Crime & Safety
Police Action Sparks Shooting Rumors in Napa
"A very loud boom" was reported, but authorities say there was no shooting during an operation by the Napa Special Investigations Bureau Tuesday that alarmed customers and workers at Target in south Napa.
What happened at Target in the South Napa Marketplace Tuesday morning that set Napa's social media ablaze with rumors of a shooting?
"I was there ... There was a very loud boom, and people running saying there was a shooting," wrote Julie Kephart Rhorer in a post on the Napa Valley Patch Facebook page.
"The employees had customers stay in the back of the store until it was safe to leave," continued Rhorer, who said the incident happened at 10:45 a.m.
Find out what's happening in Napa Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Rachael Heatherly posted, "People had to actually take cover in the back storage area."
"I was coming back from lunch and I saw what seemed to be flash bang go off and set car alarms off and soon after they swarmed the vehicle," posted Hugo Espinoza.
Find out what's happening in Napa Valleywith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Rumors that the incident was an officer-involved shooting were untrue, but not completely unfounded, according to city and county law enforcement spokespersons.
Capt. Jeff Troendly of the Napa Police Department said there was no shooting, but that the Napa Special Investigations Bureau had been involved in an operation.
Speaking for NSIB, an interagency drug task force that covers all of Capt. Tracey Stuart confirmed that there had been no injuries but said agents are still investigating and no further details were available.
Click the "Keep me posted" button for automatic updates on this developing story.
Saturday night at about 8:30, the Target store in South Napa Marketplace was the scene of a drug-related shoplifting arrest, according to a police bulletin:
Officers responded to South Napa Target to a report of a combative shoplifter. Upon arrival the shoplifter was in custody and was identified as Miguel Angel Villa Valdez (18yrs. of Napa). He was detained by loss prevention after he stole a cell phone charger and left the store. He had no means of payment and admitted to entering the store to steal the charger. He was arrested and found to be in possession of concentrated cannabis.
Villa Valdez was booked at the Napa County Department of Corrections on suspicion of burglary and possession of concentrated cannabis, police said. Arrest information does not indicate a conviction.
For the latest reports on crime and arrests, please see our Police & Fire section, available from the News tab above and at napavalley.patch.com/police-fire.
For instant alerts, sign up for our Breaking News Alerts emails and like our Facebook page.
