The following is the complete 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:

On 14th February 2024, at approximately 8:00 am, the Ukiah Police Department (UPD) received a report regarding a suspicious individual in the creek located behind Oak Manor School at 400 Oak Manor Drive, Ukiah. According to the reporting person, the male was shouting and making unspecified threatening statements. Oak Manor School staff were immediately informed about the disturbance until contact could be made with the individual.

A School Resource Officer (SRO) from the UPD promptly responded to the area and discovered the male subject causing the disturbance in the creek vicinity. The man was later identified as Neil Waldron, a 54-year-old resident of Ukiah. Upon initial contact, the SRO Officer noticed that Waldron was holding a large metal chain in his hands. Waldron began yelling threats at the SRO Officer and refused to comply with basic commands. The SRO Officer instructed Waldron to drop the metal chain and walk towards him out of the creek. However, Waldron defied the instructions and instead crossed through the creek to the opposite side, fleeing westbound away from the SRO Officer.

The SRO Officer pursued Waldron and managed to catch up with him on the creek bank, just east of the Highway 101 walking bridge. The SRO Officer attempted to apprehend Waldron, but a physical altercation ensued. Waldron physically assaulted the SRO Officer by pushing and punching him as the fight continued in the water of the creek. In an effort to subdue Waldron, the SRO Officer deployed his department-issued TASER, but it proved ineffective. The struggle persisted until multiple UPD Officers arrived at the scene and successfully subdued Waldron, placing him in handcuffs without any further incident.

Following the securing of the scene, UPD Officers conducted a search of Waldron and discovered that he was in possession of suspected methamphetamine. Additionally, it was revealed that Waldron was on parole with the State of California for a violation of 459 PC-Burglary. The SRO Officer sustained injuries during the altercation, necessitating immediate medical attention at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley (AHUV) Emergency Room. The SRO Officer was later discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment for a hand injury.