21-year old Fort Bragg woman arrested booked on elder abuse, fireworks charges for attacks on homeless woman
A 21-year old Fort Bragg hairstylist and a juvenile male, both from Fort Bragg, face charges for allegedly throwing lit fireworks at a homeless woman four separate times on July 8, 2024. A video of one of the alleged attacks became a viral video. The police would only say the boy in the car was a teen, not a child. I was the reporter named in the press release.
The press release follows:
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**MEDIA RELEASE**
Arrests Made in Assault with Fireworks
03/24/2025
(Previous release 01/06/25)
On January 4, 2025, a member of the local media contacted The Fort Bragg Police Department regarding a video circulating on social media. The video depicted unknown subjects throwing a lit explosive device at a member of the unhoused community within the City of Fort Bragg in July of 2024.
Officer immediately initiated an investigation interviewing involved parties, and serving multiple search warrants, resulting in the seizure of a cellar phone. A subsequent warrant was completed for the search of the phone.
On February 9, 2025, officers reviewed data acquired from the suspect’s cellular phone consisting of photographs, messages, and videos.
During review, officers located multiple videos pertaining to the investigation. The videos depicted a female adult driver, Taylor Carnahan, 21, of Fort Bragg, operating a motor vehicle in the 100 block of Boatyard Drive while a male juvenile (name withheld), of Fort Bragg, threw lit explosive devices at the female victim on four separate occasions between 6:22 P.M. and 6:37 P.M. on July 8, 2024.
This information was forwarded to the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office and the Mendocino County Juvenile Probation Department. An additional charge of PC 182 (a) (1) – Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, was requested on both parties.
As of March 24, 2025, Carnahan has been booked at the Fort Bragg Police Department for violations, PC 245 (a) (4) – Assault with a Deadly Weapon, PC 368 (b) (1) – Dependent/Elderly Adult Abuse, HS 12680 – Discharge of Fireworks Likely to Injure Persons, and PC 272 (a) (1) – Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. Carnahan is currently on calendar to attend court of the described charges.
Charges of PC 245(a) (4) – Assault with a Deadly Weapon, PC 18740 – Discharge of an Explosive Device with intent to Terrorize, and PC 12680 – Discharge of Fireworks Likely to Injure Persons, have been filed against the juvenile suspect and are currently under review of the Mendocino County Juvenile Probation Department.
There have been no further reported instances of these crimes, and no other suspects were located on the suspect’s phone. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Officer Franco with the Fort Bragg Police Department at (707)964-2800 ext. 227 or email dfranco@fortbragg.com.
This information is being released by Sergeant Jon McLaughlin. For media inquiries, please reach out to him directly at jmclaughlin@fortbragg.com.
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