The lead singer of the hardcore punk band Cancer Christ was arrested after embarking on a what the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office characterize as a “Terrorizing Trek” through Yosemite National Park.
It all began last Wednesday afternoon when 40-year-old Anthony Mehlhaff threatened a pregnant waitress at a restaurant in the Buck Meadows area of Mariposa County before stealing several drinks, assaulting another employee and speeding off in his vehicle towards Yosemite.
Yosemite National Park rangers were alerted and attempted to stop Mehlhaff on Hwy 41 inside park boundaries. Mehlhaff crashed his vehicle, removed his shirt and handed it to a bystander and said “you’ll want to keep this, I’m going to be famous.” He then stole a bicycle and rode to the Tenya Lodge Clubhouse where he stripped down to his underwear, entered through the back door of the kitchen, grabbed a knife and began threatening the staff.
Mehlhaff then stole the car keys from the Tenya Lodge Clubhouse store manager and attempted the kidnap the manager but was unsuccessful. Mehlfaff then drove the manager’s stolen vehicle erratically until he crashed on Hwy 41 outside of the town of Oakhurst and was taken into custody.
Mehlfaff was eventually booked in to the Mariposa County Jail and is being held on $100,000 bail. The entirety of the Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office statement on the incident can be read below:
Mariposa County Sheriff’s Office Statement:
MAN ARRESTED AFTER TERRORIZING TREK AROUND MARIPOSA & MADERA COUNTY
It all started Wednesday afternoon around 1:45pm in the Buck Meadows area of Mariposa County on Hwy 120. Anthony Mehlhaff 40-years-old 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.”
Mehlhaff then stole several drinks, assaulted another employee of the restaurant and sped off in his vehicle towards Yosemite National Park. At 3pm 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 Mehlhaff on Hwy 41 inside the Yosemite National Park boundaries. Mehlhaff 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.”
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.
Mehlhaff 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. 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 Mehlhaff out of the area. The store manager was able to get out of Mehlhaff’s grasp.
Mehlhaff stole the store manager’s vehicle and continued driving on Hwy 41 towards Oakhurst. While driving on Hwy 41 Mehlhaff encountered a Tesla and began extreme road rage behavior, tailgating the Tesla while making aggressive hand gestures. Mehlhaff eventually began ramming the Tesla. Mariposa County Sheriff’s Deputies in the area located both vehicles and attempted to stop Mehlhaff.
Mehlhaff eventually crashed the stolen vehicle on Hwy 41 just outside of the town of Oakhurst. Mehlhaff was taken into custody. While being medically cleared at a local hospital, Mehlhaff 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 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.” – Sheriff Jeremy Briese
