KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A sheriff's deputy was assaulted in a weekend confrontation with a Clearlake man who was wanted for parole violations and was driving a stolen pickup.
Reginald Leffall Mills, 24, was arrested after he allegedly assaulted Deputy Sarah Hobbs last Saturday morning, according to a report from Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Hobbs sustained no lasting injury after being punched by Mills, Brooks said.
Brooks said Hobbs encountered Mills while on patrol in the Kelseyville area at around 9 a.m. Saturday.
He said Hobbs observed a 2004 Chevrolet truck fail to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Gaddy Lane and Gunn Street.
Hobbs provided the license plate number of the truck to Central Dispatch and activated her emergency lights in order to stop the truck, Brooks said.
The driver of the truck, later identified Mills, a wanted parolee at large, drove into the parking lot of the Kelseyville Post Office and Deputy Hobbs followed. Brooks said Central Dispatch notified Hobbs that the truck had been reported stolen to the California Highway Patrol on Thursday, June 6.
After driving around the parking lot of the Kelseyville Post Office, Mills abruptly stopped the truck, got out and ran away heading through a large field near the parking lot. Brooks said Hobbs stayed with the stolen truck and detained the passenger.
Additional deputies and officers from the California Highway Patrol responded to the scene to search for Mills but were unable to locate him, according to Brooks.
Later that day, shortly before 1:30 p.m., Hobbs located Mills at the corner of Gaddy Lane and Clark Drive in Kelseyville, Brooks said.
As Hobbs was taking Mills into custody, he pulled away from her, punched her in the face with his closed fist and again ran away, Brooks said.
Hobbs pursued Mills on foot, with Deputy Nick LaVelle arriving to assist and joining the pursuit. Brooks said Hobbs and LaVelle caught up with Mills as he attempted to hide behind a stack of hay in a nearby barn. Hobbs confronted Mills and took him into custody.
Mills was booked in the Hill Road Correctional Facility for an outstanding parole violation warrant, battery on a peace officer, possession of stolen property, and obstructing a peace officer by means of force, Brooks said.
Mills remained in custody on Tuesday on a no bail hold, according to jail records.