PRESS RELEASE

On September 22nd at about 6:40 AM Ukiah Police responded to the Softball Fields at 100 City Well Road for an alarm activation to the "snack shack" and storage building. Responding officers contacted 37 year old Paul Edward McManus in the parking lot, collecting cans from the garbage. McManus told officers he’d just seen a couple leave the area in a vehicle, but denied knowing anything about the alarm activation. Officers then noticed 47 year old Donald Ray Duke also on the grounds, and contacted him. Duke also claimed to have seen a couple just leave the area but denied knowledge of the alarm, and claimed to also be retrieving recyclables.

Officers located a pair of bolt cutters near the building, and found the padlock had been removed from the door. It was determined McManus and Duke had smoked methamphetamine together earlier in the morning, and that after arriving at the location Duke used the bolt cutters to attempt entry into the building. McManus and Duke were arrested for criminal conspiracy and attempted burglary.

Dukes’ vehicle was searched, and officers located numerous tools inside, including; a chainsaw, a pressure washer, and drills. Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies were investigating a burglary reported in the Plant Road area, and responded and confirmed some of the items in the vehicle were stolen in that burglary. It was determined the pressure washer and some other items were stolen from the Redwood Health Club.

McManus and Duke were booked into the Mendocino County Jail for attempted burglary, criminal conspiracy, possessing stolen property, and McManus was charged with possessing drug paraphernalia.

Prepared by Captain Justin Wyatt