MCSO: Threats to women lead to arrest of Vancouver, Wash. man after pursuit

On Monday, a 58-yearold Redwood Valley woman contacted the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office to report that she had been receiving threatening messages from a family member, who was believed to be living as a transient in the Vancouver, Wash. area.

The woman indicated she and other members of her family, including a 27-yearold woman and 15-monthold child living in the Fortuna (Humboldt County) area, all had a domestic violence restraining order prohibiting the suspect, Casey Woida, 29, from having any contact with them. The woman stated the threats came via text messages and phone messages at her business, starting on June 24. The messages were repeated and included numerous death threats. Due to the suspect’s past violent outbursts, the woman expressed great concern for their safety.

On Tuesday, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Detective Unit was assigned to assist with this case. The Redwood Valley woman then related the female family member living in Humboldt County was also receiving death threats from the suspect. These threats included that he was enroute to California to follow through with the death threats toward this young woman and the 15-month-old child. Both family members indicated the suspect also threatened to harm people at their places of employment.

The investigator was then able to get an exigency track on the suspect’s phone, which showed he did appear to be travelling southbound through Oregon. A vehicle description was obtained and a warrant, requesting charges against Woida with a felony count of stalking, making terrorist threats, and violation of a domestic violence protective order was written.

The investigators were able to contact the 27-yearold woman in Humboldt County to warn her the suspect might be in her area. They also confirmed that she had also received threats from the suspect. The woman was encouraged to report these threats to the Fortuna Police Department immediately, which she did. MCSO made contact with both Fortuna Police Department and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) to make them aware of the pending warrant for Woida’s arrest and that he might be enroute to that county after making threats of violence against the woman and child.

Around 6:25 p.m., the Humboldt County woman contacted HCSO and advised the suspect had just sent her a message that he was at her place of employment looking for her. Around 6:45 p.m., she called HCSO again advising the suspect sent a message that he was at the Bayshore Mall in Eureka. Around 6:50 p.m., the warrant, authored by MCSO, was authorized by a Mendocino County Superior Court judge.

A HCSO deputy responded to the Bayshore Mall and spotted the suspect parked in the parking lot. As the deputy approached, the suspect drove his vehicle, turning south on Highway 101, failing to stop as required at the intersection. The deputy attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver fled south on Highway 101, reaching top speeds of 80 miles per hour. The suspect called 911 during the pursuit and made threats that HCSO would “have to kill him.”

The pursuit lasted approximately 15 minutes, covering approximately 20 miles, when the suspect pulled over and surrendered without further incident. He was arrested in Humboldt County for open counts of felony vehicle evasion and violating the domestic violence restraining order as well as the arrest warrant secured by MCSO. His bail on the warrant was set at $100,000.

The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and the Fortuna Police Department for their coordinated effort in making this arrest and avoiding any further violence being committed.