Four Arrested in Connection with Shooting at Home in Covelo

This is a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

On 02-19-2019 at approximately 7:06 A.M., Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to a reported in-progress burglary where the suspects were firing guns at the residence in the 76000 block of Henderson Lane in Covelo, California.

Round Valley Tribal Police officers advised Sheriff’s Office dispatch they overheard firearms being discharged in the area of Henderson Road.

Lee Joaquin

Tribal Police officers responded to the area and advised on the radio they encountered a male subject walking on Henderson Road while armed with an assault rifle. Tribal Police officers contacted and detained the subject at the scene, who was identified as Lee Joaquin.

Tribal Police officers observed Felix Swearinger leaving the same area in a white Toyota SUV northbound on Crawford Road. Tribal Police officers also learned that Ambrose Fallis was reportedly inside the vehicle with Swearinger.

Felix Swearinger

Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area and were advised by Tribal Police officers that Swearinger reportedly drove to an address on Logan Lane and was now leaving in a Dodge sedan.

Sheriff’s Deputies located the Dodge sedan and conducted an investigative stop on the vehicle in the 77000 block of Crawford Road.

The occupants of the vehicle were detained, to include Swearinger and Sally Arellano.

Sally Arellano

Arellano was found to be in possession of a large amount of suspected methamphetamine.

Swearinger was determined to be on active Post Release Community Supervision in Mendocino County for an unrelated offense.

A search of the vehicle was conducted at which time Sheriff’s Deputies located a 9mm handgun in the rear passenger seat area where Swearinger was seated in the vehicle.

Upon further investigation, it was determined the recovered handgun was reported as stolen from another state.

Tribal Police remained in the area of Crawford Road and Henderson Road and advised Sheriff’s personnel they contacted and detained Ambrose Fallis [No photo yet available]. Fallis was determined to be on active formal probation with Mendocino County. During the detention, Fallis was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia.

All four subjects contacted and detained during this investigation were placed under arrest for the following charges:

Swearinger was arrested for 459/460 PC [First Degree Burglary], 246 PC [Shooting at Inhabited Dwelling], 182 PC [Conspiracy to Commit a Crime], 29800(a)(1) PC [Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm], 25400(c)(2) PC [Possession of a Concealed / Stolen Weapon], 12022(a)(1) PC [Armed With a Firearm During Commission of Felony], and 3455(b)(1) PC [Violation of PRCS]. Swearinger was subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail on a no-bail status.

Joaquin was arrested for 29800(a)(1) PC [Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm], and 30605(a) PC [Possession of Assault Rifle]. Joaquin was subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail to be held in lieu of $25,000.00 bail.

Fallis was arrested for 459/460 PC [First Degree Burglary], 182 PC [Conspiracy to Commit a Crime], 1203.2 PC [Violation of Probation], and 11364 HS [Possession of Drug Paraphernalia]. Fallis was subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail on a no-bail status.

Arellano was arrested for 11378 HS [Possession of Controlled Substance for Sale] and 11379 HS [Transportation of Controlled Substance]. Arellano was subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail to be held in lieu of $50,000.00 bail.

Earlier Chapter: Multiple Suspects Detained Following Report of Home Being Shot at in Covelo