ripoffgoesbad

The MENDOCINO COUNTRY Independent
Posted 2/19/10

A RIPOFF GOES BAD

Ukiah PD press release
    On February 11 at about 7:15pm Ukiah Police officers responded to room at the Best America Value Inn, 1080 South State Street, regarding a reported disturbance Of officers contacted four males and one female inside the room who acknowledged that none had rented the room. The subjects claimed that they had been invited to the room to "party."
    All were identified and all but one left the room. This male conveyed to the officers that he was fearful of being seriously hurt if left the room and explained that he and two friends had previously setup a marijuana rlpoff , after having agreed to purchase 20 pounds of marijuana from the female subject. The ripoff had gone bad and he had been been injured and forced to stay in the room by the remaining subjects who wanted the stolen marijuana returned.
    The 26 year old male victim explained he and his two male companions met the female in the motel room earlier in the evening, and the female brought 20 pounds of marijuana to sell to the subjects. The victim's two male companions were able to obtain the marijuana from the females without paying and fled the area, leaving the victim in the room with the female. Upon learning the marijuana had been stolen, the female punched the victim and demanded he get her marijuana back, and made a telephone call asking additional people come to the room. Three male subjects soon arrived and prevented the victim leaving the room, threatening to kill the victim if he did not facilitate the return of the stolen marijuana.
    The subjects took money and an ID card from the victim, and burned his hand with a hot iron causing second and third degree burns. The victim telephoned his companions and informed them he was being held hostage asking they return the marijuana immediately. The police soon arrived at the room due to the disturbance being caused.

JOSEPH ALVIN HARRIS

Ukiah police detectives were summoned to the scene and proceeded to take statements and collect evidence. One of the subjects who responded to the scene at the request of the female suspect was identified as Joseph Alvin Harris, 33 years old of Ukiah. It was discovered Harris was at an area bar working as a bouncer, and about 11:40pm Ukiah police officers located Harris and brought him to the Ukiah police department. Harris was arrested for his involvement in the incident at the motel room wherein the victim was held hostage, threatened, burned and had his belongings removed from his person. Harris was booked into the county jail for robbery, mayhem, torture, unlawful imprisonment, criminal threats and criminal conspiracy. The remaining subjects have been identified and additional arrests are anticipated regarding this case.
    On February 15, at about 3:50pm, Ukiah police officers responded to the 500 block of Talmage Road regarding a firearm being brandished in a threatening manner. Officers learned the 20 year-old male victim reported that while walking a crosswalk on Talmage Road a male subject driving in a nearby vehicle pointed a handgun at the victim. The victim initially denied knowing the suspect but after further conversation with police officers admitted knowing the suspect and identified the 23-year old male suspect who resides in Lake County. The male suspect in this brandishing case has been identified as one of the companions of the male victim in the earlier marijuana rip off which resulted in the victim being left behind and ultimately burned.
    A Lake County sheriff's detective ultimately contacted the brandishing suspect and recovered a pistol from him. On February 17, the brandishing suspect was interviewed by Ukiah police detectives and denied pointing a firearm at the victim, but did however state the two had a recent run-in because the victim in the brandishing case believed the suspect was responsible for stealing marijuana from the brandishing victim's girlfriend. Brandishing charges have been sought against the suspect with the District Attorney's office.
    The case involving the hostage victim remains under investigation and anybody with relevant information is asked to call the Ukiah police department at 463-6262.