Full Notification

On June 15, 2015 at approximately 7:48 PM, a Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Deputies were dispatched to the area of Neville Way and Moorland Avenue for a report of a gang fight involving six people described by the anonymous caller as gang members wearing blue. The people involved with the fight were wielding broken bottles and were associated with two different vehicles – one white, one black. The area has been a location for many gang-related incidents involving guns and shootings so several Deputies were dispatched.

The first Deputy arrived in the area within two minutes. He saw a black sedan packed with people quickly driving away from the scene. A black car was described as associated with the gang members involved in the fight. The driver committed several vehicle code violations so he conducted vehicle stop to investigate further. The car yielded on Eddie Drive at Robin Way.

When the car stopped, two of the back seat passengers immediately jumped out from both sides of the car and started to walk quickly away. The Deputy attempted to verbally control the men, but they were confrontational and challenged him. It was clear that they were obviously trying to distract him from the others inside the car.

The Deputy yelled clear instructions but the man, clad in blue, Christian Estrella a 21 year old from Santa Rosa, would not comply. When he tried to physically restrain him, Estrella fought the Deputy. The Deputy was forced to use his taser to try to gain Estrella’s compliance, but I had absolutely no effect and Estrella tried to grab the taser. The Deputy then resorted to using his flashlight to force Estrella to the ground, but he would stand back up, assume a fighting stance and clench his fists.

While he was actively and violently resisting, the Deputy radioed for emergency back-up from any law enforcement agency in the immediate area. Ultimately, Estrella complied with the Deputy and began lying on the ground and was placed in handcuffs.

During the time that Estrella was fighting the Deputy, Luis Cuevas and 18 year old from Santa Rosa (who had already gotten out of the back seat) was joined by a female from the car. They were both non-compliant with instructions. When the back-up Deputy arrived he restrained Cuevas near the front of the car. The female had run away and was not identified.

Juan Carlos Gomez, an 18 year old from Santa Rosa was removed from the car and detained without incident. There were numerous open and unopened cans of beer inside the car.

The driver, a 17 year old female was detained along with passenger, 18 year old Vanessa Carreon-Lopez of Petaluma.


Immediately after everyone from the vehicle was detained, a neighbor flagged-down one of the Deputies. She said there was a gun on the sidewalk and her 4 year old child almost picked it up. The alert parent recognized the child’s curiosity, saw the gun and informed the Deputy. The Deputy retrieved the loaded, semi-automatic pistol which had been nearest Cuevas after the stop. There was a live round in the chamber and the magazine contained more ammunition.

Deputies canvassed the area looking for any victims or witnesses and tried to get any leads on who might’ve been involved in the fight. No one in the neighborhood said they heard or saw anything, save one sole person who reported possibly hearing a fight outside on the street.

The other car described by the original anonymous caller was found in the middle of the street on Neville Way. It was locked and blocking traffic. Eventually the owner, Claudia Rivera-Cuellar, approached the Deputies. Initially she refused to describe any of the circumstances regarding how her car came to be abandoned in the middle of the street at the scene of a gang fight. Eventually she explained that she had inadvertently locked her keys inside the car and went to a friend’s house to summon roadside assistance. Coincidentally, Rivera-Cuellar is Gomez’ girlfriend.

Cuevas was arrested for criminal street gang member possessing concealed firearm, participating in gang conspiracy, participating in criminal street gang, committing a felony for benefit of gang and resisting arrest. He is being held in county jail with bail amount of $75,000. He is scheduled for court tomorrow at 1:30.

Estrella was arrested for resisting arrest by violence, delaying an investigation, two counts of violation of probation, Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) violation and participating in gang conspiracy. He is being held in county jail without bail and is scheduled for court tomorrow at 1:30.

Gomez was arrested for being minor in possession of an alcoholic beverage and conspiracy to participate in a criminal street gang. He produced bail and he is scheduled to appear in court on June 22 at 8:30.

Carreon-Lopez was arrested for being minor in possession of an alcoholic beverage. She produced bail and her court date is pending.

The 17 year old female driver was arrested and booked into juvenile hall for allowing a passenger to carry a concealed firearm in vehicle and being a minor in possession of an alcoholic beverage.

Fortunately, our Deputy was not injured during the fight. The incident was captured on the body worn cameras of several of the Deputies who responded. The recordings were all booked into evidence and are an integral part of the investigation.


Case #150615-029


Prepared by Sergeant Cecile Focha
Media Relations /PIO