Swift action by local law enforcement and community members result in apprehension of felon amidst dangerous road rage incident.
Willits, CA – Local law enforcement agencies and community members collaborated on June 30th, 2023, to apprehend Shannon Henson, 27, a Willits resident, following a dangerous road rage incident. The episode involved the brandishing of a firearm, a high-speed chase, and ended with the suspect’s arrest.
As detailed in the press release by Sgt. J. Walstrom of the Willits Police Department (WPD), the alarming incident commenced around 5:56 PM. Henson allegedly brandished a firearm and pursued a vehicle, leading to the initiation of a vehicular pursuit by a WPD officer. Due to the severity of the allegations and Henson’s dangerously high speed, the chase was soon terminated for safety reasons.
In the aftermath of the pursuit, the victims, who were known to Henson, came forward. They disclosed to officers that Henson had stalked them and attempted to force their vehicle off the road. The vehicle contained multiple minor children, thus escalating the gravity of the alleged crimes.
Armed with this information, law enforcement established enough evidence to secure an arrest warrant for Henson for multiple violent felony charges. Officers subsequently found Henson’s vehicle hidden behind a residence on the 1900 block of East Hill Road.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) then deployed their K9 unit, Sam, which tracked Henson through a wooded area behind the residence. After more than an hour of tracking through the woods, Henson was located and taken into custody without incident.
Further investigations revealed that Henson, a convicted felon currently on probation, had discarded a loaded .380 caliber handgun at the start of the pursuit. This weapon was later recovered thanks to the vigilance of a local citizen who reported the find to the authorities.
Henson was booked into the Mendocino County Correctional Facility on a litany of charges, including possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon, stalking, felony domestic violence, child endangerment, assault, and several others related to the dangerous vehicle pursuit.
The Willits Police Department lauded the assistance provided by the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies and the invaluable support from community members. Their combined efforts led to the arrest of a dangerous individual, showcasing the impact of communal vigilance and interagency collaboration in ensuring public safety.
(Please note: All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.)
Press Release
