Covelo man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder

A 64-year-old Covelo man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon against a peace officer and felony evading a peace officer, after eluding authorities over the weekend in a pursuit.

The Sheriff’s Office received a call from Adventist Health Howard Memorial Hospital Willits at 4:45 p.m. Sunday about a 54-year-old man from New Hampshire who had been admitted with a gunshot wound, authorities said in a statement. Deputies spoke with the victim before he was transported to a hospital outside the county for further treatment. The man is expected to survive.

Deputies identified the victim’s brother, Randolph Paul Bisson, as the suspect, said Capt. Greg Van Patten. Deputies searched the area where the shooting occurred in Covelo, but didn’t find Bisson.

Sometime later, Bisson was seen driving a car nearby. Deputies attempted to pull him over, but Bisson didn’t stop. He struck two patrol cars, which authorities said was intentional. He appeared to attempt to ram a third deputy’s patrol car, causing the deputy to drive out of the way to prevent a collision. Bisson lost control of his car and ran away. Officials searched the area, but were unable to find him.

On Tuesday, authorities received information that Bisson was staying at Pine Beach Inn in the Fort Bragg area, Van Patten said. Officials stopped him while he was driving nearby and took him into custody.

Van Patten said officials will conduct an investigation into how Bisson was able to secure a room at the inn during Mendocino County’s shelter-in-place order.