Stolen Vehicle Tracked Down in Ukiah: UPD Recovers Car and Arrests High-Speed Pursuit Suspect

The following is a press release issued by the Ukiah Police Department. This has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

Vehicle Stolen from Ukiah Restaurant: High-Speed Pursuit and Recovery by UPD

On January 19, 2024, at approximately 9:45 am, the Ukiah Police Department (UPD) responded to a report of a stolen vehicle from the parking lot of Taqueria Jalos located at 1130 South State Street. The stolen vehicle was identified as a vibrant red 2006 Honda Civic. While the UPD officer was taking the report, it was discovered that the California Highway Patrol (CHP) had engaged in a high-speed pursuit of the stolen vehicle on Highway 101 in the Hopland, CA area. The pursuit escalated to speeds exceeding 100 MPH, with the suspect recklessly driving by crossing over double yellow lines into oncoming traffic. Due to public safety concerns, the CHP terminated the pursuit.

Later that day, at around 1:36 pm, UPD received an alert from the FLOCK license plate reading camera system. The alert indicated that the stolen red Honda Civic was heading southbound in the vicinity of North State Street at Garrett Drive. UPD officers swiftly responded to the area and successfully located the stolen vehicle at the intersection of State Street and Perkins Street.

The UPD officers positioned themselves behind the stolen vehicle and initiated a traffic stop. However, the suspect, later identified as 32-year-old Juan Sanchez Montiel, refused to comply with the officers’ commands and continued driving southbound on South State Street at a reduced speed. Montiel persisted on South State Street until reaching Taqueria Jalos, where he pulled into the parking lot and stopped his vehicle near a garbage dumpster.

Despite repeated orders from UPD officers, Montiel remained unresponsive. To ensure a peaceful resolution, personnel from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and a Spanish-speaking deputy were called in to assist in communication efforts. Additionally, a representative from the mental health department was present to help de-escalate the situation. After approximately 20 minutes of communication, Montiel voluntarily exited the vehicle and surrendered to the officers.

Subsequently, Montiel was interviewed and later booked at the Mendocino County Jail for violating California Vehicle Code sections 10851(a) (vehicle theft), 2800(a) (evading arrest), and Penal Code section 148(a)(1) (resisting arrest). The stolen Honda Civic was successfully returned to its rightful owner.