Sheriff: Mendocino burglary suspect arrested on third escape attempt

Deputies booked a Laytonville-area transient into the Mendocino County Jail, in lieu of $290,000 bail, after several attempts to evade the law for suspected burglary.|
RANDI ROSSMANN
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Laytonville-area transient Richard Sullivan remained in custody Monday on suspicion of burglary, evading Mendocino County sheriff’s deputies and reckless driving.

Bail for Sullivan, 42, was $290,000.

Deputies suspect Sullivan, and possibly another person, were squatting in a Laytonville home for an unknown period of time. Sullivan was discovered earlier this month when the property owner arrived, according to the Sheriff’s Office, and he fled.

An investigation showed someone had broken into the Fitch Road house, eating food and taking belongings, officials said.

Sullivan was identified as a suspect and deputies spotted him Wednesday morning near the Red Fox Casino on the Cahto Reservation. When stopped by deputies he drove off along Branscomb Road before crashing into a utility pole and large boulders.

Officials said Sullivan fled the crash but was arrested later that morning at a Laytonville store.

You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.

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