Press Release

UPD Case # 20-0745

On 4/10/2020 at approx. 1148 hours, A Ukiah Police Officer was travelling northbound in the 600 block of S. State Street when he observed two vehicles travelling southbound side by side at an extremely high rate of speed. As the vehicles approached the Officer, their speed was estimated to be approx. 90 MPH as they approached the intersection of S. State Street and Gobbi Street.

The UPD Officer immediately activated his overhead lights and siren to initiate a traffic stop on the two vehicles. The Officer was able to make a traffic stop on one of the vehicles in the 800 block of S. State Street. The vehicle was a white in color 2009 Subaru Impreza and the driver of the vehicle, 27 year old Keoni Andrade of Ukiah, was taken into custody for violation of 23019(a) VC (Illegal street racing). Andrade admitted to the Officer that he was in fact racing the other vehicle and that he was unsure of his speed but knew it to be in excess of 80 MPH.

The second vehicle, a 2014 Ford Focus hatchback, briefly stopped for the UPD Officer in the 700 block of S. State Street prior to the Officer making contact with Andrade and his vehicle. As the Officer was directing other UPD units to where the Ford Focus had pulled over, the Ford Focus pulled around the corner and into a nearby parking lot while the Officer attempted to contact Andrade.

Additional UPD Officers arrived on scene and were directed to where the second vehicle was last seen. UPD Officers located the vehicle in an alleyway in the 700 block of S. State Street unoccupied. UPD Officers searched the area for the driver of the vehicle unsuccessfully.

Approx. 45 minutes after the original violation, Ukiah CHP contacted the UPD and advised that the registered owner of the second vehicle had contacted them and was en route to their office to report his vehicle stolen. UPD Officers made contact with the registered owner at the Ukiah CHP Office and identified him as 30 year old Robert Mounts of Redwood Valley. Mounts was questioned and ultimately admitted to being the driver of the vehicle at the time of the incident. Mounts admitted to racing the other vehicle in excess of 80 MPH. Mounts was subsequently arrested for violation of 23109(a) VC (Illegal street racing) and 148(a)(1) PC (Resist or delay a Peace Officer).  UPD is currently reviewing possible additional charges of violating the current order of Shelter in Place by the Mendocino County Health Officer.  

Both Mounts and Andrade were transported to the Ukiah Police Department where they were booked and released for their respective charges.

The Ukiah Police Department would like to remind the great citizens of Ukiah that during the current COVID-19 pandemic we are still out in the city enforcing the law and keeping the public safe. We continue to ask residents to adhere to the current order from the county Health Officer regarding sheltering in place and ensuring any activities are of the essential nature.

As always our mission at the Ukiah Police Department is to make Ukiah as safe as possible. Additionally, the Ukiah Police Department would like to thank the California Highway Patrol for their assistance with this incident.