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 02/22/2025 at approximately 10:30am Ukiah Police Department (UPD) Officers were alerted by the Flock automated license plate recognition system that a reported stolen vehicle was traveling the streets of Ukiah. UPD Dispatch was able to verify that the Mazda CX-5 SUV had been reported stolen by Enterprise Rental Car, and the vehicle was still at large.
A short time later officers located the stolen Mazda in the parking lot of the Rite Aid in Ukiah. Officers noted that a male, later identified as George Rathwick of Riverdale, California was seated in the driver’s seat. Due to the propensity of vehicle thieves carrying weapons, a high-risk felony stop was attempted, but Rathwick put the stolen vehicle into reverse, backed up, and drove out of the parking lot. Rathwick drove across the street and pulled into the parking lot of the Chase Bank, because as he later told the officers, it was an open parking lot where he could force the officers into shooting him without putting anyone else in danger.
A standoff ensued in the Chase Bank parking lot, and Rathwick told the officers that he was armed with a firearm and intended to shoot himself. UPD Officers spent several minutes speaking with Rathwick to deescalate the situation, and Rathwick eventually exited the vehicle and was taken into custody without incident. Rathwick was not found to be in possession of a firearm.
During a search of Rathwick’s person he was found to be in possession of a baggie of methamphetamine. Rathwick told the Officers that he had spent a great deal of time in prison, and he had told himself that if he was ever in trouble with the law again, he was going to die before being sent back to prison.
Rathwick was arrested and booked into the Mendocino County Jail for charges of 496d(a) PC – possession of a stolen vehicle, 69(a) PC – resisting arrest by force or threat, and 11377(a) H&S – possession of a controlled substance. The stolen Mazda was towed and stored so that it could be returned to Enterprise Rental Car.
We need to seal the border!
Those Flock Cameras are really coming in handy picking up criminals.
The Flock cameras have caught several people with stolen vehicles in Ukiah. They are helping police get these criminals.
I don’t know…
Kind of an invasion of privacy, boosting cars has always been a “thing”
I don’t like Big Brother watching me all the time
Let me know when the Flock cameras pick up an innocent person on the road.