UKIAH, Calif. — A 20-year-old Ukiah man was arrested Oct. 16 after allegedly fleeing police in a stolen vehicle, driving into oncoming traffic, and striking another vehicle during a pursuit through Talmage, according to the Ukiah Police Department.
Ashtyn Taylor was booked into Mendocino County Jail on $50,000 bail on charges including vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, evading police with wanton disregard for safety, and driving the wrong way to evade an officer.
Police said the vehicle was reported stolen Oct. 15 from a residence on Pomo Drive in Ukiah. Officers entered its license plate into the department's Flock automated license plate reader system. The last reading at the time of the report was in the Gobbi Street area, suggesting the vehicle had traveled onto Highway 101.
The following day, police learned the vehicle had been involved in a pursuit with Fort Bragg police officers, who did not apprehend the driver or vehicle.
At about 8:26 p.m. Oct. 16, the Flock system alerted Ukiah officers that the vehicle had been detected by a camera in the department's network. Officers located it traveling eastbound on Observatory Drive and attempted a traffic stop, but the driver accelerated and fled, police said.
The pursuit continued through surface streets and onto Talmage Road. As the vehicle approached Old River Road, the driver traveled eastbound in the westbound lane for a sustained distance, according to police.
A motorist ahead of the pursuit was preparing to turn left into a business parking lot when the stolen vehicle sped past. The motorist stopped in time to avoid a more serious collision, but the stolen vehicle struck the driver's side of the motorist's vehicle, causing minor body damage, police said.
The driver continued south on Old River Road before returning to Talmage Road and speeding west through the community. The pursuit ended in the Burger King parking lot on Perkins Street, where the driver stopped the vehicle and fled on foot, police said.
Officers from the California Highway Patrol and Mendocino County Sheriff's Office assisted in searching the area. A female passenger was initially detained and later released.
A Ukiah officer subsequently found Taylor hiding in the backyard of a residence in the area of El Rio Street. He was taken into custody without further incident, police said.
Investigators determined Taylor was responsible for the initial vehicle theft and had also been driving during the earlier pursuit involving Fort Bragg police. Police said Taylor had a prior vehicle theft conviction, making him eligible for enhanced punishment under state law.
In addition to vehicle theft and possession of a stolen vehicle, the charges listed by police include hit-and-run with property damage and vandalism involving damage valued at $400 or more.
The vehicle was returned to its registered owner, a 25-year-old Ukiah woman, police said.