Mendocino Sheriff deputy did not report damage to assigned county vehicle which he used while he was off duty to go to a bar, CHP and Mendocino DA investigating

On 04-24-2025 at approximately 1800 hours, a Sheriff’s Sergeant with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office arrived to work at the Willits Substation and noticed damage to a county-owned patrol vehicle.

Upon investigating the damage, the Sheriff’s Sergeant learned the Sheriff’s Deputy had not reported the damage to his assigned county vehicle pursuant to Sheriff’s Office policy and procedures. The Sheriff’s Deputy has worked for the Sheriff’s Office for over 3 years and has held assignments in the Patrol and Corrections Divisions.

Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicles are equipped with video-recording devices, and the footage was reviewed by the Sheriff’s Sergeant to determine how the vehicle was damaged.

When reviewing the video footage from the damaged patrol vehicle, the Sheriff’s Sergeant learned the Sheriff’s Deputy had operated the vehicle while off duty and drove the county vehicle to a bar in the City of Willits. While driving the vehicle in Willits, the off-duty Sheriff’s Deputy collided with a guardrail on Sherwood Road causing damage to the passenger side of the vehicle.

This matter was immediately reported to the California Highway Patrol Garberville Office to investigate the traffic collision, damage to the guardrail and county-owned patrol vehicle, hit and run incident, reckless driving, and the possibility of the off-duty Deputy driving under the influence. The California Highway Patrol is actively investigating this incident with the assistance of an Investigator from the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office.

It is the intent and endeavor of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office to maintain transparency and accountability with the immediate reporting and investigation of this incident. The name of the Sheriff’s Deputy is being withheld at this time to protect the integrity of the ongoing criminal investigation. The Sheriff’s Deputy involved in this incident was immediately placed on paid Administrative Leave with his peace-officer status suspended while this matter is being investigated.