Kelseyville man arrested for burglary, claiming to be US marshal
NORTH COAST, Calif. — A Kelseyville man was arrested earlier this month in Mendocino County where authorities said he was involved in a burglary and claimed to be a United States marshal.
Daniel James Gorman, 33, was arrested on Sept. 14 in the case along with Austin Jaylee Shealor, 28, of Ukiah, according to a report from Sgt. Mike Dygert of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
At 1:35 p.m. Sept. 14, Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a burglary that had just occurred in a building next to the Leggett Volunteer Fire Department in the 67000 block of Highway 271, Dygert reported.
Dygert said deputies were informed that two vehicles and two subjects were seen loitering near a building next to the fire department and one subject was seen exiting the building.
A fire captain responded and observed one subject flee in a vehicle. Dygert said the fire captain confronted the other subject, later identified as Gorman, who was still at the scene.
Gorman produced a law enforcement-type badge from the trunk of his vehicle, flashed it to the fire captain and said he was a US marshal prior to fleeing in his vehicle, Dygert said.
Dygert said the responding deputies spotted one of the two vehicles heading southbound on Highway 101 near mile marker 58 in Laytonville.
He said the deputies conducted an investigative stop on the vehicle and Gorman, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, yielded and pulled over to the side of the highway. Gorman was detained and he and his vehicle were searched.
Dygert said deputies located a US marshal badge and a replica handgun in the vehicle. The replica handgun was loaded with blank ammunition. Also located on Gorman were illicit narcotic drugs.
While deputies were dealing with Gorman, another deputy with the assistance of a California Highway Patrol officer had located the other vehicle parked along the side of the road in the 27000 block of Ryan Creek Road in Willits, Dygert said.
Deputies contacted Shealor near the parked vehicle and learned he was on Mendocino County Post Release Community Supervision, or PRCS, also known as county parole, Dygert reported
Dygert said deputies were able to determine Shealor was involved in the burglary and he was searched during the contact. Deputies located illicit narcotic drugs in a duffle bag Shealor was holding.
Both Shealor and Gorman were arrested for felony second degree burglary, conspiracy to commit a crime and carrying a loaded handgun while not being its registered owner, and misdemeanors of fraudulently wearing or exhibiting a peace officer badge and possession of a controlled substance, Dygert reported. Shealor also was arrested for violation of his parole.
Gorman was to be held in lieu of $15,000 bail and Shealor was to be held on a no bail status due to the violation of his PRCS terms, Dygert said.
Jail records showed that Gorman was released on Sept. 16, while Shealor remains in custody.