MARIPOSA COUNTY, Calif. – A Los Angeles man’s “terrorizing” journey through Mariposa County, Yosemite National Park, and Madera County ended with his arrest after deputies say he threatened a pregnant woman, stole a bicycle, attempted to kidnap a store manager, and crashed a stolen vehicle.
Deputies say a smoke grenade was also found inside the suspect’s vehicle, requiring a response from the Merced’s bomb squad.
According to the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, on Wednesday at around 1:45 p.m., a man was reported to have walked up to a pregnant staff member at a Mariposa County restaurant and touched her stomach telling her “The spirits led me to you and your baby belongs to me, and what time is your break because I will be waiting for you.”
The man, who was later identified as 40-year-old Anthony Mehlhaff from Los Angeles, then stole several drinks and assaulted another staff member at the restaurant before speeding away in his vehicle towards Yosemite National Park, deputies say.
At around 3 p.m., the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office was told about a possible car chase, kidnapping, assault, vehicles stolen, and other incidents in the Fish Camp area – which is just outside the south entrance to Yosemite National Park on Highway 41. Deputies say he crashed his vehicle in the Fish Camp area and stole a bicycle – but not before handing his shirt to a bystander with the words “You’ll want to keep this, I’m going to be famous.”
Rangers inside Yosemite say they attempted to stop Mehlhaff on Highway 41 within the national park but he continued to drive and eventually arrived at Tenaya Lodge – which is outside the boundaries of Yosemite National Park. Deputies with the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office say Mehlhaff entered the Tenaya Lodge kitchen, put his hat and other items inside a refrigerator, grabbed a knife from the kitchen, and threatened workers there.
Deputies say he then went out of the kitchen and walked to a creek near the Tenaya Lodge clubhouse – where he took off his pants and entered the clubhouse wearing only his underwear. He then started vandalizing the clubhouse, took the store manager’s car keys, and attempted to kidnap the store manager – but the manager was able to escape.
Deputies say Mehlhaff stole the manager’s vehicle and continued to drive along Highway 41 south toward Oakhurst. While on Highway 41, deputies say Mehlhaff started ramming another vehicle on the road, eventually crashing the stolen vehicle outside Oakhurst.
According to the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office, he was taken into custody but assaulted a deputy while he was being medically cleared at a local hospital. He was ultimately booked into the Mariposa County Jail.
Officials add that a search of Mehlhaff’s vehicle found a smoke grenade inside, requiring the Merced bomb squad.
“This man drove all around our county terrorizing our visitors and community members. I am extremely happy that no one was seriously injured, this man’s behavior was erratic and dangerous,” said Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese.