FORT BRAGG, CA., 8/18/25 – A 19-year-old man from Ukiah allegedly led police on a car chase through Fort Bragg, resulting in a car crash and his arrest on suspicion stealing and possessing a stolen vehicle, evading police and carrying a ghost gun, police said.
According to the Fort Bragg Police Department, Flock Safety license plate reader cameras picked up a gray Honda sedan driving around Fort Bragg around 12:42 p.m. on Sunday. Â
The sedan was reported missing from Ukiah that morning, police said.
At 12:59 p.m. officers saw the vehicle leaving the parking lot at Safeway.
Officers attempted to perform a traffic stop, activating their patrol car’s lights and sirens. The Honda eased slowly down Cypress Street towards Main Street, or California state Highway 1.
When it approached the intersection, the Honda allegedly sped up and drove through a red light, turning south on Main Street.
Officers pursued the Honda over the Noyo Bridge before the Honda lost control as it tried to turn on Boatyard Drive. The car drove through a grassy area before crossing Oceanview Drive where it overturned and landed on its roof in the yard of the Emerald Dolphin Inn.
Police detained the driver and provided him with medical aid. According to police, the driver, 19-year-old Gabriel Chaon of Ukiah, had no visible injuries.
No structures were damaged during the half mile chase.
Officers searched the vehicle and allegedly found a non-serialized firearm, also called a ghost gun.
Chaon was arrested and booked at Mendocino County Jail on suspicion of five felonies: vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, evasion, possession of an undetectable firearm, and probation violation.
Correction, August 19, 2025 9:24 AM: The article originally stated that the alleged event took place on Tuesday. It has been updated to reflect that it took place on Sunday.
Hell yeah Frank good work!!!
So, lives were endangered for a car that was totaled…..hmmmm, I wonder which officer this was?
It says Officer Baker on the bottom… typical!
Of course Tyler Baker caused unnecessary danger to innocent people… he tends to do it often if you guys haven’t noticed !!
I’m confused. How was this the cop’s fault?
Was this the accident today? Because this says Tuesday, not monday..and there was a rollover today at that same intersection with a white suv…
Hi Sierra. The event was Sunday. We fixed the article and issued a correction. Thank you for catching that and reading the Mendocino Voice.
I’m confused as to why one would blame the cop for the criminal’s actions.
Officer Baker is a decent enough cop, not the best but not the worst either. No one besides the criminal was in harm’s way. You really should be more appreciative of your police force.
Flock cameras are spyware that police can use to surveil anyone for any reason without a warrant , probable cause or even reasonable suspicion of a crime. Look up Steve Lehto on YouTube and watch his video on Richmond VA and how they are being sued by the Institute for Justice. A police chief in Kansas stalked his ex girlfriend for months with Flock. It’s mass surveillance that stores pictures and patterns of driving for 30 days of every car that passes a camera. Any officer can look up any car for any reason and develop a narrative about the driver regardless of actual behavior and without evidence of any wrongdoing at all. Flock isn’t about safety it’s about denying everyone the right to be left alone as we go about our lives.