August 23, 2024 - Mariposa County Sheriff's Office officials report it all started Wednesday afternoon around 1:45 P.M. in the Buck Meadows area of Mariposa County on Hwy. 120. Anthony Mehlhaff, 40, from Los Angeles, CA. walked up to a pregnant waitress in a local restaurant. He reached out and touched her stomach and reportedly said "the spirits led me to you and your baby belongs to me, and what time is your break because I will be waiting for you."

Mr. Mehlhaff then stole several drinks, assaulted another employee of the restaurant and sped off in his vehicle towards Yosemite National Park. At 3:00 P.M. multiple calls began coming in to the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office Emergency 911 center. Reports of a possible car chase, kidnapping, assault, stolen vehicles, and other suspicious circumstances all occurring near Fish Camp.

Yosemite National Park rangers attempted to stop Anthony Mehlhaff on Hwy. 41 inside the Yosemite National Park boundaries. He continued to the Fish Camp area where he crashed his vehicle and stole a bicycle, but not before he reportedly took off his shirt handed it to a bystander and said “you'll want to keep this, I'm going to be famous."

Mr. Mehlhaff then entered the Tenaya Lodge kitchen through a back door, placed his hat and other items inside a refrigerator, grabbed a knife from the kitchen and began threatening workers.

He then made his way out of the lodge kitchen and walked to a creek area near the Tenya Lodge Clubhouse, where he removed his pants, wallet and car keys. He then entered the Clubhouse in only his underwear, told the customers to leave or they would be in danger. Mr. Mehlhaff then began vandalizing the Clubhouse. He then took the store managers car keys and attempted to kidnap the store manager while assaulting him and attempting to force him to drive him out of the area. The store manager was able to get out of his grasp.

Anthony Mehlhaff stole the store manager’s vehicle and continued driving on Hwy. 41 towards Oakhurst. While driving on Hwy. 41 he encountered a Tesla and began extreme road rage behavior, tailgating the Tesla while making aggressive hand gestures. Mr. Mehlhaff eventually began ramming the Tesla. Mariposa County Sheriff’s Deputies in the area located both vehicles and attempted to stop him.

Mr. Mehlhaff eventually crashed the stolen vehicle on Hwy. 41 just outside of the town of Oakhurst. He was then taken into custody. While being medically cleared at a local hospital, he began assaulting Mariposa County Sheriff’s Deputies. He was eventually booked in to the Mariposa County Jail and is being held on $100,000 bail.

While searching Mr. Mehlhaff’s vehicle registered to him, an Enola Gay smoke grenade was located inside the door panel. The Merced Bomb Squad was called in to handle the device.

The Mariposa County Sheriff's Office would like to thank Yosemite National Park Service, Oakhurst California Highway Patrol, the Merced Bomb Squad and the Madera County Sheriff’s Office for their assistance with this case.

“This man drove all around our county terrorizing our visitors and community members. I am extremely happy that no one was seriously injured, this man’s behavior was erratic and dangerous. This is just a glimpse of what we encounter at any given time. I am proud of the work done by our staff and partnerships built that give us the ability to apprehend criminals who continue to harm our communities," said Sheriff Jeremy Briese.

***Just a Friendly Reminder*** the Sheriff's office does not determine bail amounts. They are set by the Judicial Council of California.


Source: Mariposa County Sheriff's Office