Mendocino County Brandishing, Assault Suspect Arrested on Federal Warrant in Petaluma
Above: Stock Image
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office has announced the arrest of a man suspected in an alleged brandishing incident who, as it turned out, had already been wanted on a federal warrant.
According to a press release, deputies responded to a report of a knife brandishing incident in the El Dorado subdivision on Vista Verde Drive in Ukiah on the afternoon of October 30. Dispatch relayed the person of interest in the incident, identified as 41-year-old Christian Beyer, had left the scene in a red Lexus with Texas plates. Multiple law enforcement agencies, including the California Highway Patrol and Ukiah Police Department, initiated a search for the vehicle.
Deputies interviewed two victims in the El Dorado subdivision, and learned that Beyer’s vehicle had been parked in the area for several days. Deputies were informed that Beyer had allegedly confronted one of the victims while in possession of a small knife with a two-inch blade. Beyer then allegedly advanced towards the first victim, who stepped back in response. Beyer then got into his vehicle and fled towards Ridgeview Drive.
Beyer then made a U-turn and allegedly accelerated towards the first victim, crossing to the wrong side of the road. The victim had to run up a small embankment near some trees to avoid being struck. Deputies also learned that a second victim had been present and that they had also narrowly avoided being struck by Beyer’s vehicle.
Soon afterwards, a Ukiah PD officer located Beyer in Hopland, about 16 miles south. Deputies, along with the Mendocino Major Crimes Task Force, California Department of Fish & Wildlife, Ukiah PD, and the California Highway Patrol, responded to Hopland. Authorities established a wide perimeter, and a CHP fixed-wing aircraft was deployed to assist in the search.
Despite these efforts, Beyer managed to evade capture. He was last seen carrying a large knife-like object, authorities said.
Deputies soon developed probable cause to believe that Beyer had committed multiple crimes, including assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, brandishing or exhibiting a weapon other than a firearm, and resisting/delaying/obstructing law enforcement. A stop and hold for Beyer’s arrest was issued through MCSO Dispatch.
On the afternoon of November 1, Mendocino County law enforcement learned that Beyer had been apprehended by local police in Petaluma on an unrelated federal warrant. Charges related to the incident in Mendocino County will be filed with the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
