Monday, November 4, 2024

Ukiah Carjacking Thwarted: Suspect Arrested After Highway 101 Chase

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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:


Justin Hietala [Mugshot from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Booking Logs]

On 06/24/2024 at approximately 9:51 AM, Ukiah Police Department (UPD) Officers responded to 275 South Orchard Avenue for a report of a subject who held a knife to a taxi driver’s throat and took possession of a silver-colored Toyota Prius taxi. The suspect was later identified as Justin Hietala. Hietala made threats to kill the victim before leaving in the stolen taxi. The victim was able to provide a picture of the subject driving away in the stolen taxi. The picture clearly showed Hietala driving the stolen taxi away from the victim. 

UPD Dispatch utilized the FLOCK camera system to obtain the license plate of the stolen taxi and provided it to  UPD Officers. UPD Officers checked the surrounding area and a be on the lookout-BOLO was issued to the  Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and the California Highway Patrol (CHP).  

The stolen Prius on the side of Highway 101 after officers pursued the carjacker [Image from Ukiah Police Department]

CHP Officers located the stolen taxi in the area of Southbound Highway 101 at Henry Station Road in Ukiah. CHP advised Hietala was driving the stolen taxi erratically. A CHP Officer used a “Spike Strip” device and was able to disable the vehicle’s tires. A felony stop was conducted by CHP and Hietala was placed into custody  without issue.  

The victim was later transported to the location of the traffic stop. The victim positively identified Hietala as the subject who threatened him with a knife and took the Toyota Prius.  

The Toyota Prius was turned back over to the taxi company and Hietala was placed under arrest. Hietala was charged with the above-mentioned charges and booked at the Mendocino County Jail.  

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The Ukiah Police Department would like to thank the California Highway Patrol and the Mendocino County  Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with this investigation. 


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MendoFever Staff
MendoFever Staff
Editor's Note: Whenever an article's byline reads "MendoFever Staff", the contents of that article were not composed by any of our reporters. Types of writing that will be attributed to "MendoFever Staff" include press releases, letters to the editor, op-eds, obituaries— essentially writing that is not produced by a reporter.

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