Neil Waldron : “Parolee Near Ukiah School Allegedly Punches Officer – Disturbance Alert”

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 concerning a suspicious man in the creek adjacent to Oak Manor School, located at 400 Oak Manor Drive, Ukiah. The reporting person stated that the male individual was yelling and making threatening statements; however, they could not provide specific details about the threats. Oak Manor School personnel were immediately notified about the disturbance, ensuring the safety of students and staff while the male suspect was being located and approached.

A School Resource Officer (SRO) from UPD promptly responded to the area and discovered the male subject causing the disturbance in the creek. The individual was later identified as Neil Waldron, a 54-year-old man from Ukiah. Upon contact, the SRO officer observed that Waldron was holding a large metal chain in his hands. Waldron started screaming threats at the SRO officer and blatantly refused to comply with basic commands. The SRO officer ordered Waldron to drop the metal chain and walk out of the creek towards him. However, Waldron defied the order and instead crossed through the creek to the opposite side, proceeding to run westbound through the creek, 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 officer attempted to apprehend Waldron, but he fiercely resisted, engaging in a physical altercation. Waldron pushed and punched the SRO officer as the struggle continued into the water of the creek. In an attempt to gain control, the SRO officer deployed his department-issued TASER; however, 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 incidents.

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. During the struggle, the SRO officer sustained an injury, necessitating immediate medical attention at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley (AHUV) Emergency Room. The officer was later released from the hospital after treatment for a hand injury.