Covelo Man on felony probation held without bail after crash, weapons charges
Vehicle contained a loaded handgun that had been reported stolen
A 26-year-old Covelo man was arrested late Thursday after deputies say he fled a traffic stop, crashed into a tree and was found hiding in a field with a loaded handgun reported stolen.
Deputies with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office were patrolling the Henderson Lane area about 10:50 p.m. Feb. 19 when they spotted a vehicle with inoperable brake lights, according to a sheriff’s statement.
As a deputy moved to initiate a traffic stop, the driver — identified as Oscar Lil Bear Martinez, 26, of Covelo — accelerated and passed other vehicles while driving on the wrong side of the road, authorities said.
The vehicle came to a sudden stop in the 23700 block of Biggar Lane after colliding with a tree, the sheriff’s office said. Martinez allegedly fled on foot toward an open field containing abandoned cannabis greenhouses.
Deputies, who recognized Martinez and were aware of two active Mendocino County arrest warrants, searched the area and found him lying on the ground attempting to hide, according to the statement. He was detained without incident.
Medical personnel were requested to treat Martinez for minor injuries related to the crash.
A search of the vehicle uncovered a loaded handgun, which authorities said Martinez was prohibited from possessing because he is on formal probation for assault with a deadly weapon and has prior criminal convictions. A records check determined the firearm had been reported stolen, deputies said.
Martinez was arrested on suspicion of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm as a prohibited person, grand theft of a firearm, violating felony probation and on two felony warrants. He was booked into the Mendocino County Jail and is being held without bail due to the alleged probation violations.
The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center at 707-463-4086 or the nonemergency tip line at 707-234-2100.