Upper Lake Man Arrested for Allegedly Stealing Copper Wire from Redwood Valley Business
REDWOOD VALLEY, CA — “On 08/07/2026 at approximately 8:50 A.M., Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Deputies responded to a report of copper-wire theft and vandalism at a business located in the 900 block of School Way in Redwood Valley, CA.
Sheriff’s Deputies contacted a 45-year-old male victim from Ukiah, CA, who reported discovering extensive damage to the electrical system at his business. The suspect had cut and removed electrical wiring from multiple locations on the property, causing an estimated $5,000 in material and labor costs to fix the damage. Sheriff’s Deputies recovered tools and other items believed to have been left behind by the suspect.
During the investigation, Sheriff’s Deputies developed information indicating the suspect may still be in the area. Deputies located evidence and a bicycle near the old Redwood Valley School in the 700 block of School Way in Redwood Valley. Sheriff’s Deputies located a male subject inside the school grounds who fled when contacted by law enforcement. Sheriff’s Deputies pursued the suspect who ultimately fled the area and was not located.
At approximately 6:00 P.M., Sheriff’s Deputies received a report of a suspicious male in the 600 block of School Way in Redwood Valley. Sheriff’s Deputies responded and located a subject matching the suspect’s description. The subject immediately fled, prompting a significant law-enforcement response from additional Sheriff’s Deputies, the California Highway Patrol, and CalFire Law Enforcement Prevention Officers.
As the search continued, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office issued a Nixle alert advising residents in the surrounding area to shelter in place while law enforcement searched for the fleeing suspect. Sheriff’s Deputies subsequently tracked the suspect to the 8000 block of East Road in Redwood Valley, where the suspect again fled on foot and entered multiple residential yards to evade arrest.
Homeowner surveillance cameras in the area assisted Sheriff’s Deputies in determining the suspect’s direction of travel. Sheriff’s Deputies continued the search and ultimately located the suspect, after he committed a residential burglary where he took a bike to assist in his escape attempts, resulting in another foot pursuit. Sheriff’s Deputies apprehended the suspect following the pursuit and identified him as Thomas Smith, a 28-year-old male from Upper Lake, CA.
During the investigation, Sheriff’s Deputies determined Smith was also suspected of cutting and removing copper from the Redwood Valley School. The extent of the damage to the school is still being determined, and additional charges are anticipated once the damage assessment is completed.
Smith was booked into the Mendocino County Jail for 459 PC – Burglary, 484 PC – Petty theft, 594(b)(1) PC – Vandalism over $400, 647(h) PC – Prowling, and 148(a) PC – Obstructing / resisting a peace officer. Smith is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank personnel from CalFire law enforcement, California Highway Patrol, and the members of the community who assisted with information and surveillance footage during the investigation.
Anyone with information related to this incident is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office at 707-463-4086 (option 1). Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100.”
