NORTH COAST, Calif. – A North Coast man led California Highway Patrol officers and Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies on a high speed chase from Ukiah to Potter Valley Monday night.
William Jackson IV, 33, of Potter Valley eventually was arrested after driving his vehicle into the Eel River and then attempting to flee on foot, according to Sgt. Greg VanPatten of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.
Shortly before 11 p.m. Monday Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies were on routine patrol near the 100 block of Talmage Road when they observed a green Honda Accord fail to stop at a posted stop sign, VanPatten said.
He said the deputies attempted to make a traffic stop but the vehicle's driver – later identified as Jackson – sped away from them. The deputies activated their emergency lights with siren and pursued the vehicle.
CHP officers and Ukiah Police Department officers joined the pursuit as the vehicle entered onto northbound Highway 101 from Talmage Road, VanPatten said.
Jackson fled from the deputies at speeds reaching 100 miles per hour, with deputies and CHP officers following the vehicle northbound on Highway 101 and then eastbound onto Highway 20, he said.
VanPatten said Jackson passed other vehicles by crossing into an oncoming lane of traffic and also weaved unsafely at times.
The vehicle later turned northbound onto Potter Valley Road and reached speeds of 65 miles per hour while still evading law enforcement personnel, according to VanPatten.
The vehicle later turned northbound onto Eel River Road and continued until it reached Van Arsdale Road and then turned onto Old Logging Road, VanPatten said.
A short time later the vehicle turned onto a riverbank access road and drove into the water of the Eel River. VanPatten said Jackson jumped from the vehicle and ran through the river, attempting to escape the pursuing deputies and CHP officers.
VanPatten said CHP officers were able to apprehend Jackson after a short foot pursuit and arrested him without further incident.
Jackson was wanted on an outstanding Mendocino County felony arrest warrant for kidnapping and domestic battery and also was on formal felony probation out of Santa Clara County for domestic battery, VanPatten said.
Jackson was transported and booked into the Mendocino County Jail for the outstanding arrest warrant, violation of his probation and felony evading of law enforcement, VanPatten said.
He said Jackson was being held on a no bail status because of the probation violation charge.