Exposure, Gunfire Friday in Maxwell Farms Area; Three Arrested

Friday evening afternoon, at approximately 9:12 pm, Sonoma County Sheriff's Office  deputies were dispatched to the area of Maxwell Farms Regional Park on a call of shots being fired. Upon arrival deputies contacted a security guard who stated when he confronted a group of suspected gang members drinking beer in the park, they responded in an unusual way.

At least two suspects pulled their pants down and exposed themselves to the security guard, throwing their opened beers at him. When the security guard stated he was going to call law enforcement, the suspects told him to go ahead and walked away towards Highway 12.

Shortly thereafter the security guard heard approximately ten shots being fired from the area of  Taco Bell, where several witnesses also reported seeing and hearing gun shots and people running from the area.

Some of the fleeing presumed gang members reportedly got into a white Nissan pickup and drove away quickly eastbound on E. Verano Ave.

Three suspects were caught by responding deputies as they ran from the area Arrested were Byron Alvarez, a 24-year-old male; Juan Chavarria, a 20-year-old male and an unnamed 17-year-old male, all residents of El Verano.

Alvarez and the 17-year-old were determined to be the ones who exposed themselves to the security guard. They were both booked on charges of indecent exposure.

Chavarria was intoxicated, and was therefore booked for public intoxication.

The subject who shot the handgun was not located, nor was the handgun recovered, although several shell casings were located on the sidewalk near the Taco Bell.

The events took place one week almost to the hour after an 18-year old was assaulted by seven youths at El Verano Elementary School nearby.

The shooting incident is still being investigated at this time. Anyone with information about the shooting is encouraged to call Deputy A.J Winter at 707-996-9495.