The following is a press release from 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 04/05/2024, Ukiah Police Department (UPD) Officers were dispatched to the Ukiah Skate Park located at 1041 Low Gap Road, regarding a physical fight between large groups of juveniles. It was reported that some of the juveniles were using baseball bats and potentially knives as weapons. UPD Officers responded using emergency lights and sirens and requested assistance from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO).
Upon arrival, UPD Officers were told that a group of juveniles ran southeast through the east side of Low Gap Park. A MCSO Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) was deployed and found several juveniles running southeast across the river and continued toward the golf course and soccer fields near the Pomolita Middle School track. UPD Officers and MCSO Deputies responded to that area to search for suspects. They ultimately detained several juveniles who were suspected of being involved.
UPD Officers contacted a 17-year-old male victim at the skate park. The victim had wounds to his head, face and shoulder area. It was learned that the victim suffered several blows to the head, face and back from a metal baseball bat and personal body weapons. He was transported to the emergency room at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley (AHUV) for treatment.
UPD Officers searched the area and found a small, metal, youth-sized Louisville Slugger baseball bat that was thrown in the high weeds just east of the skate park. UPD Officers also located a homemade spear fashioned out of a metal wrought iron fence picket. The spear was approximately 3 feet long with a 3.5-inch double bladed dagger attached to one end. Nobody in the incident at the Ukiah Skate Park was stabbed or cut.
The juveniles that were detained early in this investigation were either released or arrested on charges unrelated to this incident. One juvenile was arrested for an outstanding warrant (Felony violation of 422 PC). A second juvenile was arrested for a probation violation (Felony violation of 777 W&I).
After an in-depth investigation, this case was determined to be gang related. This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the Ukiah Police Department and speak to an officer.
The Ukiah Police Department would like to thank the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance.
As always, UPD’s mission is to make Ukiah as safe as possible. If you would like to know more about crime in your neighborhood, you can sign up for telephone, cellphone, and email notifications by clicking the Nixle button on our website; www.ukiahpolice.com.
Ok Lowgap is officially on my list
Make Ukiah Great again !!!
Good luck with that! The once upon a time nice and for the most part peaceful small town of Ukiah is long gone and it will never return to its pleasant past.The prospect of bringing the Palace Hotel back to life and the great redwood trail or a slew of Roundabouts and streetscaping won’t make everything all far out and groovy again. Am I being cynical?