The following is a press release issued by the Fort Bragg Police Department. This has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On August 31, 2023 at approximately 7:06 AM, FBPD officers were dispatched to the Motel 6 on S Main St for the report of an auto theft that just occurred. When they arrived, the victim reported he had left his work truck, a 2022 Dodge Ram 1500, running in the parking lot to warm up while he retrieved an item from his room. When he returned, the truck was gone. He said his work phone was still inside the cab, so the officer called it. The suspect, Shawn WICK, 34 years, from Pasco, Washington, answered it. The officer convinced him to return, but the suspect changed his mind and fled when he saw officers.
Officers pursued, but because the suspect was heading towards a school zone just before children would be arriving, they discontinued the pursuit. A short time later, they found the suspect in another area east of Fort Bragg and the pursuit resumed. At one point, WICK was headed directly for an FBPD officer, who had to swerve out of the way to avoid a collision.
The suspect came to a stop at the intersection of Cedar St and N Sanderson Way, where officers and MCSO deputies boxed him in with their patrol vehicles to prevent further danger to the public. WICK was taken into custody without further incident. The top speed officers reached was 60 MPH. A review of the GPS data from the stolen truck revealed its top speed was 89 MPH.
After being taken into custody, officers recognized WICK. He had been involved in a collision yesterday, August 30, 2023 in Westport and brought to Adventist Hospital, where he refused treatment. WICK then walked to the Fort Bragg Police Department, where officers and Social Services Liaisons from the Care Response Unit assisted him in contacting family and finding lodging. Family arrived late last night and was intending on taking WICK back to Washington this morning.
Chief Neil Cervenka said, “The professionalism and restraint showed by our officers in this high- stress event was outstanding. They displayed tremendous concern for public safety while putting their own lives at risk to stop a dangerous person, who had no regard for the safety of others.”
WICK was booked into the Mendocino County jail on the charges of 10851 VC – Auto Theft (felony), 245 PC – Assault with a Deadly Weapon (felony) and 2800.2 VC – Evading (felony).
Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to contact Officer Baker of the Fort Bragg Police Department at (707)961-2800 ext 226.
FBPD had no regard for human life when they criminalized this poor soul by manipulating his rights beforehand. Perhaps bus tickets should be issued within FBPD, see how y’all like it?
FBPD unnecessarily escalated this mess on their own, excluding professionalism, transparency, and honesty, all while harboring their motive, and thereby making citizens unsafe.
From what I read in the article, the FBPD did an exceptional job of catching the suspect and getting the mans truck back to him. Thieves need to be caught and punished!!