“We appreciate that California State Parks rangers respond to assist their fellow law enforcement officers from other agencies when danger is present and officers must travel great distances to respond to calls. We thank them for their service in responding to calls for help whether it is on State Parks property or not.”
CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
COVELO – On July 22, 2024, at approximately 3:11 p.m., Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies were dispatched to a property in the 24000 block of Shady Lane in Covelo for a report of an in-progress burglary. It was reported that residents interrupted multiple subjects stealing marijuana, who subsequently fled the location in a red pickup and a U-Haul box truck.
Law enforcement officers from numerous agencies throughout Mendocino County responded to the call, including MCSO, California Highway Patrol, CalFire Prevention Officers, California State Parks, and Round Valley Tribal Police Department.
A short time later, a caller provided updated information that a U-Haul box truck had returned to the property on Shady Lane and the residents, ranging in age from 16 to 44, confronted two of the suspects in their driveway. Sheriff’s Office dispatchers then heard what they believed to be firearms being discharged and the resident reported there was an exchange of gunfire between the residents and the suspects. The residents physically subdued two of the suspects until law enforcement arrived, while several other suspects fled the area.
Law enforcement officers arrived and detained Gary Casdell Fite, 34, of San Francisco and Marcel Jamarie Earl Patterson, 28, of Richmond. Fite and Patterson both had significant injuries to their faces, heads, and extremities which were reportedly caused by the residents prior to law enforcement arrival at the scene.
MCSO detectives were summoned to the scene to assist with the investigation. Fite and Patterson were transported to Howard Memorial Hospital to be treated for injuries sustained during the incident. Fite was arrested for violations of 213 PC (robbery), 29800 PC (prohibited person in possession of a firearm), and 12022.53 PC (armed with a firearm during the commission of a felony). Fite was booked into the Mendocino County Jail in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Patterson was unable to be incarcerated due to the significance of his injuries and was subsequently airlifted to an out-of-county hospital for further medical treatment. Charges against Patterson are pending while he is hospitalized for his injuries.
It does not appear that the suspects or victims were shot during the exchange of gunfire while law enforcement officers were responding.
