MCSO Deputy Allegedly Drove Patrol Car to Bar, Crashed his Vehicle Into a Guardrail, and Didn’t Report It
Stock photo of MCSO law enforcement vehicle taken in 2020.
A Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputy is under investigation for allegedly driving under the influence and crashing a patrol vehicle into a guardrail while off duty early Thursday morning, then failing to report the incident as required by department policy.
The collision occurred around 1:20 a.m. on April 24 on Sherwood Road in Willits, according to Sheriff Matt Kendall. The deputy, who was off duty, apparently unarmed, and wearing civilian clothing at the time, allegedly took his patrol car from his home before striking a guardrail and damaging the patrol vehicle’s passenger side, then continued to a bar in Willits.
Sheriff’s Office policy bars off-duty use of department vehicles for personal errands or outings. “The only time [deputies] drive while off duty is going to some work duty,” Kendall told Redheaded Blackbelt. “But [they are not supposed to] use it to go to the grocery store”—or a bar.
Damage to the patrol vehicle was discovered later that same day, around 6 p.m., when a Sheriff’s Sergeant reported for duty at the Willits Substation. The sergeant reviewed onboard video footage, confirmed the crash had occurred while the deputy was off duty, and found that the deputy had failed to report the incident as required.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s office asked the California Highway Patrol’s Garberville office to open an investigation. The CHP is investigating the crash as a potential DUI, reckless driving, and hit-and-run with property damage. If they believe the situation warrants it, the information will be passed the Mendocino District Attorney’s Office and charges will be filed.
Kendall said there’s no indication the deputy was armed at the time and confirmed he was not in uniform.
The deputy, who has worked for the Sheriff’s Office for over three years in the Patrol and Corrections Divisions, has been placed on paid administrative leave. Sheriff Kendall said there are “no red flags” in the deputy’s history and that the department is not reviewing any previous conduct.
The deputy’s name is being withheld during the ongoing criminal investigation. If the deputy is cleared, Kendall said the department does not plan to release his name. If charges are filed, that responsibility will fall to the District Attorney’s Office. At that point, Kendall said that if charges are filed the deputy would be put on Leave Without Pay. “I have a call into County Counsel,” he explained. “It is my intention that he be on Leave Without Pay…I don’t want to pay anyone who is not working.”
The Sheriff expects the investigation to conclude in “about a day or two.” He committed to updating the public when that happens. He told us that though the report hasn’t been concluded, “We’re investigating some pretty poor decision making and I never plan on retaining personnel who put themselves at risk or the public at risk or the trust of my office at risk.”
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Anyone with judgment that poor (and/or addiction that out of control) should no longer be permitted to work in law enforcement.
Their career with MCSO is most likely over — not sure if this gets them on the permanently banned list.
Lots of cops drink too much but get away with it — but it’s a special kind of stupid to take your cruiser to the bar — if he’d been driving his own vehicle he’d probably be in the clear.
Can’t make this shit up! Nice work bro…guess you didn’t want to play sheriff anymore…new definition for MADDeputies!
No career in law enforcement for this former deputy.
Yes, and perhaps they need to address mental health more effectively within the department. Is it strange, though, that I feel at least somewhat relieved he didn’t sexually assault someone drunk with a gun, unlike the last MCSO officer who behaved disgracefully? (they didn’t believe the victim, covered it up, and then he did it to another women they couldn’t ignore because she was recruit.. and he was rehired down south for a while at least.)
I believe there’s something deeply ingrained in the culture of that department that fosters a sense of callousness toward suffering and an attitude of being above the law. Even their local government officials have stolen from the people—it’s wild how deep the corruption runs in Mendo.
But I think we need to go back and ask was there any warning signs that this officer was struggling would his hire ups even care if his mental health was suffering or know what to look for.
If we examine our own community here in Humboldt County, we see upskirters in the child welfare department, judges engaging in drug use and racist tirades, and officers who mock homeless individuals selling their bodies, officers raping other men in jail. And its well past time we ask, What’s wrong with this culture? It feels as though people have forgotten their humanity. And who is choosing to further this culture of toxicity and retain these hires?
And maybe that is the job forgetting your humanity, toxic aggression, and having to cover it up with drinking and drugs. If you really felt that heaviness of human suffering maybe you too would opt out for an escape. Maybe the drug attics seeking to forget and the cops trying to unsee are both victims of a greater social issue.
Do you have to strip away compassion to do the job. Or is it the allure of power that attracts narcissistic individuals, the nepotism that places people with the same lack of regard to others humanity in these roles, or the PTSD that erodes compassion and humanity over time? or all of these things. Anyhow when I see things like this, I wonder what he saw the night before what he was trying to escape or unsee and did he ask for help. Would anyone even care if he had? So many questions
“I feel at least somewhat relieved he didn’t sexually assault someone drunk with a gun, unlike the last MCSO officer who behaved disgracefully? (they didn’t believe the victim, covered it up, and then he did it to another women they couldn’t ignore because she was recruit.. and he was rehired down south for a while at least.)”
I think you’re getting your crooked cop stories mixed up — Kevin Murray was a drunken sex abuser with the Ukiah PD — not MCSO — he assaulted (not raped) a female officer and her complaint was ignored — he was finally exposed (so to speak) when he assaulted (not raped) a prostitute — the DA charged him with a slew of crimes but then Ukiah gave the prostitute a six figure payday and she quit cooperating with the prosecution — at that point the case collapsed and Murray pled to some bs charge with no jail time — but his leo career was over.
But yeah, there’s enough crooked cop stories out of Mendo to make it confusing.
I had not educated myself well enough on the story. Thanks for clearing that up. Holy Hell man. It becomes scary when you realize how much power these people wield and what they get away with because of their behavior goes unquestioned by peers and hidden from the public until it can’t be anymore.
Exactly!
When the female new recruit reported she was sexually assaulted (groping her and exposing himself) her complaint was ignored by the entire command staff but none of them were ever held accountable — and at least one of them went on to have his own sexual improprieties which got him fired — but there were no consequences for covering up the assault on the female recruit.
Sometimes when a person fucks up really bad, they realize they have a problem and are committed to addressing the issue and change for the better.
They do things a bit differently in Mendo.
Paying property taxes here is an assault on reason.
What an idiot
Not sure what some people think granted not as stupid as the park ranger that passed out drunk on duty but this is right up there close
He was probably drunk when he left the house to drink more
It’s cool that they put out a press release. Still, tough for the boss to have to put that out, but trust is mandated.
That’s bullshit anybody else would have been booked and Law Enforcement should be held in higher standards because they are suppose to protect and serve. This makes me angry because he arrests people for the same crimes he just vomited. Wow just more proof that they have a badge to do what they want to. Organized crime.
Read the article they did not catch him driving they noticed the damage later at work and reviewed video
They have dashcam video of him hitting something. If it were you or I, we could be arrested.
California law treats hit-and-run as a criminal offense, not just a traffic infraction.
Misdemeanor Hit-and-Run (Vehicle Code § 20002):
The problem is the amount of time the past between when the misdemeanor was committed when it was found out. Law prohibits, an arrest for a stale misdemeanor, meaning, when it was found it was too late to arrest him, they can only forward the charges. Likely knowing this county in this DA, he will only see Probation for everything. They will likely only charge him with hit-and-run, as you cannot really prove DUI after the fact, when they don’t have an accurate evaluation of his impairment, and the bars in Willits are kind of known to not have cameras so they can’t really do a surveillance review drink count. Unless he admits to it, he pretty much skates on the DUI. So he might be looking at hit-and-run, but knowing this officer, this is not his first rodeo when it comes to doing sketchy shit.
For being set on the East Coast and in Canada, to boot, Trailer Park Boys represents a scene very similar to ours in Mendo/Humboldt. Another day in the life of Jim Lahey and the gang!
POVERTY
We definitely have an overabundance of J Rocs wandering the streets.
Can’t say I’m shocked. I have an ex that lives down that way she and says the cops are either crooked, inept, or both. She warned me to make sure you record if you are a young woman that gets pulled over alone at night by this department.
LMFAO what a stupid ass he’s going to get in so much trouble now
If it’s not Ukiah pd it’s Mendo sheriff…def not putting forth their best people to protect and serve….
There are many here among us who have not driven into a guardrail, but I can’t count myself as one of them.
Sounds about right he should run for head sheriff
Hmm, they won’t release his name, yet… looks like they protect and serve their own first and foremost. Wonder if he will get cleared? I bet he will, and we will never know his name. Wish they treated civilians the same way, you know, the ones who pay their salaries, the people who they work for..
Interesting thread. He has the right to be heard, and the shoe is definitely on the other foot.
I saw a cop car in santee fly around a corner real fast smash into the side of a jeep and a fat guy in a hula shirt stepped out of the cruiser.
Not a big surprise here. Lots of stress and bad judgement plague every profession out there
Drunk with authority, I can get away with anything. Drinking and driving may be a habit. They shouldn’t work in law enforcement after this egregious act that could’ve killed somebody!
Mendocino quality. Wouldn’t expect anything less.