San Rafael, CA – On 07/27/23, SRPD Officers arrested Eli Weston Harald, a 33-year-old San Rafael resident, after he fired a handgun during a disturbance that occurred on 07/22/23.  The incident happened at Menzie’s parking lot near the Falkirk Cultural Center in San Rafael.  During Harald’s arrest, a gun was recovered from his vehicle.  Harald was booked into the Marin County Jail on several felony charges.

On 07/22/23, just before 4:30 AM, SRPD began receiving multiple 9-1-1 calls of a disturbance where a gunshot had been fired at the Menzie’s parking lot near the Falkirk Cultural Center.  Witnesses also reported seeing a vehicle fleeing the scene at a high rate of speed.

SRPD Officers arrived within a minute of the call and began investigating.  Officers learned that there had been a disturbance because of a male suspect who tried to get into a tent at an encampment in the parking lot.  A female victim in the tent began blowing a whistle to try and stop the suspect from breaking in.  Another person sleeping in their vehicle witnessed what was happening and turned on their headlights, and drove toward the suspect to stop the attack.  The suspect backed away from the tent and then fired a single gunshot.  It was unclear if the suspect fired the gun at anyone or if they fired into the air.  After the shot was fired, the suspect and another occupant fled in a gray pickup truck.  Officers were given the license plate of the pickup.  A handgun bullet casing was also found while canvassing the scene.

SRPD notified Marin County law enforcement agencies that the armed and dangerous suspect and the vehicle were wanted in connection with the shooting.  SRPD officers and detectives also continued to follow up on leads to locate the suspect.  

On 07/27/23, just before 9:00 PM, an SRPD Officer observed the suspect vehicle at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Second Street.  With the assistance of additional officers, the vehicle was stopped, and Eli Weston Harald was arrested.  During a search of the vehicle, a handgun was seized.  The handgun appeared to match the caliber of the bullet casing found at the Menzie’s parking lot crime scene.

Harald was interviewed and later booked into the Marin County Jail for several felony charges, which included willful gross negligence of discharging a firearm in public, possession of a loaded firearm in public, carrying a loaded and unregistered firearm in public, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, prohibited person in possession of ammunition, and a felon being in possession of body armor.  Harald is being held in lieu of $150,000 bail. 

SRPD is working to address and mitigate the safety concerns of encampments located throughout San Rafael.  Additionally, our S.A.F.E. Team, Special Operations Unit (S.O.U.), and our partnering agencies have been doing continuous outreach to offer services and assistance to those experiencing homelessness.