The following is a press release issued by the Ukiah 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 03-15-2022 at approximately 11:55 AM, UPD dispatch received a 911 call reporting a robbery at Home Depot, located at 350 N. Orchard Avenue. The caller, an employee reported a male, who was later identified as Victor R. Lucas, entered the store, selected a Milwaukee cordless drill and attempted to leave the store without paying for the merchandise. Employees attempted to stop Lucas from leaving the store, but he threatened them with a knife. He was able to exit the store and another employee followed him into the parking lot. Lucas threatened that employee with a knife as well and then got into a vehicle that drove out of the parking lot. UPD officers contacted the reporting party and were unable to identify the suspect at that time. The value of the stolen drill was approximately $149.00.
On 03/18/2022, UPD was contacted by the reporting party and were advised they recognized the suspect from this incident while looking at the MCSO Jail booking log photos. Lucas had been arrested by UPD on 03/17/2022 on unrelated offenses and had been booked at the MCSO Jail. A UPD officer responded to Home Depot and was provided with surveillance footage from the date of the robbery. From speaking with the reporting party as well as the other two victims; Lucas was positively identified as the suspect in the robbery.
The UPD officer contacted Lucas, at the MCSO Jail and obtained a statement from him regarding the robbery. He was subsequently booked for 211 PC – Robbery. He is currently held on $15,000.00 bail.
