Seriously, this guy’s name is Bodhi Tree? Even for Humboldt, the raw irony is hard to swallow. Humboldt Co. Sheriff’s Press Release:

On 10-05-2011 at about 0120 hours, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a telephone call from Bear River Casino, Loleta about a reckless vehicle driving erratically at a high rate of speed through the casino’s parking lot. The vehicle was described as a blue colored, Lexus sedan and the Sheriff’s Office was provided the license number to that vehicle.

When the first Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle arrived in the area the deputy observed the above described vehicle on Singley Hill Road, near the casino. The deputy observed the vehicle break traction and then take off at a high rate of speed onto highway northbound towards Eureka.

The deputy then attempted to stop the vehicle by turning on his emergency overhead lights and siren. The vehicle continued northbound on highway 101 in excess of 100 MPH. The suspect vehicle was swerving between the number one and number two lanes at approximately 100 MPH. The suspect vehicle would not yield to the patrol vehicle.

The suspect vehicle took the Tompkins Hill Road exit off the freeway. The suspect vehicle went out of control and spun out on the roadway coming to a complete stop. The deputy on scene pointed his service weapon at the vehicle and gave voice commands and the passenger then exited the vehicle. The passenger was detained. As soon as the passenger exited the vehicle the suspect vehicle took off at a high rate of speed southbound on Tompkins Hill Road. The passenger was later given a ride home by law enforcement and was not arrested.

The California Highway Patrol then arrived in the area to assist in trying to stop and locate the suspect vehicle. Another Humboldt County Office Sheriff Deputy also arrived in the area to assist in locating the suspect vehicle.

A few minutes later CHP Officers spotted the suspect vehicle traveling northbound on Tompkins Hill Road. CHP attempted to stop the vehicle. The suspect vehicle drove towards the CHP Officers vehicle in an aggressive manner nearly striking their patrol vehicle. The suspect vehicle drove then back to where the first deputy had the passenger detained and came to an abrupt stop.

The suspect vehicle turned around and started driving southbound on Tompkins Hill Road. The second deputy , who arrived on scene then started to purse the suspect vehicle and had activated his emergency lights and sirens on his patrol vehicle in an effort to have the vehicle stop. The vehicle failed to yield.

CHP Officers south of Hookton Road on Tompkins Hill Road then placed spike strips on the roadway to puncture the suspect’s vehicle tires in an attempt to stop the vehicle. The suspect vehicle ran over the spike strips , which caused the tires to go flat and the vehicle came to a stop. The driver of the vehicle, Bodhi Tree was ordered to exit the vehicle at gunpoint by the officers on scene. At first Tree came out of the vehicle to comply with the officer’s orders. Tree then got back into the vehicle and slammed the door shut.

Officers saw Tree attempting to get something from inside of his vehicle, so they took cover. Tree started up his vehicle and attempted to drive away, but his vehicle was too disabled to move. Officers approached the vehicle and broke out the driver’s door window. Officers then had to physically remove Tree from the vehicle, who was refusing their verbal commands to exit the vehicle. Tree was then placed into handcuffs.

Tree was placed into the rear seat of the patrol vehicle. Tree began pushing on the inside of the rear door with his shoulders and began kicking the patrol vehicle door. Tree ripped off the rear door handle of the patrol vehicle. Officers were able to eventually secure Tree in the rear of the patrol vehicle with extra restraints.

Tree was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for Assault with a deadly weapon , Felony evading while driving a motor vehicle, Vandalism, resisting arrest, and drunk in public. Tree’s bail has been set at $50,000 dollars.

Suspect: Bodhi Tree age 26 from the Eureka area.