Drunk Couple Stopped With Gun & 2 Kids In Car In No. Bay: Sheriff

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — A Santa Rosa woman and a male companion, with a loaded gun in his lap, were arrested Friday night in Sonoma County on multiple charges, including child-cruelty, when their vehicle, with two youngsters onboard, crossed three lanes, ran a stoplight and was heading toward Highway 101 when stopped, according to law enforcement.

Deputies at about 10:30 p.m. first spotted the car stopped in the intersection of Todd Road and South Moorland Avenue near Highway 101 in Santa Rosa, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said.

"The driver abruptly turned onto South Moorland, drove through three lanes, ran a red light and headed towards the freeway," said Misti D. Wood, the department's community engagement liaison. "The deputy suspected the driver might be under the influence and pulled the car over."

Inside the vehicle were the driver, Joelle Laguillo-Bernheimer, 30, of Santa Rosa, and Bobby Jackson, 29, of Hayward, plus two young children in the back seat, a boy 9, and a 3-year-old girl, Wood said, adding that "Laguillo-Bernheimer and Jackson seemed to be intoxicated."

"The deputy noticed a handgun in Jackson’s lap, between his legs and partially covered by his hand," Wood said.

The deputy "drew his service weapon and ordered Jackson to put his hands up multiple times, while Jackson refused and continued to keep his hands just above his lap," she said. "When Jackson became distracted for a moment, the deputy reached into the car and grabbed the gun away from him."

The weapon, a .22-caliber pistol was loaded with one round in the chamber, and also found in the vehicle were a bottle of alcohol and an unsecured car seat, Wood said.

Laguillo-Bernheimer became "verbally confrontational" when arrested. Both adults were detained, while the children were safely removed from the car and comforted by the officers, Wood said.

The 9-year-old boy was reunited with a relative, and the girl was taken to "temporary safe housing," the agency said.

Jackson was booked into jail for allegedly violating parole and felony counts of suspected child cruelty, being a felon in possession of a gun and unlawful possession of ammunition, and was held on $200,000 bail as the judge granted a bail enhancement.

Laguillo-Bernheimer was booked for suspicion of felony child cruelty, felony threats and two misdemeanor DUI charges. She was released on $30,000 bail, officials said.

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