Willits Woman Arrested After Assaulting Ukiah Man and Stealing a Car for Her Third Time This Month, Says UPD

On April 1, 2021 at approximately 6:08 AM, UPD Dispatch received a report of an  assault victim at 320 Pomo Drive. Officers arrived and contacted the 23-year-old male  victim at the residence. Officers learned the victim met Smith several hours earlier in the  morning while out for a walk. The male was not familiar with Smith, but the two walked  back his residence. After a few hours an argument ensued and Smith struck the victim several times with a closed fist. The victim told Smith to leave, and while she was doing  so, she picked up a large shovel, and swung it at his head. The shovel struck the victim  on the hand, leaving a laceration. Smith ran from the residence, still carrying the shovel  and got into a parked vehicle that was located on Pomo Dr.  

The victim saw Smith drive away in the vehicle. The victim believed the vehicle  belonged to a neighbor. The neighbor (vehicle’s owner) confirmed the vehicle was  supposed to be parked and no one had permission to take the vehicle. A stolen vehicle report was filed by the victim. A BOLO for the stolen vehicle was broadcast to  surrounding law enforcement agencies.  

The assault victim declined medical attention and advised he desired prosecution for the  assault. 

Officers began checking the surrounding areas for the stolen vehicle. An off-duty UPD  Officer observed the stolen vehicle parked along the southbound lanes of US 101, just  north of the Burke Hill exit. Officers responded to the location and verified it was in-fact  the stolen vehicle. The vehicle was occupied by a single person (Smith). She refused to  followed lawful commands to exit the vehicle. Smith was removed from the vehicle and  taken into custody without further incident.  

Upon searching the vehicle, Officers located the shovel in the bed of the vehicle. The  vehicle’s owner responded to the scene and the vehicle was released to him. Smith was  transported to AHUV for medical clearance, prior to booking at the MCSO Jail. Smith  was positively identified by the assault victim. She was also found to be on Summary  Probation from this county for prior theft and battery offenses. Based on the violations in  the current cases, she was found to be in violation of her probation’s terms.  

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Smith had been arrested for two prior vehicle theft related cases within the prior month.  Based on the Emergency Zero Bail Order, she had been released with court dates for  those prior offenses. Based on her continuing criminal behaviors and her risk to the  public’s safety; a magistrate was contacted and granted a bail enhancement for the  10851(a) CVC violation. Her bail for case 21-0559 was set at $30,000.00 and the bail for  case 21-0560 was set at $15,000.00. Smith was booked on the aforementioned violations  at the MCSO Jail.