Authorities in Mendocino County have identified the man who died last month after an encounter with law enforcement as Nicholas Bakewell, 36, from Willits.
This tragic event unfolded on June 5 when deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office used pepper spray and a Taser stun gun during a confrontation with Bakewell.
The Sheriff’s Office made the announcement regarding Bakewell’s identity on Tuesday, also releasing body camera footage, the emergency dispatch call, and identifying the deputy and sergeant involved in the incident.
According to sheriff’s officials, the situation began when Bakewell allegedly attacked a driver who had picked him up while hitchhiking.
The driver sustained injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment, but details regarding his condition have not been disclosed.
Deputy Jesus Lopez was dispatched to the 2000 block of Hearst Willits Road to investigate the alleged assault around 7 p.m. When Lopez arrived, he found Bakewell walking in the middle of the road.
As shown in the bodycam footage, an agitated Bakewell approached Lopez, raising his fists as if to fight while shouting obscenities at the deputy.
Lopez attempted to de-escalate the situation but was met with defiance from Bakewell, who rejected orders to get on the ground and instead fled on foot.
Lopez warned Bakewell that he would use a Taser if he did not stop.
Bakewell eventually halted and crouched down when sheriff’s Sgt. Sam Logan arrived at the scene. Logan approached Bakewell calmly, asking him “What’s going on” and reassuring him that “You’re safe, man.”
Suddenly, Bakewell ran again toward Logan and appeared to be pepper sprayed by Lopez.
He subsequently fell into roadside brush and crawled back towards the road on his stomach.
As Lopez attempted to place Bakewell in handcuffs, he resisted and seemed to throw a punch at the deputy, prompting Logan to deploy his Taser.
Despite the officers’ efforts, Bakewell continued to evade their commands.
Willits Police Department officers soon arrived to help subdue him and successfully put him in handcuffs.
Shortly after being restrained, Bakewell became unresponsive.
One officer could be heard stating, “I got no pulse” as they attempted to revive him with the opioid overdose medication Narcan.
Law enforcement personnel and EMTs performed CPR but ultimately pronounced Bakewell dead at the scene at 7:42 p.m.
The Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office is currently investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
Additionally, Deputies Logan and Lopez underwent an internal use of force review by the Sheriff’s Office and have been cleared to return to work after spending about three weeks on paid administrative leave.
The official cause of Bakewell’s death remains undetermined, with a toxicology report anticipated to be available in the weeks to come.
image source from：patch
