Yosemite chaos: Suspect terrorizes park, steals car after bizarre incidents

OAKHURST, Calif (FOX26) — 40-year-old Anthony Mehlhaff was arrested following a chaseand several bizarre incidents in Yosemite National Park on Wednesday.

It began around 1:45 p.m. in the Buck Meadows area of Mariposa County on Highway 120.

Investigators say Mehlhaff walked up to a pregnant waitress at a restaurant, 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?"

They say he then stole several drinks, assaulted another employee of the restaurant, and took off in his vehicle.

Multiple 911 calls came in at 3 p.m. reporting a possible car chase, kidnapping, assault, stolen vehicles, and other suspicious circumstances in the Fish Camp area.

Yosemite National Park rangers located the suspect's vehicle and tried to pull it over on Hwy 41 inside Yosemite National Park but he continued to the Fish Camp area where he crashed.

He abandoned the car and stole a bicycle.

Investigators say he reportedly took off his shirt and handed it to a bystander, telling them, “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, and grabbed a knife from the kitchen. and threatened the workers.

He left the restaurant and headed toward the Tenya Lodge Clubhouse where he removed his pants, wallet, and car keys.

Wearing only his underwear, he entered the Clubhouse and told the customers to leave or they would be in danger.

He started vandalizing the Clubhouse and then took the store manager's car keys and reportedly tried to kidnap him.

Investigators say he assaulted the manager and told him to drive him out of the area but the manager was able to get away.

Mehlhaff stole the manager’s vehicle and continued driving on Hwy 41 towards Oakhurst.

While driving, he began exhibiting extreme road rage behavior, tailgating a Tesla while making aggressive hand gestures, and even started ramming the Tesla.

Mariposa County sheriff’s deputies spotted the vehicles and tried to stop Mehlhaff.

Mehlhaff continued to drive and eventually crashed just outside of Oakhurst where he was taken into custody.

He was taken to a local hospital to be medically cleared and began assaulting deputies.

He was finally booked into the Mariposa County Jail and is being held on $100,000 bail.

While searching Mehlhaff’s abandoned vehicle, 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 Jeremy Briese said, “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.”