LAKE COUNTY — A man led police on a high-speed chase Wednesday. Pepper spray, Tasers and spikes strips were utilized prior to the capture the man.
At approximately 8:30 a.m. Lake County Sheriff”s deputies responded to the Harbin Hot Springs Resort on Big Canyon Road in Middletown to investigate a report of trespass.
A man, identified as David Andrew Mello, 46, of Clearlake Oaks, was staying at the resort but refused to leave the property after being refunded his money and asked by resort staff to leave. It was reported that Mello was unstable, may be under the influence of something, and was ignoring the security personnel trying to get him off the property, Captain James Bauman, Public Information Officer of Lake County Sheriffs Office (LCSO) stated.
While searching the resort grounds, deputies found Mello sitting in his white Chevy sedan near the Harbin Domes and attempted to detain him for the trespass.
After repeatedly refusing to exit the car at the two deputies” request, Mello attempted to put the car in gear to leave.
One deputy deployed his pepper spray and the other deputy deployed his Taser on Mello to stop his attempt to run, but Mello managed to drive off with the Taser darts still embedded in his arm. Deputies attempted to pursue Mello but lost him on the Harbin property and an hour and a half search of the Middletown area turned up no results.
While searching the area of Mello”s home in Clearlake Oaks, deputies spotted Mello driving toward their location but he turned and went the other way. Deputies attempted a traffic stop on Lake View near Oak Grove but Mello ignored the lights and sirens and continued on to Highway 20 heading west. Deputies pursued Mello through Clearlake Oaks as he turned back into the residential area and then back to Highway 20 where he proceeded eastbound.
As the pursuit continued from Highway 20 on to Highway 53 toward Clearlake, Clearlake Police Department (CPD) units were called to set up spike strips on Highway 53 at Olympic Drive to disable Mello”s vehicle. Mello avoided the spike strips and deputies continued to pursue him into Lower Lake where attempts to box him in failed and he turned east on to Main Street.
As police chased Mello through residential Lower Lake, CPD attempted to block him from re-entering Highway 53 from Jessie Street but he avoided the roadblock and continued north again on Highway 53.
The chase continued up Highway 53 at speeds reaching 90 mph. Mello swerved toward deputies attempting to block his path before turning west again on Highway 20 from Highway 53. Further attempts to box Mello in failed as he continually swerved toward deputies” vehicles and led them into Clearlake Oaks again.
Deputies attempted to force Mello from the roadway as they entered town again but he evaded them and turned into a residential area on Spring Street.
Mello eventually turned onto a dead-end street near the CAL Fire Station and in attempting to turn around, he struck an oak tree.
Mello ran from his car and led deputies on a foot chase for about 50-yards until one deputy closed in on him and deployed his Taser. Mello fell to the ground and was taken into custody at approximately 12:30 p.m.
He was transported and booked at the Lake County Jail for felony evading a peace officer, felony assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer, misdemeanor resisting arrest and two counts of misdemeanor trespass. He remains in custody with a $25,000 bail.
Neither Mello nor any of the deputies involved in the pursuit were injured and there was only some minor damage to one of the patrol vehicles from the attempts to get him off the roadway as they concluded the pursuit.
