UPD: `Suspicious' man in creek arrested near Oak Manor Elementary

A Ukiah man was arrested Wednesday after someone reported a suspicious man in the creek behind Oak Manor Elementary School, the Ukiah Police Department reported.

According to the UPD, a School Resource Officer responded to the school in the 400 block of Oak Manor Drive around 8 a.m. after a report of a “suspicious man in the creek that borders the back side of Oak Manor Elementary (who) was yelling and making threatening statements.”

When the SRO responded to the area, he reportedly saw the man, identified by the UPD as Neil Waldron, 54, of Ukiah, “holding a large metal chain in his hands (before he) began screaming threats at the SRO Officer and refused basic commands to stop what he was doing.”

Instead of dropping the chain and walking out of the creek toward the officer, the suspect reportedly “refused and instead crossed through the creek to the other side and began running westbound through the creek” away from the officer.

After chasing Waldron, the officer “caught up with him on the creek bank just east of the Highway 101 walking bridge,” where the suspect reportedly “began fighting with the officer, pushing and punching (with him) as the fight continued into the water of the creek.”

The UPD notes that “the SRO deployed his department issued TASER, but it was ineffective (and) the struggle continued until multiple UPD officers arrived on scene and were able to subdue Waldron in handcuffs without further incident.”

A search of Waldron reportedly revealed suspected methamphetamine, and he was later booked into Mendocino County Jail on suspicion of resisting arrest, violating his parole and of possessing a controlled substance.

The SRO reportedly suffered a hand injury and “required immediate medical attention at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley Emergency Room,” and Waldron was also taken to the same ER for treatment prior to incarceration.