MENDOCINO CO., 6/10/26 — A Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office deputy was badly injured during a foot chase with a man wanted on several warrants, the office said Tuesday.
On Friday just before 8:30 p.m., deputies were called on a report of a disturbance in the 3900 block of North State Street in Ukiah. Once deputies arrived they couldn’t locate anyone causing a disturbance, so they left, only to be called back there again on another report of a disturbance just before 10 p.m.
This time deputies had surmised that the resident of the house where someone was reportedly causing a disturbance was a man with multiple outstanding warrants, the Sheriff’s Office said. One of his warrants was for recklessly evading a police officer.
The residence was the home of Diego Vallejo, 23, and a deputy attempted to knock on his door but got no answer. The deputy then entered the side yard and saw an open gate. The deputy allegedly saw Vallejo attempting to hide in the backyard. He was ordered to exit the yard and was told he was under arrest, but Vallejo allegedly ran off.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, Vallejo gave chase through hazardous and uneven terrain
“To complete the arrest and prevent Vallejo’s escape, the deputy pursued him along the same route, which included aggressive dogs, patio furniture, makeshift fencing, disabled vehicles, and landscaping materials that created a narrow and uneven pathway through the backyard,” the Sheriff’s Office said.
As he was chasing Vallejo, the deputy fell and fractured their right humerus and was treated at a local hospital. The injury was bad enough to be determined a serious bodily injury.
Officers with the Ukiah Police Department arrived and ultimately placed Vallejo under arrest for his warrants.
Vallejo was transported to the Mendocino County Jail where he was booked on suspicion of felony evading causing serious bodily injury and his warrants.