Mendocino County Authorities Apprehend Wanted Fugitive
COVELO, CA — “On 01-18-2026, a burglary was reported in the 77000 block of Logan Lane in Covelo, CA to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center. Deputies with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office responded to the location and conducted an investigation. During the investigation a suspect in the burglary was identified as Kory Ryan Whipple, a 21-year-old male from Covelo, CA. The investigation was ultimately turned over to Detectives with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Bureau.
Whipple, who had six outstanding Felony warrants for his arrest, was also being investigated by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force at the time. Based on the above, an operation was planned with the assistance of multiple law enforcement entities in an effort to recover the stolen property and to safely take Whipple into custody for his outstanding warrants.
On 01-21-2026, a multi-jurisdictional operation was conducted involving the Mendocino-Lake County Regional S.W.A.T. Team, U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, personnel with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Detectives with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Bureau, and Deputies with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. During the operation, a high-risk search warrant was served at a residence in the 300 block of Biggar Lane in Covelo. During the service of the search warrant, Whipple was located on the property and ultimately taken into custody without incident. As a result of the search warrant service, a large amount of stolen property was recovered.
Whipple was placed under arrest and booked into the Mendocino County Jail for his six outstanding felony arrest warrants and is being held on a no-bail status. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Mendocino County for their support and assistance in this investigation.
This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information regarding this case is requested to call the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086 (option 1), or the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100.”
