MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES–According to the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office: It all started Wednesday afternoon around 1:45 pm in the Buck Meadows area of Mariposa County on Hwy 120. Anthony Mehlhaff 40 years old from Los Angeles, CA walked up to a pregnant waitress in a local restaurant. He reached out and touched her stomach and reportedly said “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 Terror Continued
Mehlhaff then stole several drinks, assaulted another employee of the restaurant, and sped off in his vehicle. He was heading toward Yosemite National Park at this point. At 3 pm multiple calls began coming in to the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office Emergency 911 center. Reports of a possible car chase, kidnapping, assault, stolen vehicles, and other suspicious circumstances all occurring near Fish Camp.
Anthony Mehlhaff picture courtesy of the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office.
Yosemite National Park rangers attempted to stop Mehlhaff on Hwy 41 inside the Yosemite National Park boundaries. Mehlhaff continued to the Fish Camp area where he crashed his vehicle and stole a bicycle, but not before he reportedly took off his shirt handed it to a bystander, and said
you’ll want to keep this, I’m going to be famous”.
The Trek Moves to Tenaya Lodge
Mehlhaff then entered the Tenaya Lodge kitchen through a back door, placed his hat and other items inside a refrigerator, grabbed a knife from the kitchen and began threatening workers. Mehlhaff made his way out of the lodge kitchen and walked to a creek area near the Tenya Lodge Clubhouse, where he removed his pants, wallet and car keys. He then entered the Clubhouse in only his underwear, told the customers to leave or they would be in danger.
Mehlhaff then began vandalizing the Clubhouse. He then took the store managers car keys and attempted to kidnap the store manager while assaulting him. He was also attempting to force him to drive Mehlhaff out of the area. The store manager was able to get out of Mehlhaff’s grasp.
Road Rage Ensues
Mehlhaff stole the store manager’s vehicle and continued driving on Hwy 41 towards Oakhurst. While driving on Hwy 41 Mehlhaff encountered a Tesla and began extreme road rage behavior, tailgating the Tesla while making aggressive hand gestures. Mehlhaff eventually began ramming the Tesla. Mariposa County Sheriff’s deputies in the area located both vehicles and attempted to stop Mehlhaff.
Mehlhaff eventually crashed the stolen vehicle on Hwy 41 just outside of the town of Oakhurst. Mehlhaff was taken into custody. While being medically cleared at a local hospital, Mehlhaff began assaulting Mariposa County Sheriff’s Deputies. He was eventually booked in to the Mariposa County Jail and is being held on $100,000 bail.
While searching Mehlhaff’s vehicle registered to him, an Enola Gay smoke grenade was located inside the door panel. The Merced Bomb Squad was called in to handle the device.
A Collaborative Effort
The Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Yosemite National Park Service, Oakhurst California Highway Patrol, the Merced Bomb Squad and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with this case.
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.”- Sheriff Jeremy Briese.
Sheriff Briese continued, “This is just a glimpse of what we encounter at any given time. I am proud of the work done by our staff and partnerships built that give us the ability to apprehend criminals who continue to harm our communities.”
