This is a press release from the Ukiah Police Department. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On 08/01/25, the Ukiah Police Department was contacted by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office in regards to an Organized Retail Crime (ORC) shoplifting that just occurred in Cloverdale, CA. The UPD was provided a license plate number for a white Mazda SUV that was used as the getaway vehicle. The SUV was believed to possibly be enroute to the Ukiah area to target more drugstores and steal merchandise. UPD Officers were also made aware that the suspected shoplifter was possibly Dejon Wilkes from Oakland, CA. Wilkes was confirmed to have multiple felony warrants for his arrest from multiple counties.
As this information was being relayed to the UPD, a call for service was broadcasted for a shoplift that just occurred at Walgreens (308 East Perkins Street). UPD officers immediately responded to the area, but learned the suspect fled the scene before their arrival in a white Mazda SUV. UPD officers utilized the FLOCK camera system and observed that the suspect vehicle had already left the city and confirmed that the vehicle was the same one associated with the Cloverdale theft.
The UPD then notified multiple surrounding law enforcement agencies and provided them with the vehicle’s identifying information and Wilkes’ information. Later in the day, an MCSO Deputy located the suspect vehicle in the area of Willits and attempted to conduct a traffic enforcement stop. The vehicle fled the scene, and a vehicle pursuit was initiated. The suspect vehicle ultimately began driving south on Hwy 101 with California Highway Patrol, Willits Police Department and MCSO Deputies in pursuit. The suspect vehicle was eventually stopped after the use of “spike strips” successfully deflated the vehicle’s tires…