He promised he would come back, but he didn’t, and now he’s in more trouble.
Brett Edward Harlan, a 56-year-old Ukiah man, was in jail after his arrest September 4th on a long list of charges, including vehicle theft and assault on a peace officer. He petitioned for a temporary 4 hour release so he could visit a sick relative. The court granted his release, on the terms that he would be back to the jail by 4 pm last Tuesday, September 16. But he did not show up as promised.
Brett Harlan shows his other tattoos in a Facebook image.
On Thursday, September 4, Ukiah Police were called on a report that Harlan was in violation of a court protection order, likely as a result of a 2013 arrest for domestic violence (inflicting corporal injury on a spouse of co-habitant.) When officers arrived, they found him parked in front of the El Rio Court home in a black Hyundai, which turned out to be a stolen rental car. He began to drive away when they arrived, and did not stop when contacted.
He fled the scene with police pursuing, and then made a U-turn back to the house. After he stopped, he reversed the car into one of the patrol cars, and nearly hit an officer. It took police using a Taser against him twice before he was subdued and could be taken into custody, according to a story published in the Ukiah Daily Journal. Officers also found methamphetamine in the car. He was arrested for vehicle theft, evading a peace officer, assault on a peace officer, possession of a controlled substance, violation of a court order and violation of probation.
This incident followed an arrest just a month prior, on Saturday, August 9, when he was charged with felony burglary and misdemeanor vandalism. Details of the incident were not available.
Harlan was located in this area after a week.
Despite his history, the court granted his leave, but when he did not report back, his status was changed to that of an escaped inmate, according to a sheriff’s press release. Deputies contacted members of his family, and learned he had told them that he was not going back to jail or surrendering himself. Deputies continued their search, and suspected he was hiding in Willits or Redwood Valley. They released alerts for the 6 foot, 220 pound man with a shaved head and a tattoo of the name Shirley across his chest. He also has a tattoo on his neck below his right ear, on the back of his head, and has a prosthetic right leg, according to their description. They said he should be considered dangerous.
Almost a week later, on Monday at 7:53 in the evening, Harlan was found by an officer with the Ukiah Police at the 300 block of East Gobbi Street. He was promptly returned to the Mendocino County Jail, and faces on more charge of escaping from custody. Bail was set at $175,000, and any further request to visit sick relatives will no doubt be denied.
