Residents Exchanged Gunfire with Suspects During Armed Robbery in Mendocino County, Authorities Say
Mendocino County authorities are investigating an alleged armed robbery in Covelo, during which the victims and subjects allegedly exchanged gunfire.
According to a press release by the Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded on the afternoon of Monday, July 22, to a property on the 24000 block of Shady Lane to investigate a report of a burglary-in-progress.
The residents had interrupted multiple subjects allegedly stealing cannabis, and the suspects fled in a red pick-up and a U-Haul box truck, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The original caller later reported that the U-Haul truck later returned to the property and the residents confronted two of the suspects in the driveway. Dispatch then reportedly heard what sounded like gunshots over the phone, and a resident said they had exchanged gunfire with the suspects.
The residents managed to physically subdue two of the suspects while several others fled, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Responding law enforcement officers detained two of the suspects at the scene. The Sheriff’s Office identified them as Gary Casdell Fite, 34, of San Francisco, and Marcel Jamarie Earl Patterson, 28, of Richmond.
Both reportedly had “significant” injuries to their faces, heads, and bodies due to their altercations with the residents.
Both Fite and Patterson were transported to an area hospital to be treated for injuries, and Fite was ultimately taken into custody on suspicion of robbery, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and being armed with a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Fite’s bail was set at $500,000.
Patterson remained hospitalized due to the significance of his injuries, which required him to be airlifted to an out-of-county hospital for further treatment, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Investigators do not believe either the suspects or victims were struck by gunfire, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation is active and ongoing, and no further details are available at this time.
The Sheriff’s Office has encouraged anyone with information relevant to the case to reach out to them at 707-436-4086.
The California Highway Patrol, CalFire Prevention, California State Parks, and Round Valley Tribal police have all assisted with the investigation, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
