On Thursday evening, May 2, 2019, at approximately 8:00 PM., a Sonoma Police deputy was searching the Sonoma Marketplace shopping Center parking lot for a suspect related to a theft that occurred earlier at a business on West Napa Street.
The deputy observed an occupied vehicle parked in a parking stall to the rear of McCaulou’s Department Store, located at 201 West Napa Street. The deputy contacted the occupant of the vehicle who was identified as 41 year old Sonoma resident, Ryan David Nelson. The deputy showed a picture of the suspect related to his theft investigation and he asked Nelson if he had seen her. Nelson answered he had not.
During their conversation, the deputy noticed a rifle case in the rear compartment of Nelson’s SUV, and he asked Nelson if there were firearms in his vehicle. Nelson acknowledged he had three firearms inside his vehicle. When asked, Nelson initially stated none of the firearms were loaded, then recanted saying he had a .38 revolver that was loaded and he provided the locations of the firearms. Based on Nelson’s statements, and the fact the firearms were within Nelson's reach, the deputy requested Nelson exit his vehicle for safety purposes, to which he complied. Nelson was detained by another deputy who arrived on scene.
The deputy located the .38 revolver within the vehicle, which was found loaded with six live cartridges. Additionally, the deputy located a bolt action rifle loaded with 5 cartridges and an illegally modified .9 mm Kel-Tec assault rifle with loaded high capacity magazines. Nelson also possessed a locked ammunition box which contained numerous live cartridges for each firearm. During a law enforcement records check, none of the firearms were found to be registered to Nelson and he was not licensed to carry a concealed weapon.
Nelson was arrested on felony charges for Possession of a Loaded Concealed Firearm, Possession of an Assault Weapon, and Import of an Assault Weapon. Nelson was booked into custody at the Sonoma County Jail for the above charges.
Sonoma Police Department Case SOP 190000-475
Prepared by Sergeant Jeffery Toney
