ALPR Technology Helps Santa Rosa Officers Arrest Three Documented Gang Participants; Two Loaded Firearms Recovered from Children's Playground 

On September 8, 2026, at approximately 8:00 p.m., officers with the Santa Rosa Police Department (SRPD) were dispatched to the 1600 block of Hendley Street after multiple community members called 911 to report three individuals wearing ski masks and gloves had exited a dark-colored sedan and were walking through the neighborhood. One caller reported the subjects appeared to be spray painting in an alleyway, while others reported seeing them carrying spray paint cans. 

Before arriving in the area and using a license plate number provided by a community member, a responding officer queried the SRPD's Flock Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) system. The query returned several camera reads documenting the vehicle's movements toward the neighborhood approximately 25 minutes preceding the calls for service. 

The ALPR data allowed officers to independently corroborate the vehicle description before arriving on scene and confirm that the vehicle photographed by a community member was the same vehicle traveling into the neighborhood. This information helped officers strategically establish a perimeter and provided a verified vehicle description and license plate number to broadcast when the vehicle eventually left the area. 

Officers established a perimeter around the park while the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office helicopter, Henry-1, provided air support and real-time updates. An officer assigned to the perimeter observed three subjects in the middle of a soccer field. As officers moved in, two of the subjects fled northbound toward the playground before being detained. 

At the same time, Henry-1 observed a dark-colored vehicle leaving the area northbound and tracked it while providing real-time direction-of-travel updates. Officers caught up to the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop in the 2600 block of Patio Court. The vehicle’s license plate and description matched the information previously obtained through the Flock system and community-provided photographs. The driver also matched the description of the outstanding suspect. 

During the investigation, officers recovered a discarded ski mask from the soccer field along the path the suspects had fled. Latex gloves were also located inside the vehicle. 

Officers canvassing the area around Temple Avenue and the Newhall Bike Path located multiple instances of fresh gang graffiti on sidewalks and concrete walls. In several locations, the new graffiti had been painted directly over the existing markings of a rival gang. 

So-called "cross-over" graffiti, in which one gang paints over a rival gang's markings, is commonly used to challenge rival groups. Investigators determined the three suspects acted together, wore facial coverings while marking rival territory, and fled upon becoming aware of police presence. Based on the totality of the circumstances, investigators concluded the vandalism was committed for the benefit of and in association with a criminal street gang rather than isolated acts of vandalism. 

All three suspects were previously known to detectives assigned to the SRPD Gang Crimes Team through prior investigations and arrests. 

Because investigators believed evidence may have been discarded during the foot pursuit, a K-9 officer returned to the playground to conduct an additional article search. While clearing sand near the play structure, the officer located two loaded firearms partially buried in the sand: a 9mm handgun with a round chambered and a privately made unserialized firearm, commonly referred to as a “ghost gun”, equipped with a magazine capable of holding 30 rounds. 

The firearms were recovered from the immediate area where two of the suspects had been detained, within a sandbox used by children. 

Following the arrests, SRPD coordinated with the City of Santa Rosa Recreation and Parks Department to conduct an additional daylight inspection of the park for any remaining contraband. Officers also worked with the onsite preschool to ensure staff were aware of the incident. In addition, SRPD has been in contact with the City’s Violence Prevention Partnership to help provide youth and community support to the affected neighborhoods. 

Detectives with the SRPD Gang Crimes Team arrested the following suspects: 

Nathaniel Varble, 18, of Santa Rosa 

• PC 594(b)(1) – Vandalism ($400 or more) – Felony 
• PC 186.22(b)(1) – Committing a felony to promote/assist a criminal street gang – Felony 

Andrew Aguiar, 18, of Santa Rosa 

• PC 594(b)(1) – Vandalism ($400 or more) – Felony 
• PC 29820(b) – Possession of a firearm by a person prohibited (juvenile ward) – Felony 
• PC 25400(a)(2) – Carrying a concealed firearm on person – Felony 
• PC 25850(a) – Carrying a loaded firearm in a public place – Felony 
• PC 186.22(b)(1) – Committing a felony to promote/assist a criminal street gang – Felony 

16-Year-Old Male Juvenile 

• PC 594(b)(1) – Vandalism ($400 or more) – Felony 
• PC 29820(b) – Possession of a firearm by a person prohibited (juvenile ward) – Felony 
• PC 25400(a)(2) – Carrying a concealed firearm on person – Felony 
• PC 25850(a) – Carrying a loaded firearm in a public place – Felony 
• PC 186.22(a) – Active participation in a criminal street gang – Felony 

Consistent with California law, no further identifying information regarding the juvenile will be released. The juvenile's parents were notified of the arrest. 

"License plate recognition technology did exactly what it is intended to do in this case. It provided officers with verified, objective information about a specific vehicle before they arrived on scene and helped connect that vehicle to what community members were reporting in real time," said Chief John Cregan. "Community members made these arrests possible by calling us. Technology helped us act on the information they provided, and the result was two loaded firearms removed from a park where children play." 

The Santa Rosa Police Department remains committed to reducing violence and improving public safety throughout the community. Anyone who witnesses criminal activity is encouraged to report it immediately by calling the Santa Rosa Police Department at (707) 528-5222. 

Confidential and anonymous information regarding gang activity may also be reported by calling 707-543-GANG (4264). 

Santa Rosa Police Department case number #26-9913.

Media inquiries can be directed to Sgt. Patricia Seffens, Public Information Officer, at 707-543-3634 or pseffens@srcity.org