The following is a press released issued by the Willits Police Department. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On 01/20/21 at approximately 11:00am, Willits Police Department (WPD) Officers monitored a Be On the Lookout (BOLO) broadcast from the Fort Bragg Police Department (FBPD) for a stolen vehicle described as a Grey, 4DR, Volkswagen Jetta, License # 6RJB232.
Officers positioned themselves on Highway 20 leading into Willits and soon observed the vehicle heading eastbound into Willits at a high rate of speed. Lt. Hendry (WPD) followed the vehicle and broadcast his location. The vehicle failed to yield to lights and sirens and proceeded across Main Street onto South Street and then northbound on Central. The suspect vehicle was pursued on Central to San Francisco where he made a left turn and turned southbound on Main Street. The suspect continued southbound and entered the Evergreen Shopping Center on the south side of Willits. With Sgt. McCoy (WPD) joining the pursuit, the suspect turned around in the parking lot of the center and proceeded northbound on Main Street. Having already committed several traffic violations, the suspect continued northbound and then went across the double yellow lines in order to go around traffic as he neared the Safeway parking lot. The suspect attempted to turn into the parking lot but was unable to, crashing into Safeway gas station sign.
The suspect fled from his vehicle and Lt. Hendry and Sgt. McCoy gave chase on foot. The suspect wound up cornered against the businesses around South and Flower Streets on the northeast side of the parking lot, where he was taken into custody by Lt. Hendry and Sgt. McCoy.
The suspect was treated at Howard Memorial for minor abrasions to his forehead when he was taken to the ground during his arrest. There were no injuries to any of the officers involved. The car was impounded and FBPD was notified of its recovered status. The suspect was transported to Ukiah and booked into County Jail for violation of 10851 of the Vehicle Code (Taking a vehicle without the owner’s consent) and other charges.
Suspect: Joshua Frailey, Male, 19 years of age from Orland, CA
