On Thursday, July 26, 2012, at about 5:43 pm, Sonoma County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a 911 call regarding a man who was firing a gun inside a home on Bucks Road, Santa Rosa. The caller reported hearing gunshots coming from his roommate’s bedroom. The roommate was reported to be 48 year-old Michael Albini from Santa Rosa.
Initial reports indicated Albini was holding other people hostage within the home. Sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene and dialog ensued with Albini from the bedroom window. Albini refused to come outside and began breaking items within the house.
Sheriff’s deputies began evacuations of nearby residences. While on scene, members of the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Hostage Negotiations Team arrived and made phone contact with the alleged hostages. As members of the SWAT Team arrived, all the residents were safely evacuated from the Bucks home, except Albini who would not come outside.
Negotiations with Albini continued for the next several hours. During the negotiations, it was apparent that Albini was becoming more intoxicated. On several occasions, Albini said he would surrender, but he would never come outside as instructed.
For approximately one hour, there was no further contact with Albini, and all attempts to re-contact him were unsuccessful. At about 11:00 pm, the Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad Unit maneuvered a remote controlled robot into the house. Albini was located inside the home lying near a bed. Albini appeared to be extremely intoxicated and was unresponsive. Members of the SWAT Team took Albini into custody without further confrontation.
Due to his extreme level of intoxication, Albini was transported to the hospital for medical evaluation. Albini will be booked into the county jail for negligent discharge of a firearm (felony), terrorist threats (felony), assault with a deadly weapon (felony), and using force or violence to resist arrest (felony).
Detectives are conducting further investigation of the scene.
Prepared by Lt. Clint Shubel (707) 565-2650.
For further information regarding this press release, please contact Lt. Clint Shubel at (707) 565-2650. Reference case number 120726-019.
