Boonville Man Arrested for Alleged Assault with Deadly Weapon, Elder Abuse
“On 07-01-2025 at approximately 07:46 P.M., Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to a reported assault with a deadly weapon in the 21000 block of Redwood Ridge Road in Boonville, CA. The victim advised the male suspect had fled the area on foot.
Deputies responded from the Ukiah area and upon arriving at the residence they located a 74-year-old adult male victim who sustained a laceration on his hand. Deputies summoned emergency medical care for the victim, who was treated at the scene by medical professionals.
Deputies determined the victim and suspect knew each other. The victim identified the suspect as 43-year-old Ryan Stearns. Deputies determined that Stearns had entered the victim’s residence without warning and brandished a machete-style tool above his head as he approached the victim. The victim attempted to defend himself and was able to physically resist the machete attack. During the struggle the victim’s hand was cut, and Stearns fled the scene. The victim shared Stearns lived a transient lifestyle and his current whereabouts were unknown.
Deputies located the machete and other evidence at the scene which were consistent with the victim’s statements and corroborated a violent assault occurred.
Deputies searched numerous locations in the Boonville area that night but were unable to locate Stearns. An order to arrest Stearns was issued and sent to law enforcement agencies within Mendocino County.
On 07-03-2025 at around 12:00 P.M., Deputies again responded to the Boonville area to search for Stearns. Several local citizens had reported sightings of Stearns in the Boonville and Navarro areas. The reports included that Stearns was seen on a motorized bicycle possibly traveling west along Highway 128. Deputies checked numerous locations along the highway but were still unable to locate Stearns. One citizen shared information that Stearns was known to travel from Boonville to Ukiah on a motorized bicycle. They informed deputies Stearns would sometimes travel to Comptche and on Orr Springs Road.
At approximately 02:23 P.M. on 07-03-2025, Sheriff’s Office Dispatch personnel received a call for service from the Comptche Store. A store employee was reporting an intoxicated male who was causing the disturbance at the store. The caller advised when they told the male subject they were calling law enforcement the male fled the store and ran into a wooded area to the north of the store.
Deputies were nearby at the time, and determined the subject was Stearns based on another citizen seeing him on a motorized bicycle earlier in the day. An extensive ground search was conducted, and Stearns was eventually located hiding in a thick wooded area and was obviously trying to avoid apprehension by law enforcement. Stearns was taken into custody without incident and later transported to the Mendocino County Jail. Stearns was booked for charges of 245(a)(1) PC – Assault with a deadly weapon, 459 PC – Burglary, and 368(b)(1) PC – Elder abuse resulting in injury. Stearns was to be held in lieu of $50,000.00 bail.”
