SWAT team arrests Leggett woman on firearms charges

A Leggett woman who refused to open her door to deputies was arrested by Mendocino County’s SWAT team Sunday on suspicion of negligently discharging a firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Regina Gibbs, 52, was arrested in connection with a Nov. 29 incident during which she allegedly discharged a firearm once inside her residence and a second time outside while struggling over the handgun with her former boyfriend, 41, who lives on the same property, according to sheriff’s authorities. The former boyfriend told deputies the gun was his and had been stolen from his residence a month earlier, along with a rifle.

When deputies arrived that day, Gibbs refused to open the door to talk to them, authorities said. They left and prepared warrants to search her home and arrest her on firearms charges. Their investigation showed Gibbs was a convicted felon prohibited from owning, possessing or having access to firearms or ammunition, authorities said.

When the SWAT team arrived on Sunday, Gibbs attempted to flee through the back door of the residence. She was confronted by team members and taken into custody without further incident, authorities said. She was armed with a large knife at the time, authorities said.

Gibbs was booked into the county jail on $150,000 bail. Deputies also arrested a man at the property, Theodore Burgess, 51, of Leggett, on a warrant issued on suspicion of illegally possessing a shopping cart.