Ukiah police seize gun from suspected violent stalker

The following is a press release from the Ukiah Police Department. The information has not been proven in a court of law and anyone described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.:

On 06/10/2024 at approximately 6:00 p.m., Ukiah Police Department (UPD) officers responded to the 200 block of Carleton Drive in Ukiah for a report of criminal threats and vandalism. UPD officers spoke with the victim, a 26-year-old Ukiah woman who informed Kevin Leonard that he had arrived at the location where he did not reside. Leonard kicked the door several times but was unable to gain entry. Leonard fled the scene before police arrived. The victim provided UPD officers with text messages that included criminal threats and a photograph of a gun.

Leonard had previously entered the aforementioned residence on 06/10/2024 at approximately 3:00 a.m. and assaulted a man inside. At the time of the first incident, no one wanted prosecution, but with the escalation of the behavior and the threatening messages, the victim feared for her safety.

UPD officers obtained a Ramey arrest warrant for Leonard on charges of stalking, criminal threats and vandalism.

UPD officers then observed Leonard's vehicle return to his residence on Empire Drive in Ukiah. UPD officers, with assistance from the California Highway Patrol, surrounded Leonard's residence and attempted to call him out of the residence. Leonard did not exit the residence and UPD officers entered the residence through an unlocked door and placed Leonard under arrest without incident.

UPD officers obtained a search warrant to search for the firearm. UPD officers located the revolver depicted in the photo sent to intimidate the victim along with more than 400 rounds of ammunition.

Leonard was determined to be a convicted felon and incapable of possessing ammunition or firearms due to a prior conviction for violation of California Penal Code Section 245(a)(4) – Assault with a deadly weapon. The UPD officer who arrested Leonard requested a bond increase from a judge at the Mendocino County Superior Courthouse and that request was granted in the amount of $150,000.00.

Leonard was transported to the Mendocino County Jail where he was booked on the above charges.

The Ukiah Police Department would like to thank the California Highway Patrol for their assistance in this investigation.

As always, our mission at UPD is to make Ukiah as safe a place as possible. If you would like to know more about crime in your neighborhood, you can sign up for phone, cell phone and email notifications by clicking the Nixle button on our website;