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:

Craig Phipps

Craig Phipps [Photo from the Sutherlin, Oregon Most Wanted page.]

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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41 Comments
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Redwood Dan
Guest
Redwood Dan
5 years ago

A few hours… What a whimp. After that kind of assault on a woman, they should have left him in there.

H 2 No
Guest
H 2 No
5 years ago
Reply to  Redwood Dan

nobody wants to drink wife beater water

Lost Croat Outburst
Guest
Lost Croat Outburst
5 years ago
Reply to  H 2 No

Yeah, especially after “multiple hours,” it would be wife beater pee tea.

Anon
Guest
Anon
5 years ago

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

Ben Round
Guest
Ben Round
5 years ago

Like the old saying goes, when people are in a transition, Mr Phipps was ‘treading water’…..literally! 😉

tnt
Guest
tnt
5 years ago

Won’t the neighbors be happy with this “guy”.

LuckyPunk
Guest
LuckyPunk
5 years ago

This happened on GunSmoke

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
5 years ago

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.

Muddy Black Dodge
Guest
Muddy Black Dodge
5 years ago
Reply to  tax payer

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”…

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

Except tanks get cleaned out periodically and without cutting holes into them.

Mmmhmmmm
Guest
Mmmhmmmm
5 years ago
Reply to  tax payer

A rope with a loop on the end might a worked. Strap it to a quad , are a few strapping folks.

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
5 years ago
Reply to  Mmmhmmmm

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

henofthewoods
Guest
henofthewoods
5 years ago
Reply to  Mmmhmmmm

treble snagging hook

weedageddon
Guest
weedageddon
5 years ago
Reply to  henofthewoods

Matt Dillon would have tossed a stick of dynamite into the tank, job well done.

Dumb Genius
Guest
Dumb Genius
5 years ago

Yuck, you know he pissed in there. Hello cytomegalovirus infections.

Scooter
Guest
Scooter
5 years ago
Reply to  Dumb Genius

Better than dying in there and not being found!

Dan F
Guest
Dan F
5 years ago
Reply to  Dumb Genius

Purchase & USE a GOOD water filter for domestic use for a few weeks!!! No telling what he released in that tank!!!

No Joke
Guest
No Joke
5 years ago
Reply to  Dan F

They cut a hole in the tank. I don’t think they’ll be using it for much.

Sleepy Alligator
Guest
Sleepy Alligator
5 years ago

Is anyone responsible for replacing the water tank or is the owner just dead in the water?

zookeeper
Guest
zookeeper
5 years ago

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….

Kristi
Guest
Kristi
5 years ago
Reply to  zookeeper

8-8-18 is two days from now.

tnt
Guest
tnt
5 years ago
Reply to  Kristi

Nice

Calibabi
Guest
Calibabi
5 years ago
Reply to  Kristi

8-8-18 was AUGUST. 9-8-18 is September

Al
Guest
Al
5 years ago
Reply to  zookeeper

Zookeeper,
well said.

Emeral
Guest
Emeral
5 years ago

Lmfao they should of let natural causes take care of him, I didn’t hear him yelling.

local yocal
Guest
local yocal
5 years ago

Who s going to pay for damage to water tank? definitely not this wonderful young man.

Dumb Genius
Guest
Dumb Genius
5 years ago
Reply to  local yocal

insurance?

Gulp
Guest
Gulp
5 years ago

Wait a minute! Was that Laytonville’s big water tank? The water supply for the town?

Geez craig
Guest
Geez craig
5 years ago
Reply to  Gulp

No it wasn’t. Heavier charges, patriot act force the feds involvement.

miguel
Guest
miguel
5 years ago

September is the 9th month Kristi. we can comment on that type of stuff right…?

George
Guest
George
5 years ago

All he needs to come up with is $2500 bail for trying to strangle someone?

tnt
Guest
tnt
5 years ago
Reply to  George

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.

Things that make you go hmm
Guest
Things that make you go hmm
5 years ago
Reply to  tnt

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

Jtree
Guest
Jtree
5 years ago

Treated and released from local hospital for what,severe hydration and extremely wrinkly skin?

Beyourself
Guest
Beyourself
5 years ago

Karma.

mark
Guest
mark
5 years ago

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.

LostCoastEMT
Guest
LostCoastEMT
5 years ago

This is how I kill rodents. Put a ramp into a five gallon bucket of water. When deceased. Empty and repeat. [edit]

Hello?
Guest
Hello?
5 years ago

The real question is: This occurred on August 8th and no one is questioning why it is only being reported almost a month afterwards.

Al
Guest
Al
5 years ago

Coward.

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago

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.

sam walton
Guest
sam walton
5 years ago
Reply to  THC

Or plug in a toaster oven and toss it in , bzzzzzt.