The following is a press release 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 06-20-2021 at approximately 11:17 A.M. a Mendocino County Deputy Sheriff was on routine patrol in a marked patrol vehicle.
The Deputy attempted to conduct a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation on a silver Ford Sedan in the 7000 block of East Road in Redwood Valley, California.
The driver of the vehicle immediately sped up and traveled northbound on East Road. The driver of vehicle failed to stop at the intersection of East Road and School Way. The driver of the vehicle continued northbound on East Road and passed a vehicle on the right shoulder.
The driver of the vehicle passed another vehicle over the solid double yellow lines and also drove in the wrong lane of travel during the pursuit. The top speed driven during the pursuit was approximately 100 miles per hour.
The driver of the vehicle collided with a tree near the intersection of East Road and Tomki Road, but continued northbound on Tomki Road for a short distance before making a U-Turn and continuing southbound on East Road.
The driver of the vehicle then turned eastbound onto Road J and into a property in the 3000 block of Road J. The driver of the vehicle drove for a short time through the vineyards, ultimately fleeing the vehicle on foot after it became disabled.
The initial Deputy was able to relay the present location of the driver of the vehicle to incoming Law Enforcement personnel. The driver of the vehicle ultimately fled to a property which had a large pond behind a house. The driver of the vehicle entered a small aluminum boat and paddled with his arms into the center of the pond.
At one point the driver of the vehicle jumped or fell from the small boat, and was having difficulties staying above water. Deputies requested the assistance of Redwood Valley Fire Department and Ukiah Valley Fire Authority in the event a water rescue was needed.
The driver was able to get back into the boat and paddle around the pond. After approximately two hours of negotiating with the driver, the boat capsized, and he swam to shore. The driver was placed under arrest without further incident.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as Nathan Werkerishna Feliz. Feliz was found to have two active felony warrants for his arrest related to the possession and manufacturing of assault weapons, with $60,000.00 being the total bail.
Feliz was also charged with felony evading a peace officer (2800.2(a) CVC) and Felony Evading a Peace Officer with wrong-way driving (2800.4 CVC).
Due to the threat to public safety, a Mendocino County Superior Court Judge was contacted, who approved bail of $150,000.00 being set related to the evading charges.
Feliz was ultimately booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $210,000.00 total bail.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the following agencies for their assistance with this :
California Highway Patrol
Cal Fire Prevention Officers
Redwood Valley Fire Department
Ukiah Valley Fire Authority
Earlier Chapter
