Date: 7/24/2023

Location: 700 block of South State Street

Suspect(s): Dustin Blakesley (33-year-old male of Clearlake Oaks, CA)
 
Violation(s): 2800.2(a) VC - Evading with willful wanton and disregard for safety “Felony”
 2800.4(a) VC - Evading with wrong-way driving “Felony”
496D(a) PC – Possession of a stolen vehicle “Felony”
 245(C) PC – Assault with a deadly weapon on a Peace Officer “Felony”
Arrest Warrant “Felony”

On 7/23/2023, at approximately 1634 hours, UPD Officers were notified of a stolen vehicle via the FLOCK camera system. UPD Dispatch was also notified and confirmed the vehicle was stolen out of Sonora, California. Officers responded to the location of the stolen vehicle and a UPD Officer observed the stolen vehicle traveling northbound in the 700 block of North State Street.

UPD Officers attempted to conduct a traffic enforcement stop. As the officer activated overhead emergency lights and siren, the stolen vehicle immediately drove recklessly and sped away southbound. The officer initiated a vehicle pursuit.

Officers pursued the stolen vehicle as it drove southbound on South State Street to the intersection of South State Street and Talmage Road. The stolen vehicle made a left-hand turn to travel eastbound on Talmage Road. UPD Officers pursued the stolen vehicle to Old River Road, where the stolen vehicle made a right-hand turn and 
traveled southbound on Old River Road. The stolen vehicle made a left-hand turn onto Mill Creek Road, where UPD Officers terminated the pursuit after losing sight of the vehicle. 

Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife responded to assist. a search of the area was conducted, and further investigation found that the stolen vehicle continued eastbound into the Cow Mountain wilderness.

On 7/24/2023, the UPD Officer was able to access GPS tracking of the stolen vehicle. UPD Officers and Detectives responded to the area where GPS showed the vehicle and located the stolen vehicle behind a property off of Guidiville Reservation Road. UPD Officers and Detectives located a male subject sleeping in the driver's seat 
of the stolen vehicle. The male subject was apprehended by UPD Officers and Detectives and identified as Dustin Blakesley. 

Further investigation was able to tie Blakesley to two other vehicle pursuits with UPD, two pursuits with the California Highway Patrol, and a pursuit with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. During one of the prior pursuits with UPD, Blakesley used a vehicle to ram a UPD Officer’s patrol vehicle while the UPD Officer was standing outside of the vehicle. The UPD Officer received minor injuries as a result of the assault.

Additionally, Blakesley had an active warrant for his arrest for a violation of 2800.3(a) VC, evade peace officers causing injury. During that pursuit, Blakesley crashed his vehicle into another vehicle on the roadway, causing injuries to civilians. This incident occurred inside the city limits of Ukiah as well. 

Blakesley was subsequently arrested and transported to the Mendocino County Jail for several cases and various charges.

The Ukiah Police Department would like to thank MCSO and the Department of Fish and Wildlife for their assistance with this investigation.

As always, UPD’s mission is to make Ukiah as safe a place as possible. If you would like to know more about crime in your neighborhood, you can sign up for telephone, cellphone, and email notifications by clicking the Nixle button on our website; www.ukiahpolice.com