MCSO Identifies Ukiah Resident that Died in Custody

UPDATED PRESS RELEASE 03-04-2025 AT 4:45 P.M.:

As a part of this continuing investigation, the decedent from this incident was identified as Emil Redzic, a 29-year-old male from Ukiah, CA. The name of the decedent is being released after the legal next-of-kin and family of Redzic were notified of his death. 

An autopsy was performed by a Forensic Pathologist on Monday 03-03-2025, but the official cause and manner of death will not be available until all forensic examination reports and tests have been completed. Additional information related to this investigation will be released as it becomes available. 

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office by calling the Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086 (option 1). Information can also be provided anonymously by calling the non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100. 

ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE:

On 02-26-2025 at approximately 7:40 P.M., Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to an apartment complex in the 300 block of Brush Street in Ukiah, CA for a reported 9-1-1 hang-up. 

Sheriff’s Office Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call in the area of Brush Street in Ukiah, and nothing was heard on the line. Using GPS technology, the call was traced to the area of an apartment complex in the 300 block of Brush Street in Ukiah. Deputies responded to check for any signs of a disturbance or for anyone needing law enforcement assistance. While checking the area of the 9-1-1 call, Deputies encountered a subject who immediately fled the area upon observing law enforcement personnel. Deputies recognized the male subject from prior law enforcement contacts and had knowledge he was on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS). Deputies pursued the adult male subject on foot but lost visual of the subject once he ran south of the complex and fled towards the apartments on North Orchard Avenue. The area was extensively checked for the subject with negative results. 

Deputies continued to investigate the 9-1-1 call and reviewed video surveillance footage from the incident where the adult male subject fled from law enforcement. Upon reviewing the video surveillance footage, the male subject was positively identified as a 29-year-old male from Ukiah who was confirmed to be on active Post Release Community Supervision in Mendocino County. Deputies determined the male subject arrived at the apartment complex in a pickup that was reported as stolen to law enforcement in Contra Costa County. The stolen pickup was recovered and towed as a part of this continuing investigation. 

After investigating the incident and reviewing all applicable footage, an order to arrest the adult male subject was issued to neighboring law enforcement agencies to include the charges of 496d(a) PC (Possession of a Stolen Vehicle), 148(a)(1) PC (Resist, Delay, or Obstruct a Peace Officer), and 3455 PC (Violation of Post Release Community Supervision). 

On 02-26-2025 at approximately 10:15 P.M., Deputies responded to the area of the Orr Creek Bridge near Brush Street due to the Ukiah Police Department receiving reports of a male subject yelling in the creek area. This area is south of the apartment complex on Brush Street from the prior incident and in close proximity to the area where the male subject fled from Deputies earlier in the night. 

Deputies, Ukiah Police Department Officers, and California Highway Patrol Officers all responded to the incident at Orr Creek to investigate and requested medical personnel to respond and stage in the area due to the nature of the call. Upon arrival, law enforcement located the 29-year-old male subject from the earlier 9-1-1 call and gave orders and commands for the subject to exit the creek. The male subject did not comply with the orders from Deputies, as a result law enforcement personnel entered the creek to arrest the subject and escort him out of the water and creek bed. The male subject was handcuffed and was exhibiting symptoms of an altered level of consciousness while being arrested. 

Law enforcement personnel physically carried the male subject from the creek to the nearby bank and determined the subject was experiencing a medical emergency and became unconscious. Due to the medical emergency, the handcuffs were removed from the subject and numerous doses of Narcan were administered on the subject, who displayed a positive reaction to the treatment. Medical personnel were requested to the scene as the male subject continued to experience a medical emergency, so law enforcement continued life-saving measures on the male subject. Medical personnel arrived and continued emergency life-saving efforts on the male subject, who was immediately transported by ambulance to the Adventist Health Ukiah Valley Emergency Room. 

At the emergency room, life-saving efforts continued for approximately 30 minutes until the 29-year-old male subject was pronounced deceased by medical professionals at 11:04 P.M. on 02-26-2025. Due to the circumstances of this incident, Detectives from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office responded to take over the investigation and conduct the coroner’s investigation. The Sheriff’s Office contacted Investigators from the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office and administrators from other law enforcement agencies involved in this incident. The Mendocino County Officer-Involved Fatal Incident Protocol was initiated due to the decedent being in law enforcement custody at the time of death. 

At this time, the official cause and manner of death is pending further investigation and a post-mortem examination (autopsy) has been scheduled for Monday 03-03-2025. This investigation will continue while awaiting the autopsy report and the results of other forensic examinations and tests. A Forensic Pathologist will determine the official cause and manner of death once the investigation has been completed. 

The name of the decedent is being withheld at this time to properly identify and notify the legal next-of-kin for the 29-year-old male. Additional information will be released as it becomes available during this continuing investigation. 

Anyone with information regarding this incident and investigation is requested to contact the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office who is the primary investigating agency for this case. Information can be provided by calling the Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center at 707-463-4086 (option 1) and can also be provided anonymously by calling the non-emergency tip-line at 707-234-2100.