Three busted for roadside heist

Marijuana sale goes south when guns get pulled

Humboldt Sentinel staff
6/23/09

Redway

A Southern Humboldt man’s plan to sell some marijuana went horribly wrong Saturday when his prospective buyers brandished firearms and led him on a high-speed chase, catching the attention of law enforcement.

Shortly after a 12:45 p.m. report of gunshots being fired on Redwood Drive in Redway, Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were sent to help California Highway Patrol officers.

Deputies joined the CHP officers at the Mendocino and Humboldt county line, where they were talking to Robert Anthony Mendez, 23, of Redway.

Mendez said that during a marijuana sale on Oakridge Road at Redway Beach, one of his buyers pointed a handgun at his head and another holding a rifle took his wallet—and the marijuana—before leaving in a car driven by a third suspect.

As Mendez chased them in his car the driver hit her brakes near Dean Creek on Redwood Drive, causing Mendez to rear-end the car. The passenger with the handgun fired several shots at Mendez’s car.

Mendez continued to chase his assailants, who were throwing things from their car. His car broke down on Highway 101 near Dean Creek as Mendocino County deputies and the CHP had already stopped the suspects’ car and arrested them for robbery.

Mendocino County deputies busted the thieves, Nicholas Bradford Brown, 19, of Sherman Oaks; Rayshaun Antowina Brock, 28, of Inglewood and Amber Capri Wendorf, 20, of Chatsworth. All three were taken to the Mendocino County jail and will be transferred to the Humboldt County jail later.

Deputies could not find the semi-automatic rifle, but several pounds of marijuana tossed from the robbers’ car were found along the roadside. Two civilians found Mendez’s wallet in the roadway and turned it in. No injuries were reported.