The frontman for a Los Angeles-based hardcore band has been charged after allegedly embarking upon a bizarre crime spree in Yosemite.
According to Mariposa County Sheriff’s records reviewed by Law and Crime, 40-year-old Anthony Mehlhaff stands accused of a number of crimes including kidnapping, reckless driving on a highway, vehicle theft, burglary, robbery, theft, battery, resisting arrest, and vandalism. The Sheriff's office laid out the strange crime spree in a recent press release.
Mehlhaff, the frontman of the thrash/punk band Cancer Christ, allegedly began his reign of terror on August 21 at a small cafe on California State Route 120. There, he reportedly put his hand to the stomach of a pregnant employee and breathlessly told her, “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.”
At around 1:45 p.m., Mehlhaff then left the restaurant, but not before allegedly assaulting another staff member and stealing “several drinks.” By 3:30 p.m., Mehlhaff had made his way to the small community of Fish Camp, which serves as Yosemite National Park’s southern entrance. There he allegedly crashed his car and stole a bicycle.
“You’ll want to keep this, I’m going to be famous,” Mehlhaff reportedly told a witness after handing them his T-shirt.
Reports say Mehlhaff next made his way into the kitchen of Fish Camp’s Tenaya Lodge, where he put some of his clothing items in the freezer and stole a knife, which he used to menace employees.
Authorities say Mehlhaff continued to disrobe until he was clad only in his boxer briefs and entered the hotel’s clubhouse, which sells snacks and sundry items. The singer reportedly told everyone to leave for their own safety before he began vandalizing the store. He allegedly then tried to kidnap the store’s manager, but they were able to fight Mehlhaff off before he stole the manager’s car keys and drove away in his Kia Optima.
Moments later, authorities report that Mehlhaff “encountered a Tesla and began extreme road rage behavior,” including making “aggressive hand gestures” and repeatedly running his car into that of the other driver. Authorities located the Kia as it was threatening the Tesla, and “a short chase ensued.”
Mehlhaff crashed a short time later, though it’s unclear at this time if he crashed the car by accident or if it was due to law enforcement’s intervention. He was arrested and taken for a medical evaluation at a local hospital, where he reportedly assaulted sheriff’s deputies before being taken to jail.
“This man drove all around our county terrorizing our visitors and community members,” Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese said in a statement. “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.”
Mehlhaff is being held at the Mariposa County Jail on a $100,000 bond.
