Three Santa Rosans arrested on suspicion of child endangerment

Three Santa Rosans were arrested early Saturday on suspicion of child endangerment after police said they found at least one loaded and unsecured firearm in a residence that contained a 3-year-old child.

During a related search, officers confiscated three firearms that belonged to a convicted felon living in a nearby residence on the property in the 700 block of Hewett Street west of Dutton Avenue, according to a Santa Rosa Police Department news release. The weapons included an automatic pistol, a revolver and a shortened rifle.

Officers responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at the property about 3:30 a.m. In the backyard, they found a man and woman arguing, “and the female was yelling for help,” the news release said.

The couple, Donald Regster, 23, and Briana Wells, 21, live in an outbuilding on the property. Inside that structure police found the three weapons and a child.

Among those living in the main residence was Michael Barnett, 31, who is on felony probation and who police found to be the owner of the three weapons in the outbuilding, the news release said.

The three residents were booked into the Sonoma County Jail and held on suspicion of child endangerment. Barnett also was held for possession of an assault weapon, possession of a short-barreled rifle and being a felon in possession of firearms.

Bail was set at $61,000 for Barnett and $50,000 each for Regster and Wells.