UKIAH, CA., 2/26/25 – A Fresno County man was arrested in Ukiah on Saturday for allegedly driving a stolen vehicle and resisting arrest, police said.
According to the Ukiah Police Department, Flock Safety license plate reader cameras picked up a Mazda CX-5 SUV driving around Ukiah on Saturday morning. The Mazda’s license plate matched a vehicle reported stolen by Enterprise Rent-A-Car.
There are 14 license plate reader cameras that the department operates in the city to help solve crimes.
Officers located the Mazda at the Rite Aid parking lot in Ukiah. A male suspect was in the driver’s seat. Officers attempted to stop the suspect, who instead drove out of the parking lot.
The suspect drove across the street to Chase Bank’s parking lot, where a standoff took place. The man, identified as 62-year-old George Garland Rathwick of Riverdale, told officers that he wanted to force officers to shoot him and not put others in danger. He then told the officers he was armed with a firearm and wanted to shoot himself, police said.
After a few minutes, officers de-escalated the situation and Rathwick exited the vehicle and was taken into custody.
Officers found a bag of methamphetamine in Rathwick’s possession. No firearm was found.
Rathwick was booked into Mendocino County Jail on suspicion of multiple offenses, including possession of a stolen vehicle and resisting arrest by force or threat.