Redwood City,CA : McDonald’s drive-thru hit-and-run in Ukiah; Redwood Valley man arrested on August, Thursday 31th 2017

Officers from the Ukiah Police Department responded with lights and sirens to the McDonald’s Restaurant in the 100 block of North Orchard Avenue just before 7 p.m. Thursday to investigate a report of a vehicle ramming cars in the drive-thru at the location.

While officers were enroute, a UPD dispatcher told them that the suspect had pepper-sprayed two civilians, who were attempting to detain him after the collision.

Upon arrival, officers found the suspect’s 1999 Silver Toyota Rav4 abandoned in the drive-thru, with its air bags deployed. The vehicle was resting in a planter, against a light pole.

The driver had fled, police said, and officers reported seeing him running north through the parking lot of the JC Penney store.

When officers caught up with the suspected driver, police said, he refused to cooperate and had to be physically restrained. The suspect was identified as Michael Blahut, 44, a Redwood Valley resident.

Police said that during the subsequent investigation, officers learned Blahut had been in the drive-thru, when he allegedly rear-ended a stopped 2016 Honda CRV and then drove his vehicle into a light pole. The manager of McDonald’s went outside to speak with Blahut, who was attempting to flee the scene, police said.

When the manager and a local citizen attempted to detain Blahut, Blahut pepper-sprayed both and fled, police said.

As officers were dealing with Blahut, he was found to be intoxicated, according to the report, and was placed under arrest on suspicion of misuse of pepper spray, hit-and-run, resisting arrest and driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Blahut’s vehicle was towed from the scene and he was booked into county jail.

Fortunately, no serious injuries were reported.


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McDonald’s drive-thru hit-and-run in Ukiah; Redwood Valley man arrested