Two alleged robbers accused of stealing marijuana in Mendocino County earlier this week were arrested after they reportedly exchanged gunfire with residents, according to the Sheriff’s office.
Around 3:10 p.m. Monday, Sheriff’s deputies were alerted to a report of an in-progress burglary at a property in the 24000 block of Shady Lane in Covelo. They learned that residents interrupted multiple individuals stealing marijuana, who fled the area in a red pickup and a U-Haul box truck.
Authorities said that a short time later, they received another call that the U-Haul box truck had returned to the property on Shady Lane and some residents confronted two of the suspects in their driveway. According to the Sheriff’s office, its dispatchers heard during the call what they believed to be firearms being discharged and the caller reported there was an exchange of gunfire between the residents and the suspects.
“The residents physically subdued two of the suspects until law enforcement arrived, while several other suspects fled the area,” the Sheriff’s office said.
Authorities detained 34-year-old Gary Casdell Fite from San Francisco and 28-year-old Marcel Jamarie Earl Patterson from Richmond. According to the Sheriff’s office, both Fite and Patterson had significant injuries to their faces, heads, and extremities following the fight with the residents.
Both suspects were transported to Howard Memorial Hospital to be treated. Despite their injuries, investigators believe neither the suspects nor the residents were shot during their exchange of gunfire.
Fite was arrested for suspected robbery, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, and being armed with a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was booked into the Mendocino County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Meanwhile, the Sheriff’s office said Patterson was not incarcerated due to the significance of his injuries. He was subsequently airlifted to an out-of-county hospital for further medical treatment. “Charges against Patterson are pending while he is hospitalized for his injuries,” authorities said.
Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at (707) 463-4086. Anonymous information can be provided through the non-emergency tip-line at (707) 234-2100.