MENDOCINO CO., 8/4/25 – Two shoplifting suspects were arrested by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office last week after leading law enforcement on a chase, authorities said Monday.
Dejon Wilkes, 34, of Oakland and Birdean Gaines, 52, of Salinas were arrested Friday for allegedly shoplifting at stores in Ukiah and Cloverdale.
Sheriff’s deputies tried to pull over a white Mazda SUV in Willits that had allegedly been used to flee from the two shopliftings. The driver drove off, prompting a multi-agency chase on U.S. Highway 101 by the California Highway Patrol, the Willits Police Department and Mendocino County Sheriff’s deputies, authorities said.
The SUV was stopped after spike strips deflated its tires, according to authorities.
Before the pursuit, Wilkes was suspected in the first shoplifting incident in Cloverdale, Ukiah authorities said. Birdean is alleged to have been driving the vehicle.
Ukiah officers responded after Birdean and Wilkes were arrested and located “a large amount” of hygiene products and over-the-counter medication in the SUV that had allegedly been stolen from different businesses. Items allegedly stolen from the Ukiah store were also recovered, according to the department.
Wilkes and Gaines were booked into the Mendocino County Jail on suspicion of grand theft and related allegations of repeated thefts.