Man Arrested After Carjacking Taxi Driver at Knifepoint, Says UPD
This is a press release from the Ukiah Police Department. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On 06/24/2024 at approximately 9:51 AM, Ukiah Police Department (UPD) Officers responded to 275 South Orchard Avenue for a report of a subject who held a knife to a taxi driver’s throat and took possession of a silver-colored Toyota Prius taxi. The suspect was later identified as Justin Hietala. Hietala made threats to kill the victim before leaving in the stolen taxi. The victim was able to provide a picture of the subject driving away in the stolen taxi. The picture clearly showed Hietala driving the stolen taxi away from the victim.
UPD Dispatch utilized the FLOCK camera system to obtain the license plate of the stolen taxi and provided it to UPD Officers. UPD Officers checked the surrounding area and a be on the lookout-BOLO was issued to the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP).
CHP Officers located the stolen taxi in the area of Southbound Highway 101 at Henry Station Road in Ukiah. CHP advised Hietala was driving the stolen taxi erratically. A CHP Officer used a “Spike Strip” device and was able to disable the vehicles tires. A felony stop was conducted by CHP and Hietala was placed into custody without issue.
The victim was later transported to the location of the traffic stop. The victim positively identified Hietala as the subject who threatened him with a knife and took the Toyota Prius.
The Toyota Prius was turned back over to the taxi company and Hietala was placed under arrest. Hietala was charged with the above-mentioned charges and booked at the Mendocino County Jail.
The Ukiah Police Department would like to thank the California Highway Patrol and the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with this investigation.
As always, our mission at UPD 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, cell phone, and email notifications by clicking the Nixle button on our website; www.ukiahpolice.com
Earlier: Carjacking at Knifepoint Near Ukiah
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Let’s not give this piece of work a 2nd, and 3rd, chance……..next time it won’t be a threat.
Great job getting photo of ‘suspect’. Too bad about the tires 😪
Plenty of lifers who have been rehabilitated are still in prison at 40 years old. Justin can’t be rehabilitated. It’s too late. He will commit murder at some point. He already admitted to throwing his grandmother’s body in a river. Who will be Justin’s next victim? Carry mace if you drive a Prius!