UKIAH – It was 11 pm last Thursday night, March 5, when a 45-year-old man was sitting on the curb of the sidewalk on Ford Road, just outside the Raley’s shopping center, near State Street and the Redwood Empire Fairgrounds.
The victim was sitting just outside this Ford Street shopping center when attacked.
The man, apparently minding his own business and likely passing through town, was suddenly attacked by a local transient. The attacker, later identified as 43-year-old Patrick Shane Taylor, punched him in the head several times, and grabbed the man’s backpack. Surprised and disoriented, the man ran when Taylor chased him, and was left without his pack and other belongings.
The attack was reported to the Sheriff’s department, but, according to a Sheriff’s press release, the attacker could not be found that night in a thorough search of the area.
The victim, however, was not satisfied, and continued his own search the next day. He found Taylor about a mile from the incident, in an industrial area on Brush Street near Mazzoni. He confronted Taylor about his stolen goods, and the two men began to fight.
The victim and Taylor had a second encounter the next day in this industrial area.
It was at about 2:18 on Friday afternoon when a County Animal Control officer saw them fighting, and summoned law enforcement. Both Ukiah Police and Sheriff’s deputies responded, pulling the two men apart.
They must have recognized Taylor right away as a “frequent customer”. Two months prior, on January 3, he was arrested on State Street near “The Pub” by Ukiah police for yelling obscenities and kicking over trash cans. He had been arrested in November for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Two years ago, on February 28 of 2013 as reported by the Ukiah Daily Journal, he was arrested after running up behind a mother with a 3-year-old in a stroller and 7-year-old walking with her, and pushing them, knocking the boy to the ground, scraping his knee. Taylor reportedly then dropped to the ground himself, behaving strangely while saying he was exercising. He was arrested for battery and child endangerment.
Records going back over the past ten years show frequent arrests, mostly for being under the influence of a controlled substance and parole violations. Additionally, in July of 2011 he was charged with battery, and twice in 2012 he was arrested for second degree burglary.
When detained by the police and deputies in this incident, Taylor was arrested for “strong arm” robbery, and the victim’s backpack and belongings were returned. Taylor was booked into the Mendocino County Jail and held in lieu of $150,000 bail.
