The following is a press released issued by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On 04-02-2021 Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to a report of Ira Bowes discharging a firearm in public in the 76000 block of Henderson Lane in Covelo, California.
While Deputies were responding, a Round Valley Tribal Police Officer arrived on scene and informed responding Deputies via radio that they observed Bowes on foot and in possession of a rifle however had lost sight of him prior to the Deputies arrival.
The Officer a short time later noticed Bowes had covertly approached him from behind while still in possession of the rifle. Upon being seen by the Officer, Bowes quickly fled towards residences located in the 76000 block of Henderson Lane.
The Officer provided responding Deputies with Bowes’ clothing description.
When Deputies arrived they observed Bowes walking about hundred yards east of the residences in the 76000 block of Henderson Lane.
Bowes was only wearing underwear at this time and a Mendocino County Sheriff K-9 Deputy deployed his K-9 partner on a leash for safety purposes and Bowes quickly surrendered without further incident.
Once Bowes was handcuffed and secured in the back of a patrol vehicle, he became belligerent and made violent threatening statements towards Deputies and the Tribal Police Officer present at the scene.
Deputies were able to locate the clothing Bowes was wearing when the Tribal Police Officer had observed him in possession of a firearm. This clothing was found at a nearby residence.
In the pockets of the clothing Deputies found a 12 gauge shotgun shell cartridge and observed a vehicle on the property that had fresh bullet hole damage.
Deputies further learned Bowes had access and had been living in a residence on the property.
Deputies obtained a search warrant to search the residence on the property for the firearm Bowes was witnesses to possess. The firearm was not located however additional shotgun cartridges and other ammunition was located inside the residence.
Bowes, by law, is prohibited from possessing firearms and or ammunition.
It was also determined Bowes was under the influence of controlled substance during the time of his detention.
Bowes was arrested on the listed violations and booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $175,000.00 bail.
