A quiet neighborhood in Santa Rosa, California, was transformed into a scene straight out of an action-packed thriller. The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office responded to multiple reports of gunfire in the early hours of December 7th, setting off a chain of events that would uncover a cache of weapons and booby traps.
As deputies arrived at the 5000 block of Gates Road, they discovered a man relentlessly firing guns. Refusing to cooperate, the suspect, identified as 64-year-old Clint Mitchell, kept his distance, raising suspicions among law enforcement. Shotgun and handgun casings littered the porch of Mitchell’s residence, with shotgun cartridges scattered on the nearby road.
Initially uncertain if a crime had been committed, the deputies left the scene but wasted no time launching a thorough investigation into the shooter’s activities. It was soon revealed that Mitchell had been recently listed by the Department of Justice as a person prohibited from owning or possessing firearms. However, shockingly, he had a staggering 15 guns registered under his name.
With a search and arrest warrant in hand, Violent Crimes Detectives tracked down Mitchell to the 1000 block of Main Street in St. Helena on December 9th. The arrest took a dangerous turn when Mitchell was found in possession of two loaded handgun magazines and a loaded shotgun with a round in the chamber inside his car.
The subsequent search of Mitchell’s property proved to be a perilous endeavor. His home was fortified and booby-trapped, presenting a significant challenge for the SWAT team and Violent Crimes Detectives. Undeterred, they pressed forward, uncovering a shocking arsenal of weapons, ammunition, a ballistic vest, spent casings, and bullet holes riddling the walls.
In total, seven guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition were seized from Mitchell’s residence, painting a disturbing picture of a man who had defied the law and amassed a dangerous arsenal. The discovery left the community in disbelief, questioning how such a stockpile could go unnoticed for so long.
Clint Mitchell now faces three felony charges: carrying a loaded gun in public as a prohibited person, possessing ammunition as a prohibited person, and owning or possessing a gun within five years of prohibition. He is currently held in custody on $130,000 bail, with a bail enhancement due to the severity of the charges.
The investigation into Mitchell’s motives and potential connections to other criminal activities is ongoing. As law enforcement delves deeper into this alarming case, the community remains on edge, grateful for the swift actions of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office in neutralizing this potential threat.
