, and making their presence known. My best guess is that as these Hispanic gangs and their associates gain critical mass in an area they are able to create and then exploit despair— i.e. new markets for fentanyl, methamphetamine, human trafficking and the like.

        • That is exactly correct…. I was making reference to the conception and infancy of what has morphed into the much more serious and dangerous current situation.
          You make some very valid points but i would have added Santa Rosa to the list as well.
          Overall bigger and better but far more destructive endeavors for these criminal thugs.

  3. “high-capacity handgun” is not a thing. The handgun itself only has a capacity of one until a magazine is inserted. The photo shows thirteen rounds but that doesn’t mean the magazine will hold them. High capacity magazines that have been altered to hold only ten rounds are legal in California. I wonder why he wasn’t charged with 32310 PC (LCM), I see he was charged with a thought crime. Don’t get me started on the whole “assault weapon” thing.

    • I’m not seeing your point. I am all for second amendment for well-informed and law-abiding citizens, but neither of these two should have been in possession of that gun no matter how you slice it.

      And on closer inspection it looks like they were mixing calibers, as at least one of the corroded old cartridges pictured is much shorter than the others. These kind of people are just as much a danger to themselves as they are to the public.

    • a 17 year old who won’t even bother to carry a drivers license shouldn’t have a handgun, stop with the dramatic “THOUGHT CRIME!!” bs.

  4. When it’s a person of color who commits a crime in this county & their stories are published, everyone is b**chin about gangs, thugs, blaming Biden blah blah blah…. But when it’s a Caucasian, it’s quiet as a mouse & nobody bats an eye. I’m sick of people man. Cant we just all give an opinion without mentioning race?! Come on . Obviously these are very young kids, & something is definitely wrong & we should provide help & guidance. This all starts at home. Home is where we get our first love, education & upbringing

    • What the fuck are you talking about?
      You just mentioned the Caucasian race.
      Most of what you just said is bullshit and some of us are a little dumber after reading it.
      As for the guidance what ever happened to the California youth authority?
      Or as an option a stint in the military?
      Their parents either don’t a shit or they cannot control them.
      Tough love is there only hope either they become more educated criminals in the jailhouse or they straighten the fuck up and become productive citizens such as Counselors for the next generation of troubled kids.
      It’s a toss of the coin and worth the risk.

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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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