Punk Band Singer Arrested After Bizarre Alleged Crime Spree Through Mariposa, Madera Counties
Above: Anthony Mehlhaff
Photos courtesy of Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office
A Los Angeles man is in law enforcement custody after a bizarre series of alleged crimes through Mariposa and Madera counties earlier this month.
In a press release, the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office described several alleged incidents involving Anthony Mehlhaff, 40, beginning around 1:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 21.
According to KTVU, Mehlhaff is the lead singer of punk band Cancer Christ.
That afternoon, Mehlhaff allegedy approached a pregnant server at a local restuarant in the Buck Meadows area, touched her stomach, and said, “The spirits led me to you and your baby belongs to me, and what time is your break? Because I will be waiting for you.”
Mehlhaff is accused of then stealing drinks, assaulting another employee at the restaurant, and ultimately fleeing in a vehicle towards Yosemite National Park
Around 3 p.m., emergency dispatch began receiving reports of a “possible car chase, kidnapping, assault, stolen vehicles, and other suspicious circumstances” near Fish Camp.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, rangers soon spotted Mehlhaff on Highway 41 within the boundaries of Yosemite National Park and tried to stop him there, but he continued to the Fish Camp area, crashed his vehicle, and allegedly stole a bicycle. Before stealing the bicycle, he allegedly took off his shirt, gave it to a bystander and said, “You’ll want to keep this, I’m going to be famous.”
Mehlhaff then allegedly went to the Tenaya Lodge kitchen, where he entered through a back door, put his hat and other items in a refrigerator, grabbed a knife in the kitchen, and threatened employees at the lodge.
From there, Mehlhaff reportedly walked to a nearby creek and removed his pants, wallet, and keys, then entered the Tenaya Lodge clubhouse in only his underwear, allegedly ordering customers to leave or they would be in danger and then vandalizing the clubhouse. At one point, he allegedly assaulted the store manager and tried to force him to drive him out of the area.
Arrest photo of Mehlhaff released by Sheriff’s Office
The store manager was able to get away from Mehlhaff, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Mehlhaff nonetheless allegedly took the store manager’s keys and fled in the manager’s vehicle along Highway 41 towards Oakhurst. At one point, Mehlhaff allegedly began aggressively tailgating and ramming a Tesla he encountered on the road.
Mariposa County deputies located both vehicles, and authorities once again attempted to stop Mehlhaff, who ultimately crashed the vehicle he was driving along Highway 41 just outside of Oakhurst, according to authorities.
At that point, he was taken into custody, authorities said.
Mehlhaff is further accused of assaulting Mariposa County deputies while being medically cleared at an area hospital. He was ultimately booked at the Mariposa County jail on $100,000 bond.
Authorites also searched a vehicle registered to Mehlhaff and reportedly discovered an Enola Gay smoke grande inside the door panel. The Merced Bomb Squad responded to handle disposing of the device, the Sheriff’s Office said.
