Full Notification

On Friday, September 9, 2022, at 1:57 PM, Petaluma PD officers were dispatched to Motel 6 on North McDowell Blvd.  Motel 6 staff had made entry into a room where the guest was supposed to have checked out.  The staff was checking to see if they could clean the room.  Upon opening the door, the staff observed a handgun on the dresser and a large amount of marijuana in a backpack.   The staff confiscated the items and handed them over to the arriving officers.  Officers obtained information on who paid for the room.   At approximately 6 PM, Motel 6 staff called the police department again reporting the guest staying in the room had returned and he was upset about his missing items.  Officers arrived on scene and identified, Valentin J. Rodriguez, 18 years old, from Petaluma, as the suspect who paid for the room.   Suspect Rodriguez was arrested for the following charges and transported to Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility. 
 
29180 PC-Possession of a firearm without a serial number.
30605 PC-Possession of an assault weapon.
32310 PC-Possession of a large capacity magazine.
30315 PC-Possession of armor piercing bullets.
 
The firearm recovered was a Polymer 80 handgun, commonly known as a Ghost Gun.  The firearm contained a 29 round high-capacity magazine.  The magazine was loaded with .40 caliber armor piercing bullets.  Also seized was approximately 267 grams of marijuana. 
 
Media inquiries may be directed to Lieutenant Tim Lyons at [email protected] or phone 707-778-4372.