Service member who absconded from court proceedings found deceased

On 01-19-2020 at 7:30 AM, Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office were detailed to assist the United States Air Force in the 8000 block of Reeves Canyon Road in Redwood Valley, California.

Deputies contacted Air Force Special Agents from the Office of Special Investigations stationed at Beale Air Force Base near Marysville, California.

Deputies learned an Air Force service member (32 year-old male) had been the subject of a court-martial on 01-17-2020 at the Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Prior to being sentenced, that same day, the service member absconded from the court proceedings.

Based upon the desertion, an arrest warrant was issued for the service member.

On 01-18-2020 at approximately 4:00 PM an officer from the California Highway Patrol attempted a traffic stop on the wanted service member's 2018 Jeep Wrangler south of Ukiah.

This attempted traffic stop resulted in a vehicular pursuit northbound on Highway 101 until the Jeep Wrangler turned onto Reeves Canyon Road, subsequently eluding apprehension.

The Air Force Special Agents were notified of the attempted apprehension and responded to Reeves Canyon Road where they conducted overnight surveillance of the roadway at the intersection of Highway 101.

Once daylight arose on 01-19-2020 the Air Force Special Agents began a search of Reeves Canyon Road in an attempt to locate the Jeep Wrangler.

This resulted in the discovery of the Jeep Wrangler parked on a secluded fire trail road in the 8000 block of Reeves Canyon Road (approximately 8 miles from intersection of Highway 101).

At this point, Deputies began to develop a plan to approach the Jeep Wrangler.

During this planning process, the Deputies learned the wanted service member had communicated suicidal statements with a friend after his desertion.

Because of the potentially dangerous circumstances, Deputies asked for the assistance of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office UAV (Unmanned Ariel Vehicle) which is used in connection with Search & Rescue operations.

The UAV was deployed and conducted an ariel viewing of the Jeep Wrangler but the operator was unable to see (with attached video transmitting camera) inside the vehicle as its windows were foggy.  The UAV had to return to the staging area because the UAV's battery was almost exhausted.

A short time later the UAV was redeployed and a further viewing of the Jeep Wrangler was conducted.  This time there was an object, similar to a person, noted inside the vehicle.

Sometime thereafter a single shot from a firearm was heard in the immediate area and the UAV had to return to the staging area because the UAV's battery was almost exhausted.

Based upon this new information, the Mendocino County Multi-Agency SWAT Team was requested.

On 01-19-2020 at approximately 1:30 PM the Multi-Agency SWAT Team used the CRV (Citizen Rescue Vehicle) to approach the Jeep Wrangler.

During this time, the wanted service member was located deceased approximately 30 yards away from the vehicle in an elevated position on the hillside adjacent to the vehicle.

Initial scene investigation suggested the wanted service member had committed suicide by use of a high powered rifle.

At this time the wanted service member is not being publicly identified pending notification of next of kin.

A forensic autopsy is scheduled for 01-22-2020 and there is no official manner or cause of death pending the results of the forensic autopsy.

All inquires in regards to the wanted service member are being referred to the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations Public Affairs Officer Linda Card at 1-877-246-1453 or 571-305-8010.

The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance during this incident:

Mendocino County Search & Rescue, CalFire, Department of Fish & Wildlife, Ukiah Police Department, Willits Police Department, Fort Bragg Police Department,  Medstar Ambulance, Redwood Valley Fire Department and Air Force Office of Special Investigations.