Montgomery High student, 14, suspected of 3D printing guns at home, arrested at school

A 14-year-old Montgomery High student was arrested on campus Wednesday on suspicion of 3D printing guns from his home.

The Santa Rosa Police Department’s gang unit served a search warrant Wednesday morning on the Santa Rosa teen, who was under investigation for illegally 3D printing firearms, said Sgt. Patricia Seffens.

During the search, detectives found a partially manufactured firearm, a 3D printer, ammunition and gang paraphernalia, she said.

Officers learned the teen was in class at Montgomery High School, so plainclothes detectives went to school and requested he be pulled from class.

When the student was “discreetly” removed from class by a staff member, the officer arrested him without incident and took him to Sonoma County Juvenile Hall, Seffens said.

She added there was a sense of urgency in removing him from class because of concerns that he may have brought one of his manufactured firearms to school.

Police searched the student and his locker and did not locate any weapons, she said.

Montgomery High School Principal April Santos sent families and staff a message on ParentSquare letting them know about the incident.

Santos said that around 12:27 p.m., she was notified of two plainclothes and two uniformed officers on campus.

“Tyler Ahlborn, our Vice Principal, and I met them where they were on campus,” she said in the letter. “A student had already been taken into police custody. At the time, we were notified they were on campus to act upon a home warrant that was issued.”

“I want to make it clear that our district policy includes that we cooperate with law enforcement in an investigation,” she wrote. “We understand the intricate impact of incarceration and school safety and do not welcome arrests to take place on our school campus. Throughout this event, we were in communication with our district office. We will continue to stay vigilant in maintaining the safety of our students and staff.“

The arrests come a little less than a month after the school district denied Santa Rosa police permission to arrest suspects in a similar situation on the Elsie Allen campus.

On Jan. 16, the principal was instructed by Superintendent Anna Trunnell not to assist police in arresting four students who were suspects in the Jan. 11 stabbing and beating of a 41-year-old man in the Bellevue Ranch neighborhood. She later said it was based on the fact that the crimes happened outside of school hours and off campus.

Those students were arrested on their way to school the following day. But, the incident spurred conversations over whether or not the choice to protect the students was obstructing law enforcement.

In this most recent case, District Spokesperson Vanessa Wedderburn reiterated that the school followed district policy, which is to cooperate with police.

You can reach Staff Writer Alana Minkler at 707-526-8531 or alana.minkler@pressdemocrat.com. On X (Twitter,) @alana_minkler.