LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Wednesday evening vehicle pursuit ended with the arrests of three Mendocino County residents and the seizure of methamphetamine, marijuana and honey oil.
Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force detectives arrested 55-year-old Randall Wayne Ford and 29-year-old Anthony Aguilar Grayson, both of Ukiah, and Jenna Jo Hatcher, 38, of Redwood Valley, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Brooks said the pursuit began shortly before 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force members were traveling eastbound on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff when they observed a white Mazda RX-8 sports car traveling in front of them fail to stop at a stop sign and then pass a vehicle by crossing over the double yellow lines into oncoming traffic, Brooks said.
The detectives activated their emergency lights and siren to conduct an enforcement stop and the vehicle immediately accelerated in an attempt to elude them, according to Brooks.
He said the detectives reported that the Mazda was traveling in excess of 95 miles per hour while crossing the double yellow lines and passing vehicles on a curve in the road.
Detectives also observed a blue bag being thrown from the passenger side window during the pursuit, Brooks said.
The pursuit ended when the vehicle stopped at the end of Pyle Road in Nice. Brooks said the driver, identified as Ford, was immediately detained, as were his passengers, Hatcher and Grayson.
Narcotics detectives recovered the blue bag which was thrown from the vehicle and located approximately three ounces of methamphetamine, Brooks said. In addition, detectives found 96.4 grams of processed marijuana and 35.5 grams of honey oil – or concentrated cannabis – inside the vehicle.
Ford was arrested on felony charges of evading a peace officer, possession of a controlled substance for sale, transportation of a controlled substance, possession of concentrated cannabis, possession of concentrated cannabis for sale and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, Brooks said.
Brooks said Hatcher and Grayson both were arrested for possession of a controlled substance for sale and possession of concentrated cannabis.
All three were transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked, he said.
Ford's bail was set at $35,000, and booking records indicated he was no longer in custody Thursday evening after posting the required portion of bail.
Jail records showed that Hatcher also had an outstanding misdemeanor warrant for her arrest and Grayson had an additional misdemeanor charge of destroying or concealing evidence. Bail for each was set at $25,000, and both posted bail and had been released by Thursday evening.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.