Attempt to Flee on Improperly Equipped Bicycle Leads to Arrest, Says MCSO
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 01-16-2022 at approximately 9:34 P.M., Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were patrolling the area of South State Street (Ukiah, California) when they observed a person, subsequently identified as Paul Nelson, riding a bicycle.
The bicycle was not equipped with a forward facing light or reflectors on the rear of the bicycle. The Deputies activated their overhead lighting in an attempt to stop Nelson. Nelson refused to stop and continued to gain speed.
Nelson pulled off of the road and continued his attempt to evade the Deputies. Nelson traversed a trail to the Mulberry Street area where California Highway Patrol Officers were waiting for him.
Nelson was detained and a records check revealed that there was an outstanding Mendocino County felony warrant for his arrest. The Deputies also learned Nelson was on formal probation with terms to include “Obey all laws”. Due to the fact that Nelson attempted to intentionally evade the Deputies, he violated the terms of his probation.
Nelson was arrested for the Mendocino County Felony Arrest Warrant, 1203.2 PC (Felony Violation of Probation) and 148 PC (Misdemeanor Resist, Delay or Obstruct Public Officer).
Nelson was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held on a No Bail status.
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Pulled over because his bicycle didn’t have reflectors…that’s a serious crime! Must have been a slow night in Ukiah…
I’m OK with probation checks, I’m also OK with public safety. I’m not OK with criminals. Don’t understand your problem.
The problem is that the police are criminalizing bicycling. Sure, this guy turned out to have warrants, but do you really want the cops pulling you over for not having a reflector on your bike?
Arrest occurred after dark. Bike without reflectors or lights after dark is a problem cuz it may be difficult for motorists to see the bike, especially if bike rider is wearing dark clothes.
Again…do you really want the cops pulling everyone over for that? They don’t have better things to do?
Yes. Sounds like a good idea preventing an accident.
Unless my pockets were full of drugs or I was on probation for previous crimes, I could give a shit if I was pulled over for breaking the law. No big deal, just a needed safety lecture.
Ever have to scrape someone off the pavement because they weren’t seen at night?
You think they didn’t know this punk had warrants? I’m betting they did and very much wanted him off the street.
The police in many college towns write tickets for bicycles with no lights. 90% of the accidents that end in the death of a cyclist occur at night. Planet bike SUPERFLASH for the rear ($25.00) and a niterider 700 or 900 for the front ($75.00) and you will live to ride another day.
Even events like the ride across Iowa (RAGBRAI) recommends lights for when you return from the “Pork Tornado’s” concert back to your camp at midnite. Or when it is a 95-105 degree day and you start your ride at 4am to beat the heat you are visible to cars and the famous Iowa deer.
(Deer account for a huge number of car accidents and Doe hunting tags are $5 for Iowa residents).
Plus there are a lot of super fun night rides…Midnite Madness in San Diego, the old “midnite riderz by the LA bicycle kitchen (3k riders) and of course the Wednesday night ride at the Lake Harriet Band Shell in Minneapolis. Plus many many other sweet night rides all over the US.
Buy a light and save your life or as Hans Mortensen (former danish national team rider) would say “He knows the way home…pizza and beer at my house” at the Santa Barbara night rides….
Respect to the fallen rider and to their family
Bigger danger than riding without lights is all the drunk drivers. That seems more important than reflector enforcement, if you’re a cop.
If they saw a drunk driver, then they pull that one over. It’s not like they prioritized the bicycle.
Cops hate bicycles.
No drunks to beat up ??? Lots of black eyes. And. Shredded foreheads. In the arrest log. “ resisting”. You kno
didn’t even know that was a law….
A records check revealed that there was an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest. This wasn’t a slow night. MCSO was busy protecting you and society, from an escaping felon.
Low hanging fruit easy to grab a bicyclist
A sheriff pulled me over for that in fraction but actually it was to search my backpack. He put me in cuffs and began searching my backpack
I started screaming for police please help he’s got a gun help. He couldn’t get those cuffs off fast enough. Turns out he was a magistrates nephew trying to make a name for himself
…he was booked into Mendocino County Jail where he was infected with Covid….
Is there probation that states “Don’t obey laws” some or all?
Some cops start their career with the intent to help people but most have a personality disorder and want to exert power over people.
That’s completely untrue and unfair…
Adult male on, let me guess, a BMX?
How was he to know the bike he ripped off was unsafe? I have no problem with the law going after this idiot. Laws are laws.
funny how they care for this but you have tweakers smoking dope in front of kids on the streets like its the thing to do !!
smh this town of Ukiah !!! ya’ll people need Jesus and to say no to drugs !!!! duh !!! drugs are the main event of all crimes ! um hello