UKIAH, 8/4/20 — A Point Arena man was arrested Saturday at 7:50 p.m. after a high-speed pursuit, a 12-day search, and a tense standoff in Albion after pouring gasoline over his body and threatening to blow himself up.
According to a press release from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), Marc Lucas, 50, allegedly evaded capture for 12 days following a vehicle pursuit near Ten Mile Road and Iverson Drive that began in Point Area on July 17, 2020.
At approximately 1:44 p.m. on August 1, 2020, Lucas was seen driving his Toyota Tacoma near Albion Ridge by a California Highway Patrol officer who attempted to stop him in his vehicle. After a brief pursuit, Lucas exited his truck with what he claimed was an SKS semi-automatic, military assault rifle demanding to be left alone. The SKS is a mid-century Soviet rifle.
Sheriff’s deputies attempted to capture Lucas sending a police dog at him, but he avoided capture by quickly entering his vehicle, smashing the dog’s head with the door. When Lucas exited his pickup for a second time, a Sheriff’s sergeant tried to incapacitate him using a Taser device but was unsuccessful. Lucas then grabbed a can of gasoline the back of his pickup, which he poured all over his body and interior of the vehicle threatening to “blow himself up.”
Lucas remained in his vehicle until the Mendocino County Multi-Agency Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) arrived and developed a plan to use a fire hose to spray water onto Lucas and his vehicle. The Albion Little-River Volunteer Fire Department sprayed water onto Lucas, forcing him to exit the pickup, which allowed SWAT members to overpower and quickly placed him under arrest.
A SWAT paramedic provided first aid at the scene, and the weapon that Lucas said was an SKS semi-automatic assault rifle turned out to be an air-powered pellet rifle.
Here’s the press release form MCSO:
DATE: “August 4, 2020”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Incident Number:
2020-18783Crime/Incident:
2800.2 CVC (Felony Evading)
2800.4 CVC (Felony Evading – Wrong Way Driving)
69 PC (Resisting Arrest with Force or Threat of Violence)
245(c) PC (Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Peace Officer)
600 PC (Interference with Police Dog)
3000.08 PC (State Parole Warrant)
2800.2 CVC (Felony Warrant for Felony Evading)
2800.4 CVC (Felony Warrant for Felony Evading – Wrong Way Driving)Location:
29000 block of Albion Ridge Road in Albion, CA
Date of Incident:
08-01-2020
Time:
1:44 PM
Victim(s):
N/A
Suspect(s):
Marc Lucas (50 year-old male from Point Arena, CA)
Written By:
Sergeant Ze Lima #1224Synopsis:
On 07-17-2020 at approximately 10:10 PM, a Mendocino County Deputy Sheriff attempted to make a traffic stop on a Toyota Tacoma for an observed vehicle code violation in downtown Point Arena, California.The driver, who was later identified as Marc Lucas, failed to yield to the Deputy’s emergency lighting and siren and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. This pursuit spanned just over eight miles and was terminated when the Deputy lost sight of the vehicle in the area of Ten Mile Road and Iverson Drive.
Based on the positive identification of Lucas, who was known to be on active parole from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) for Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Peace Officer, Deputies sought and obtained an arrest warrant for the apprehension of Lucas for violation of 2800.2 CVC (Felony Evading) and 2800.4 CVC (Felony Evading – Wrong Way Driving).
Over the course of the next 12 days, Deputies searched numerous locations on the south coast for Lucas, without success. Based on the above information, a CDCR Parole Officer petitioned the Mendocino County Superior Court for a parole warrant, which was granted on 07-30-2020.
On 08-01-2020 at approximately 1:44 PM, Deputies and a California Highway Patrol Officer were actively looking for Lucas in the 29000 block of Albion Ridge Road, when he drove past them in his Toyota Tacoma.Deputies were able to clearly see and identify Lucas and they attempted to stop him in his vehicle; however, Lucas again refused to stop. Deputies pursued Lucas for over two miles and he turned onto Albion Ridge “I” Road, where his vehicle came to a stop.
Lucas exited his vehicle and partially removed what he told Deputies was an SKS semi-automatic assault style rifle.Deputies verbally instructed Lucas to drop the rifle and to surrender.
Lucas refused to cooperate and stood in the open door of his vehicle with his hand on the butt-stock of the rifle.
Lucas demanded Deputies leave him alone and threatened to shoot any Deputies that attempted to take him into custody.
Lucas told Deputies that he would use his vehicle to ram through the patrol vehicles that were at the location; he later intentionally crashed his vehicle into the front of a patrol vehicle that was blocking him, while Deputies and a CHP Officer were using the vehicle to shield them from any potential gun fire from Lucas.
A Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to use K9 “Takoda” to apprehend Lucas. When Lucas observed the K9, he quickly entered his vehicle and repeatedly slammed the door closed, smashing the dog’s head between the edge of the door and door jamb.
Lucas exited the vehicle and a Sheriff’s Sergeant attempted to use a Taser device to incapacitate Lucas, without success.
Lucas then obtained a gasoline can from the back of his vehicle and poured gasoline over his body and the interior of the vehicle. Lucas threatened to “blow up” himself and Deputies near him.Lucas then barricaded himself inside his vehicle and remained there until the arrival of the Mendocino County Multi-Agency Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT).
The SWAT Citizen Rescue Vehicle (Armored) was positioned near Lucas’ vehicle and several hours of attempted de-escalation and negotiations were met with no cooperation from Lucas.
At around 7:50 PM, SWAT members executed a plan that was developed to use a fire hose to introduce water into Lucas’ vehicle to reduce the risk of any fire or explosion with the ultimate goal of minimizing any potential injuries to Lucas or SWAT members.The Albion Little-River Volunteer Fire Department agreed to assist SWAT members by parking a fire engine a safe distance away and running the pump.
SWAT members deployed a fire hose to the side of Lucas’ vehicle and began flushing the gasoline out of the vehicle.
After approximately 15 seconds of introducing water into the cab of the vehicle, Lucas exited the vehicle and Mendocino County Sheriff’s SWAT K9 “Bo” was deployed and took control of Lucas. SWAT members quickly overpowered Lucas by tackling him to the ground and placed him under arrest without further incident.
Lucas was provided first aid from the SWAT Paramedic at the scene and he was transported to a local hospital for a medical clearance.
The firearm that Lucas brandished and claimed was an SKS semi-automatic assault type rifle was determined to be an air powered pellet rifle.
Lucas was booked into the Mendocino County Jail for the following offenses:
2800.2 CVC (Felony Evading)
2800.4 CVC (Felony Evading – Wrong Way Driving)
69 PC (Resisting Arrest with Force or Threat of Violence)
245(c) PC (Assault with a Deadly Weapon on a Peace Officer)
3000.08 PC (State Parole Warrant)
2800.2 CVC (Felony Warrant for Felony Evading)
2800.4 CVC (Felony Warrant for Felony Evading – Wrong Way Driving)
Due to Lucas’ parole status, he is being held at the Mendocino County Jail without bail.
A charge of 600 PC (Interference with Police Dog) is being submitted to the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office for consideration of prosecution.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the residents of Albion Ridge for their cooperation and support during this seven hour incident.The Sheriff’s Office would also like to thank our public safety partners from the following agencies that assisted in the safe resolution of this incident:
Chief Rees and the Albion Little-River Volunteer Fire Department, California Highway Patrol, Ukiah Police Department, Fort Bragg Police Department, California Department of Fish and Wildlife and California State Parks.Approved by:
Captain Gregory L. Van Patten #1184
How is the K9 after the suspect attempted to murder him? LWO
That’s what I was wondering. I hope Takoda is okay and is being given lots of TLC.