Fire Personnel Have to Cut Hole in Water Tank to Rescue Domestic Violence Suspect
This is a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On 08-08-2018 at approximately 1:50 P.M., Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to contact an adult female in regards to a domestic violence incident in Laytonville, California.Upon their arrival, the Deputies learned the adult female was involved in physical assault perpetrated by her boyfriend the night prior. The boyfriend was identified as Craig Phipps. Deputies learned Phipps attempted to suffocate and strangle the adult female numerous times during the incident. Deputies noticed the adult female had numerous injuries on her face, neck, and chest as a result of the incident.The Deputies searched the Laytonville area for Phipps with negative results. The Deputies issued an order to arrest Phipps for 273.5(a) PC [Felony Domestic Violence Battery].
After handling another call in the same area, Deputies were driving in downtown Laytonville and saw a male subject who matched Phipps’ description.
One of the Deputies exited the patrol vehicle and asked the subject for his name. The subject identified himself as Phipps and immediately fled the area on foot. Phipps ran eastbound across Highway 101, continued onto Harmon Drive, through a creek bed, and into a wooded area east of Harmon Drive.
The Deputies lost sight of Phipps at that time and established a perimeter around the area of Harmon Drive and Laytonville Dos Rios Road.
Multiple officers from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and additional Deputies responded to assist with searching the area for Phipps. After approximately 3 hours, search efforts were discontinued due to low-light conditions.
One of the Deputies decided to remain in the area of Laytonville Dos Rios Road for multiple hours in case Phipps exited the wooded area. After approximately 4 additional hours, CHP officers and the Deputy heard a male subject yelling from the area where Phipps was last seen.
At approximately midnight on 08-09-18, Deputies and CHP officers began searching the wooded area where the male was heard yelling. After approximately 30 minutes, they were able to locate Phipps who was hiding inside a large water tank and treading water. Phipps told the Deputies and officers that he was in distress after treading water for multiple hours. Phipps stated he was exhausted and unable to swim any longer.
Fire department personnel were summoned to assist with rescuing Phipps from the 15 foot tall water tank. A Deputy began releasing water from the large tank, which allowed Phipps to stand inside the water tank while awaiting the arrival of fire personnel.
Fire personnel were able to cut a hole in the water tank to safely remove Phipps, who was taken into custody at that time for 273.5(a) PC [Felony Domestic Violence Battery] and 148(a)(1) PC [Resist / Delay / Obstruct Peace Officer].
Phipps was examined by medical personnel at the scene and transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.
Phipps was subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $25,000.00 bail.
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A few hours… What a whimp. After that kind of assault on a woman, they should have left him in there.
nobody wants to drink wife beater water
Yeah, especially after “multiple hours,” it would be wife beater pee tea.
Well that went swimmingly lol
I hope the victim get far far away and this guy gets lots of consequences and fines /civil judgements for the destruction of the tank.
#breakthesilence
Like the old saying goes, when people are in a transition, Mr Phipps was ‘treading water’…..literally! 😉
Won’t the neighbors be happy with this “guy”.
This happened on GunSmoke
did the firefighters have to cut the tank open? when i think of firefighters i usually think they have ladders so please explain why the tank had to be cut open. i just feel bad for the farmer or rancher who lost their water tank because of this ahole.
If you live off spring, or well water, occasionally you do have to drain the tank and climb in to remove sediment and even slime. Most ladders don’t fit down the hole, even with the lid and threads removed. So if you find a ladder that fits, it has to be cut down to fit inside the hole. Lean it against the wall and diagonally across to the bottom on the other side. There will be little room to squeeze your body by the ladder. Tie the ladder off the tank will be slippery. Count on it. That’s why they cut the tank open ,”Tax Payer”…
Except tanks get cleaned out periodically and without cutting holes into them.
A rope with a loop on the end might a worked. Strap it to a quad , are a few strapping folks.
thats what i was thinking and not about putting a ladder inside the tank but a firefighter standing on the ladder helping to lift him up
treble snagging hook
Matt Dillon would have tossed a stick of dynamite into the tank, job well done.
Yuck, you know he pissed in there. Hello cytomegalovirus infections.
Better than dying in there and not being found!
Purchase & USE a GOOD water filter for domestic use for a few weeks!!! No telling what he released in that tank!!!
They cut a hole in the tank. I don’t think they’ll be using it for much.
Is anyone responsible for replacing the water tank or is the owner just dead in the water?
So a full on man hunt for someone who assaulted an old spouse? Ok, is that sometimes or all the time? Does it depend on gender? Because you know, visible injuries are visible injuries. Police reports of injuries are police reports of injuries. How do they decide which ones to pursue and which ones not to? Does the victim have to press charges? Oh, wait, domestic violence victims don’t have to press charges and often won’t because they fear escalation once the perp is released. Police and the DA CAN and must press charges for them. But some are just released to re-assault…Over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over….
8-8-18 is two days from now.
Nice
8-8-18 was AUGUST. 9-8-18 is September
Zookeeper,
well said.
Lmfao they should of let natural causes take care of him, I didn’t hear him yelling.
Who s going to pay for damage to water tank? definitely not this wonderful young man.
insurance?
Wait a minute! Was that Laytonville’s big water tank? The water supply for the town?
No it wasn’t. Heavier charges, patriot act force the feds involvement.
September is the 9th month Kristi. we can comment on that type of stuff right…?
All he needs to come up with is $2500 bail for trying to strangle someone?
Nope no bail anymore thanks to governor moonbeam. He should be out soon. If you like that one just wait till duh gov sets up his safe injection kiosks coming to a local shopping center and city park near you.
The change in the Cash Bail system does not take place until next year.
https://www.npr.org/2018/08/28/642795284/california-becomes-first-state-to-end-cash-bail
Treated and released from local hospital for what,severe hydration and extremely wrinkly skin?
Karma.
I would think they could have pulled him out with a rope, cutting up the tank seems a bit over the top if he was no longer treading water.
This is how I kill rodents. Put a ramp into a five gallon bucket of water. When deceased. Empty and repeat. [edit]
The real question is: This occurred on August 8th and no one is questioning why it is only being reported almost a month afterwards.
Coward.
As long as it was a plastic tank they sell kits to patch them. But yeah, seems like a couple firefighters could have just tipped it over on its side.
Or plug in a toaster oven and toss it in , bzzzzzt.