A Santa Rosa man with a history of felony convictions and a restraining order barring him from owning guns was arrested Monday morning after reportedly walking down Airport Park Boulevard in Ukiah with a loaded handgun sticking out of his pocket, according to a press release from the Ukiah Police Department (UPD).
Officers responded around 8:15 a.m. on May 19 after a witness — an off-duty firefighter — reported seeing a man in a brown shirt and dark pants handling a black handgun and loading a magazine into it. The witness also reported seeing the suspect walk along the Great Redwood Trail near Airport Park Boulevard.
Police said they quickly located a man matching the description and identified him as Rahul Shukla. Officers detained him without incident and observed what appeared to be a firearm protruding from his pants pocket. According to UPD, Shukla showed signs of being under the influence of a controlled substance at the time of his arrest.
The off-duty firefighter who made the initial call was contacted at the scene and reportedly confirmed witnessing Shukla manipulate the weapon.
A records check revealed that Shukla was subject to a restraining order prohibiting him from possessing firearms and had three prior felony convictions, making it illegal for him to own or carry a gun, UPD stated in the release.
Shukla told officers he had walked about a mile along the trail and agreed to let them search his vehicle, which was parked nearby. Inside, officers allegedly found a large amount of cash, an extra magazine, and holsters matching the handgun he had been carrying.
Later that day, UPD detectives, with help from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, served a search warrant at Shukla’s residence in Santa Rosa. No additional evidence was found during that search, according to the release.
Shukla was arrested on suspicion of multiple felony violations, including possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of a firearm while under a restraining order, and being under the influence of a controlled substance while armed. He was booked into Mendocino County Jail.
It’s important to note that the charges against Shukla have not been proven in a court of law. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
I’ve never once seen a cop riding or walking on that trail
I’ve seen UPD drive down the trail in connection with an investigation.
I’m glad the UPD are getting scum like this off the streets. The off-duty fireman did the city a huge service by calling that in. I am glad nobody was hurt.