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Authorities arrest Fort Bragg man for intentionally running down and killing motorcyclist with pickup
NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said it has arrested a Fort Bragg man who investigators believe used his pickup to intentionally hit and kill a motorcyclist.
Det. Sgt. Luis Espinoza said Shayne Tyler Wrede, 35, was arrested on Christmas Eve for killing 48-year-old Mark Jason Hutchinson of Willits.
Espinoza reported that shortly after 5:40 a.m. Thursday, officers with the California Highway Patrol were dispatched to a reported traffic collision causing injury in the 15000 block of Caspar Road near the Pacifica Drive intersection in Caspar.
Upon arrival the initial CHP officer discovered the traffic collision involved a 2003 Chevrolet pickup truck being driven by Shayne Wrede, Espinoza said.
Additionally, Espinoza said a 1994 Honda 650 motorcycle was present in the roadway. Through this investigation, it was determined the motorcycle was being operated by Mark Hutchinson.
Preliminary information identified Hutchinson as succumbing to his injuries related to the traffic collision, Espinoza said.
Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the reported coroner's case. While responding, it was learned Wrede – who was identified as also being on county parole – reported being the victim of a shooting earlier that morning prior to the traffic collision, Espinoza said.
Espinoza said Fort Bragg Police Department officers were dispatched to an apartment complex on South Street in Fort Bragg where evidence was located that was consistent with a shooting.
Mendocino County Sheriff's detectives were summoned and were assisted by an investigator with the CHP Northern Division Investigative Unit, Espinoza said.
Espinoza said initial information revealed that following the shooting, both Hutchinson and Wrede were involved in an approximate 4.5-mile vehicle chase.
Their vehicles reached speeds of at least 90 miles per hour through the city of Fort Bragg and the unincorporated southern portion of Fort Bragg before continuing south onto Caspar Road where the subsequent traffic collision occurred resulting in Hutchinson's death, Espinoza said.
Investigators with CHP's Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team stationed in Redding were requested to respond and assist in determining the circumstances related to the traffic collision, Espinoza reported.
Following their scene investigation, speaking with eye witnesses and reviewing surveillance video associated with the shooting/vehicle chase, Espinoza said sheriff's detectives developed probable cause to believe Wrede intentionally caused the traffic collision by striking Hutchinson's motorcycle with his 2003 Chevrolet pickup truck at a high rate of speed while on Caspar Road.
Wrede was arrested for murder and violation of post release community supervision, Espinoza said.
Espinoza said Wrede was subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Sheriff's detectives are continuing to followup on information and are asking for the public's help, according to Espinoza’s report.
Sheriff's detectives are requesting anyone with information related to a shooting incident on South Street in Fort Bragg and the vehicle chase involving a motorcycle and dark-colored pick-up truck or the reported traffic collision on Caspar Road to call the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office Tip-Line at 707-234-2100, Espinoza said.
Specifically, Espinoza said any residences or businesses with surveillance video facing US Highway 1 between Walnut Street – where Safeway is located – continuing south to Caspar Road are asked to contact the sheriff's office.
Espinoza said the time frame requested is from 5 to 6 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 24.
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office thanked the following public safety agencies for their assistance during this investigation: California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Highway Patrol Investigator - Northern Division Investigative Unit, Fort Bragg Police Department, Mendocino County District Attorney's Office and the CHP Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team.