18-Year-Old Arrested for Possession of Loaded Assault Weapon in Petaluma
Rocky Dog Park | Google Maps
PETALUMA – According to a community bulletin issued by the Petaluma Police Department (PPD) on June 16th, PPD dispatch received a report from a victim Wednesday evening, June 15th, shortly after 4:30 PM. The victim reported that a suspect had displayed a firearm at him in a threatening manner during an argument.
The two were in the suspect’s vehicle, traveling on US Highway 101 towards Petaluma when the argument started. They ended up at the Rocky Dog Park, where the victim left the suspect to report the incident to police. The victim reported that the suspect was in his vehicle at park, and that he had the firearm with him.
PPD Officers arrived at the park and found the suspect’s vehicle parked in the south portion of the parking lot. A perimeter was set around the location and officers entered the parking lot. The suspect was standing next to his vehicle when officers arrived. A high-risk pedestrian stop was conducted and the suspect was detained without incident.
A search of the suspect’s vehicle was also conducted to insure that there were no firearms inside of the vehicle. Officers found a loaded assault rifle that was equipped with a 30 round magazine. The magazine was loaded with 30 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition. Another 30 round magazine was located and it was loaded with 10 rounds of .223 caliber ammunition.
Two other unloaded high capacity magazines, unloaded 870 shotgun, unloaded .22 caliber rifle, approximately 500 rounds of assorted ammunition, gas mask, military type backpack, canteens, and black knit ski mask were located inside of the vehicle. Officers were not able to determine why the suspect was in possession of all the items.
While officers were searching the vehicle, suspected bomb making materials were located. Officers backed away from the vehicle and called for the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad for assistance. The Bomb Squad utilized their robot to insure that the vehicle was safe to approach. The bomb making materials were found to be pieces of fireworks that were found to be inert.
The suspect was identified as 18-year-old Christopher Middleton. He was interviewed by officers and stated that he had the assault weapon out just before officers arrived and that he had been pointing it at the trees that surround the park.
Middleton was booked at the Sonoma County Jail and faces charges of Unlawful Possession of Assault Weapon, Unlawful Possession of High Capacity Magazines, Displaying a Firearm in a Threatening Manner, and Possession of a Loaded Firearm in a Public Place. Bail was set at $10,000.
