POTTER VALLEY – A Potter Valley man was arrested early Monday for allegedly shooting off a handgun while driving up and down a Potter Valley road.

Luiz Alfonzo Mez-Alvarez, 26, was arrested for discharging a firearm from a vehicle, having a concealed firearm in a vehicle and driving with a suspended license, according to Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.

At 1:20 a.m. Monday the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Dispatch Center received several 911 calls from the 9000 block of Potter Valley Road in Potter Valley, where a truck was reportedly traveling up and down the road and a subject inside was firing off a gun, according to Smallcomb's report.

Smallcomb said deputies responded to the area and located a truck in a parking lot in the 11000 block of Main Street with a male, later identified as suspect Meza-Alvarez, in the driver's seat, accompanied by a female passenger.

Upon contact with Meza-Alvarez, a Browning 9mm pistol was located on the ground near the driver's side of the truck. Smallcomb said several spent 9mm bullet casings were located in the bed of Meza-Alvarez' truck, and a magazine for the pistol was located in the driver's side sun visor.

Meza-Alvarez appeared to be intoxicated, so California Highway Patrol officers responded and conducted a DUI evaluation on Meza-Alvarez, whose blood alcohol level was found to be over the legal limit, Smallcomb reported. Meza-Alvarez's driving privileges were found to be suspended or revoked.

Meza-Alvarez was arrested and booked into the Mendocino County Jail, with his bail set at $35,000, Smallcomb said.

Smallcomb also reported that a search of the 9000 block of East Side Potter Valley Road revealed two discharged 9mm bullet casings.

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