Mendocino Sheriff’s Office Press Release:

On 10/26/2013 around 11:00 PM Mendocino County Deputies responded to an agency assistance call from Law Enforcement Officers (LEO’s) of the United States Forest Service (USFS).  LEO’s reported they had attempted to stop two vehicles leaving the Mendocino National Forest, the occupants of which were suspected to be involved in the cultivation of marijuana on forest lands.  As the LEO’s initiated two separate traffic stops, one driver and one passenger from each vehicle, jumped out of the vehicles as they were still moving.  Both vehicles crashed with the suspects fleeing from officers into the woods.  The four suspects were described as being Hispanic males.  Officers searched the area but the suspects were not located.  In one of the crashed vehicles LEO’s located in excess of 40 pounds of processed marijuana.

On 10/31/2013 around 9:55 AM a family member of Artemio Garcia Chavez, a 24 year old male, from Eureka CA contacted the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office to report he’d been in one of the involved vehicles related to this incident and had fled from LEO’s. His family has not heard from him since 10/26/2013.  One of the other involved suspects later told family members that Artemio called him approximately 3 hours after they fled to say he was “up on the hill and had sprained his ankle” but it was unknown exactly where he was when he called. According to the family member the three other suspects were accounted for but were not interested in coming forward to assist law enforcement with information related to this missing person’s case.

Mendocino County Deputies, family members, other residents of this area, USFS Fire crews, USFS LEO’s and Mendocino County Search and Rescue Volunteers responded to the area where Artemio fled from the vehicle and conducted a search of the surrounding area but Artemio was not located.  His whereabouts are unknown at this time.  Artemio is 24 years old, is 5‘07” tall, weighing 190 pounds, with black short shaven hair, and brown eyes.  He was last seen wearing blue jeans, tennis shoes, and a gray hooded sweatshirt.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office is requesting anyone who has information related to this missing person’s case contact the Mendocino County Tip Line at (707)234-2100.