Fort Bragg police have arrested a 16-year-old from Fort Bragg in connection with a New Year’s Eve drive-by shooting that targeted a residence on West Spruce Street, authorities said in a press release on Saturday.

Officers responded at about 2:17 a.m. Dec. 31, 2025, to the 200 block of West Spruce Street after an unknown person fired multiple rounds into a home. No injuries were reported.

Investigators interviewed victims and witnesses, canvassed the neighborhood, collected physical evidence and reviewed surveillance video. They determined the shooter fled the scene in a gray SUV and identified the suspected shooter as a juvenile from Fort Bragg.

As the investigation progressed, officers served multiple warrants and worked with the Mendocino County Major Crimes Task Force to conduct surveillance at locations around the Fort Bragg area.

On Jan. 28, at about 3 p.m., officers received information that the suspect was at a location in the 23000 block of state Route 1. Fort Bragg police and the Major Crimes Task Force responded and began surveillance.

At about 5:10 p.m., officers observed the juvenile attempting to flee on foot and arrested the suspect without incident, police said.

During the arrest, officers recovered a loaded 9mm “ghost gun” and a second loaded magazine from the juvenile, along with additional ammunition and suspected controlled substances, according to police.

The juvenile was booked into Mendocino County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of carrying a loaded firearm, possession of a ghost gun, being a minor in possession of a handgun, felony juvenile warrant violations, and possession of a controlled substance.

A second suspect, identified as 40-year-old Marvin Aldanacisnero, was also arrested and booked into the Mendocino County Jail on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact, police said.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities said they are continuing to identify additional suspects and evidence. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Beak of the Fort Bragg Police Department at (707) 961-2800, ext. 224.

A 21-year-old Covelo man was arrested this week following a multi-agency operation tied to a reported burglary and multiple outstanding felony warrants, authorities said.

The burglary was reported Jan. 18 in the 77000 block of Logan Lane in Covelo, according to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies responded and identified a suspect as Kory Ryan Whipple, 21, of Covelo. The investigation was later transferred to the sheriff’s office investigations bureau.

Authorities said Whipple had six outstanding felony warrants and was also under investigation by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force at the time.

On Jan. 21, a multi-jurisdictional operation involving the Mendocino-Lake County Regional SWAT Team, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, and detectives and deputies with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office served a high-risk search warrant at a residence in the 300 block of Biggar Lane in Covelo, authorities said.

Whipple was located on the property and taken into custody without incident. A large amount of stolen property was recovered during the search, according to the sheriff’s office.

Whipple was arrested on suspicion of burglary and possession of stolen property and booked into the Mendocino County Jail on multiple felony warrants. Charges include burglary, possession of stolen property, four felony warrants for violation of formal probation, one felony warrant for vandalism causing damage of $400 or more, and one felony warrant for evading law enforcement. Whipple is being held without bail.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center at 707-463-4086, option 1, or the non-emergency tip line at 707-234-2100.

Typo corrected in Pete Gonzales’ name. (January 20, 2025)

Update: Police have confirmed that the victim is doing better and that their condition is listed as non-life-threatening. Also, the victim’s dog is in good hands with an individual who is taking care of the canine. The dog was not injured in the incident. The police also said that the assailants did not know the victim personally, but that Pete Gonzales knew the victim had this dog. (Update: 3:24 p.m. January 6, 2025)

The following account is taken directly from a Ukiah Police Department press release. All factual information was provided by the police and the online court docket.

What police say began as a plan to steal a black-and-white dog spiraled into a brutal attack that left a Ukiah man fighting for his life on New Year’s Eve.

According to the Ukiah Police Department, two 23-year-old men lured a 33-year-old Ukiah resident behind a South State Street building on December 31 with the intent of taking his black and white canine — then allegedly attacked him with a sword and a machete when he resisted.

Officers were dispatched at approximately 3:45 p.m. to 995 South State Street in Ukiah for a reported stabbing. When patrol officers arrived, they found the victim bleeding heavily from from his neck, chest, and hand. He was incoherent and unable to explain what happened, police said.

The victim was transported to Adventist Health of Ukiah in extremely critical condition, with concerns he might not survive.

Police initially had few leads. The attack occurred behind a building, and officers were unable to locate any witnesses. Detectives were called to the scene while patrol officers canvassed nearby businesses for surveillance footage.

Security video from surrounding properties showed the victim walking behind the building with two men and his dog shortly before the attack. Minutes later, the footage shows the victim staggering back towards the roadway, motioning for help.

The assailants fled in different directions, one carrying the victims dog over his shoulder.

Detectives used the video to identify one suspect as Adam Monte Smith, a 23-year-old Ukiah resident. Investigators said Smith appeared to have shaved his head in an attempt to alter his appearance. When contacted at his resident, Smith admitted that he and another man had planned to take the dog and give it to his girlfriend. The second man was later identified as Pete Matthew Gonzales, also 23 and a Ukiah resident.

During the confrontation, Smith allegedly drew a large sword while Gonzales pulled out a machete. Police say Smith stabbed the victim in the chest, and as the men struggled over the sword, Gonzales struck the victim in the neck with the machete.

The suspects then took the victim’s backpack and dog and fled.

Gonzales was later located and arrested without incident. Police said he was found in possession of methamphetamine at the time of his arrest.

Detectives executed a search warrant at a downtown Ukiah residence, where they recovered the stolen dog and clothing police say Smith was wearing during the attack, which was stained with blood.

Both men were booked into the Mendocino County Jail and police said the investigation is ongoing.

Police said the investigation is ongoing. Smith and Gonzales were arraigned today.

Smith was charged with six felonies: attempted murder, assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, second degree robbery, and use of a weapon/controlled substance in commission of a felony (three counts).

Gonzales was charged with seven felonies: attempted murder, assault by means of force likely to produce great bodily injury, second degree robbery, transportation of a controlled substance, and use of a weapon/controlled substance in commission of a felony (three counts).

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will continue public outreach in the new year as it develops a Statewide Deer Conservation and Management Plan, hosting a new round of regional, informal meetings to gather input from stakeholders, Tribes, and the general public.

The sessions follow earlier virtual and in-person meetings held in Sacramento in September and in Bishop, Redding, Weed, and Eureka in December. At upcoming meetings, CDFW biologists will walk through the goals and content of the draft plan, share region-specific deer information, and answer questions from attendees. The agency says the meetings are intended to encourage open dialogue and give the public a chance to meet local biologists, wildlife officers, and staff.

Upcoming scoping sessions include:

• Jan. 12, 2026, 5:30–7:30 p.m. — Richard C. Trudeau Conference Center, Oakland

• Jan. 12, 2026, 5:30 p.m. — Del Norte County (location TBD)

• Jan. 15, 2026, 7 p.m. — Lassen County Offices, Susanville

• Jan. 21, 2026, 6–8 p.m. — Valley Hi–North Laguna Library, Sacramento

More information about the plan is available by emailing BigGame@wildlife.ca.gov.

The Mendocino County Department of Transportation has closed Usal Road, cutting off all public access to Usal Beach and its campground until further notice.

In a notice posted Saturday morning, the department said County Road 431 is closed in its entirety. “There is NO estimated date of opening,” the post stated. “There is NO access to the beach or campground.”

The closure makes Usal Beach — one of the most remote and rugged camping destinations on California’s North Coast — completely inaccessible by vehicle. Located within Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, Usal Beach has long drawn visitors seeking solitude, dramatic coastal scenery, and opportunities to encounter wildlife, including Roosevelt elk.

Travel writer Stuart Thornton once described Usal Beach as “everything a Northern California beach should be: wild, powerful, and mysterious.”

The campground is intentionally primitive, with no hookups, no potable water, and no cell service. Even under normal conditions, reaching it requires navigating Usal Road, a narrow, steep, and often rutted route that can be challenging for high-clearance vehicles and impassable for low-clearance cars or RVs.

For hikers and backpackers, that remoteness is part of the appeal. Usal serves as a southern access point for the Lost Coast Trail, a backcountry route through Sinkyone Wilderness featuring lush forests, coastal bluffs and black sand beaches.

Despite its isolation, the area has faced ongoing issues with trash and illegal dumping, particularly during peak visitation periods when weekend warriors have been known to throw multiday raves, building bonfires and setting off fireworks.

The road closure halts all vehicle access to the beach and campground, with county officials offering no timeline for reopening.

Travelers are advised to monitor county updates and plan alternate destinations while the closure remains in effect.

CAL FIRE has closed Road 500 in Jackson Demonstration State Forest effective immediately, citing an increase in illegal trash dumping and concerns about damage to forest infrastructure during wet weather.

The closure affects Road 500 between County Road 408 and JDSF Road 600.

JDSF Road 500, also known as Caspar 500 Logging Road, can be accessed via Caspar Orchard Road and Highway 20.

According to CAL FIRE, dumping has intensified along Road 500, County Road 408, and other forest roads, prompting the decision to restrict access while cleanup and evaluation efforts continue.

During the closure, all motorized vehicles — including motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles — are prohibited, in accordance with state regulations. The road remains open to non-motorized uses such as walking, biking, and horseback riding.

Forest staff will continue removing illegally dumped materials and assessing long-term solutions to prevent future dumping. CAL FIRE said Road 500 will reopen once conditions improve and the dumping issue has been addressed.

Visitors are encouraged to help protect the forest by packing out trash and reporting illegal dumping. More information, including a map of the forest, is available by contacting the Jackson Demonstration State Forest office at (707) 964-5674 or through its website.