$120,000 bail for Ben Brooks who fled from law enforcement and hid in a storage shed

On 12-23-2015 at approximately 11:00 PM, Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office observed a white Ford Ranger pickup with a partially obscured license plate on Branscomb Road near the intersection of Willis Avenue in Laytonville, California.

A traffic stop was attempted for the equipment violation but the driver accelerated dramatically and fled southbound on Highway 101.

The Deputies pursued the pickup truck through rainy weather at speeds between 80 and 90 miles per hour with emergency lights and sirens activated.

At approximately MPM 61.53 on Highway 101, the driver lost control of the pickup truck causing it to careened up a hillside, spin in several tight circles and finally flip over onto its roof in the center of Highway 101.

The driver, later identified as Ben Brooks, emerged from a window and fled on foot, resulting in an extensive search that failed to locate him.

Deputies subsequently discovered the pickup truck had been reported stolen from Lake County.

In addition to the open charges related to the stolen vehicle and the vehicle pursuit, Brooks was wanted on a Mendocino County arrest warrant.

The following morning at approximately 11:30 AM, a resident in the 35000
block of North Highway 101 discovered Brooks hiding in a storage shed and called law enforcement.  Deputies responded and arrested Brooks on the listed charges.

Brooks suffered significant injuries in the traffic accident the previous night and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

On 12-27-2015 Brooks was medically cleared for incarceration and was booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $120,000.00 bail.