Hitchhiker Accused of Assaulting Motorist Reportedly Dies During Arrest, Sheriff’s Office Investigating
WILLITS, CA – “On 06-05-2025 at approximately 07:02 P.M., the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center received a call from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) who requested Sheriff’s Office assistance for a call in the 2000 block of Hearst Willits Road in Willits, California.
CHP informed the Sheriff’s Office of a call they received regarding a hitchhiker who was picked up by a motorist in the area and the subjects were now involved in a physical fight. CHP Officers were responding to the call with an extended response time and Willits Police Department (WPD) Officers were also requested to assist. This investigation revealed the male subject had brutally assaulted the driver of the vehicle after he was offered a ride and entered the vehicle. This assault was unprovoked and resulted in injuries that caused the driver to be admitted into a local hospital.
A Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Deputy responded to the area and contacted a male adult subject walking in the middle of the roadway in the 1200 block of Hearst Willits Road. The male subject failed to comply with the lawful orders of law enforcement and immediately took a fighting stance and lunged at the Deputy. The Deputy pointed his department-issued Taser device at the subject while ordering the male to comply and surrender.
The Deputy moved away from the male in the roadway and attempted to speak with him and de-escalate the situation. The Deputy continued to employ de-escalation tactics that were ignored by the male.
The male subject fled along the north side of the roadway when a Sheriff’s Sergeant arrived to assist. The male subject ran into the brush north of the roadway as Sheriff’s Office personnel continued to order him to surrender. Multiple warnings were provided to the male subject that he would be Tased if he did not comply with their orders. During the attempts to lawfully arrest the male subject, Sheriff’s Office personnel utilized Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray.
The male subject moved onto his stomach, so Sheriff’s Office personnel attempted to place the subject in handcuffs. The male subject physically resisted attempts to place him into handcuffs and assaulted a Deputy so a Taser was deployed to overcome the resistance and arrest the individual.
Willits Police Department Officers arrived as Sheriff’s Office personnel continued to inform the male he was under arrest and ordered him to comply with the arrest.
Sheriff’s Deputies and WPD Officers removed the male from the brush and continued to attempt and place him into handcuffs as the male physically resisted. Law Enforcement personnel were able to eventually handcuff and arrest the male subject.
The male subject was monitored at the scene after being arrested and Law Enforcement personnel determined the male became unresponsive. Restraints were removed from the male as Law Enforcement provided emergency medical treatment at the scene. Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was initiated by Law Enforcement personnel as emergency medical assistance was requested.
Law Enforcement personnel administered Narcan on the male subject and CPR was continued for approximately 5 minutes when emergency medical personal arrived at the scene. Fire and EMS personnel continued life-saving efforts, to include CPR and other emergency medical treatment. Life-saving efforts continued for approximately 25 additional minutes until the male subject was pronounced deceased by medical personnel at the scene.
Since the male subject was in the custody of law enforcement and died during the incident, the County-Wide Fatal-Incident Protocol was initiated. The Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office was contacted and is the lead agency for this ongoing investigation.
A coroner’s investigation was initiated, and a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the official cause and manner of death. The decedent has been identified as a 36-year-old male from Willits, CA, but his name is not being released at this stage of the investigation.
Pursuant to Sheriff’s Office Policy, the two Sheriff’s Office personnel involved in this incident have been placed on paid administrative leave while this matter is being investigated.
Investigations are continuing regarding the crimes committed against the motorist who provided the subject a ride.
Anyone with information related to this investigation is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center at 707-463-4086 (option 1). Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100. Any information provided regarding this continuing investigation will be forwarded to the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office as the primary investigating agency.”
