Woman Arrested For Brandishing Firearm, Making Threats

SONOMA COUNTY, CA -- Officers arrested a woman Monday in Santa Rosa for brandishing a firearm and making threats, then learned Wednesday that she was prohibited from possessing firearms, according to Santa Rosa police.

On Monday at around 1 p.m., police officers were dispatched to the 2400 block of Grace Drive on a report of a woman pointing a firearm at workers cutting down a tree. The woman was later identified as 62-year-old
April Hamilton of Santa Rosa.

According to police, Hamilton's neighbor on Grahn Drive obtained a permit to remove a diseased tree that bordered the backyard fence line separating the two properties, but Hamilton did not want the tree removed.

While a tree removal company was on site and workers were in the tree, Hamilton allegedly stood in her backyard, pointed a firearm at them and threatened to shoot, police said. The workers climbed down from the tree and retreated to a safe location, and Hamilton returned to her home.

Patrol officers, a K-9 officer and a hostage negotiations team responded to the scene, surrounded Hamilton's home, and called into her residence, but did not get a response. Hamilton was then located in her backyard and taken into custody without incident. An unloaded Winchester rifle was recovered from the scene, police said.

Hamilton was booked into the Sonoma County Main Adult Detention Facility on suspicion of making terrorist threats and brandishing a firearm.

On Wednesday, Santa Rosa police learned that a civil court order prohibited Hamilton from possessing any firearms, and that a handgun was registered in her name. A search warrant was then written and served at her home on Grace Drive. During the search officers found an unsecured, unloaded revolver.

By Bay City News/Images via Santa Rosa police