Willits Woman Finds Stranger Asleep in Her Bedroom; Man Arrested After Ammo Found in Backpack

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 unless proven guilty:

On 05/02/2026 at approximately 11:03 A.M., Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to a residence in the 400 block of Della Avenue in Willits, for a reported unauthorized subject inside a home.

The reporting party and victim informed Sheriff’s Deputies that she discovered an unknown male subject sleeping inside a bedroom of her residence. When confronted, the subject exited the home and walked away toward the City of Willits.

Sheriff’s Deputies canvassed the area and located Tyler Cales who matched the description provided by the victim. During a subsequent interview, Cales claimed he had was given permission to stay at the residence by another individual. However, based on the investigation, Sheriff’s Deputies determined there was no credible evidence to support Cales’ claim.

Cales consented to allow Sheriff’s Deputies to search his backpack. During the search, Sheriff’s Deputies located two live .22 caliber ammunition cartridges and drug paraphernalia used to consume methamphetamine.

A records check revealed Cales is prohibited from possessing ammunition due to a previous criminal conviction.

Cales was placed under arrest for 30305(a)(1) PC – Prohibited person in possession of ammunition, 602.5 PC – Entering a non-commercial dwelling, and 11364 HS – Possession of drug paraphernalia. Cales was transported to the Mendocino County Jail where he is being held in lieu of $15,000 bail.

Anyone with information related to this incident is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office at 707-463-4086 (option 1). Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100.