The following is a press released issued by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office:
On 03-09-2021 at about 4:02 PM, Deputies from Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office were responding to Covelo for an unrelated incident when they were flagged down by a motorist on Highway 162.
The motorist, an adult male, was bleeding from his facial area and was covered in blood. The adult male informed Deputies he had been physically assaulted by two adult males (described as being in their 30’s) while in the area of Main Street and Howard Street in Covelo, California.
Deputies learned the physical assault took place during a prearranged drug transaction involving the sale of marijuana.
It was reported that during the initial assault, one of suspects produced a fixed blade knife and demanded the adult male enter the passenger seat of his own vehicle.
After being forced to enter into his own vehicle at knife-point, the adult male was driven away from the assault scene to another location in Covelo, where he was physically assaulted again by both suspects.
The adult male reported the two suspects demanded all of his money, to include the marijuana and any other drugs he might be in possession of at that time.
After being assaulted the second time, the adult male was allowed to leave resulting in him fleeing the scene in his vehicle until he flagged down a Deputy on Highway 162.
Deputies, along with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Bureau continue to investigate this incident.
As a result of the assault and kidnapping, the adult male sustained moderate facial injuries that required treatment at a local hospital.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is requesting anyone that might have information regarding this incident to contact the Sheriff’s Office Tip-Line by calling (707) 234-2100 or the WeTip anonymous crime reporting hotline by calling (800) 782-7463.
