Ukiah Police officers apprehended a suspect yesterday, after a foot chase that resulted in a minor injury to one officer. The following is a press release from the Ukiah Police Department. The Mendo Voice has not independently verified any of the information. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Press Release: Vehicle pursuit / foot pursuit / suspect in custody!
Ukiah Police Department case # 17-0561On February 23rd at about 9:48 am, UPD officers were dispatched to the 400 block of Oak Park Avenue in Ukiah, for a report of a suspicious vehicle. Dispatch advised responding officers that an older model white sedan had been parked and running at the location for about two hours and was believed to be occupied by one subject. The first officer to arrive located the vehicle an older model Ford Thunderbird parked the wrong direction on the roadway with expired registration. The officer went to speak with the driver, who appeared asleep behind the wheel. The officer knocked on a window of the vehicle and woke the driver, who was later identified as Benjamin Abla, a 34-year-old transient. Seeing the officer the driver refused to roll down his window when asked, but instead sped off. UPD officers gave chase and Abla led officers on a pursuit through the streets of Ukiah. In the 1100 block of West Standley Street, Abla abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot. Abla led UPD officers on a foot chase over fences and through a creek in the area. Two UPD officers were able to take Abla into custody. A records check revealed that Abla had one felony warrant for felon in possession of a firearm and one misdemeanor warrant for possession of a controlled substance, both out of Lake County. Abla was booked into county jail on the warrants, for reckless evading and resisting arrest. One officer received a minor injury requiring stitches.
As always, our mission at UPD is simple: 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, cell phone and email notifications by clicking the Nixle button on our website: www.ukiahpolice.com.
Patrol Lt. David McQueary