- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
Ukiah man arrested following weekend high speed chase
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A Ukiah man was arrested earlier this week after leading California Highway Patrol officers on a high speed chase and ramming his vehicle into one of the patrol cars.
Officers used a Taser on James Leroy Obryant, 40, and shot his dog after it attacked one of the officers near Upper Lake on Sunday morning, according to the CHP report.
Obryant was driving his 1994 Chrysler Concord northbound on Scotts Valley Road, north of Kelly’s Family Campground, when Officer Mark Crutcher noticed the vehicle had expired registration, the CHP reported.
The CHP said Obryant failed to yield when Crutcher tried to pull him over, and a pursuit resulted, with Obryant continuing northbound on Scotts Valley Road and making a left turn onto Highway 20, reaching speeds of up to 90 miles per hour.
Obryant made a left onto Irvine Road and then another left onto Laurel Dell Road, failing to stop for numerous stop signs and allegedly driving on the wrong side of the road in a reckless manner, the CHP said.
He continued eastbound on Laurel Dell Road and made a left turn into a private residence. When Crutcher made a left turn into the residence’s driveway, Obryant put the vehicle into reverse and rapidly accelerated, ramming the front of Crutcher’s patrol car, according to the CHP report.
After hitting Crutcher’s car, Obryant then continued out of the driveway and headed to Highway 20, where CHP Officer Pohl saw the vehicle heading westbound, west of Blue Lakes, the CHP said.
Pohl attempted to stop Obryant, who continued westbound before pulling into a residential driveway and stopping. The CHP report said Obryant and his dog then fled the vehicle.
Officers Matt Holzhauer and Dave Gerstenkorn arrived on scene and saw Obryant running. The CHP said that when Obryant refused to obey the officers’ instructions, they used a Taser to subdue him.
Obryant’s dog attacked Gerstenkorn, causing him to discharge his firearm, killing the dog, the CHP said.
Following the arrest, officer seized approximately 299 grams of marijuana from the vehicle, according to the CHP.
Obryant was booked on a felony bench warrant, a felony charge of evading a peace officer and failure to appear. His bail was set at $85,000, and he remained in custody on Friday, according to jail records.
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