Nutballs of the Week

Beating Brown Black & Blue

On May 4, 2004 at about 3pm, deputies were dispatched to the area of 4160 East Side Road in Calpella, in an area once known as Okie Flats but now known as Lakeview Terrace, regarding an assault.

Upon arrival they learned that the victim, Clifford Burris, a delivery person for United Parcel Service (UPS), was delivering a parcel at the residence when he encountered Isaias Banuelos, 26, of Ukiah. Mr. Burris attempted to explain that drivers do not accept cash for COD deliveries. According to Mr. Burris, Isaias became angry and threatened to take the box (containing a cellphone) from the delivery person. Isaias then grabbed the parcel from Mr. Burris. Mr. Burris was able to grab the parcel back, at which time Everado Banuelos, 58, of Ukiah (Isaias's father) walked up to Mr. Burris and punched him in the face. Mr. Burris then struck Everado with his electronic pad and fought his way out of the residence as the berserk Banuelos pursued him, punching and kicking the UPS man. The diminutive Mr. Burris was able to run to a nearby house and call 9-1-1 for help. While Burris was in the house calling for help, both Everado and Isaias used a baseball bat to break most of the windows on the UPS truck.

Deputies soon arrived on scene and attempted to contact both Everado and Isaias, who had returned to their residence. As deputies entered the Banuelos home, Isaias attacked them with a baseball bat, attempting to strike one deputy in the head. Deputies responded by applying chemical pepper spray to Isaias and wrestling him to the ground. While deputies were attempting to overcome Isaias's resistance, Everado arrived to free his son, Isaias. Deputies, assisted by a Mendocino County Animal Control Officer, attempted to detain Everado, but Everado resisted by assaulting the Animal Control Officer. Deputies applied chemical pepper spray to Everado and he was soon handcuffed.

Both Everado and Isaias were transported and booked into the Mendocino County Jail where they were charged with armed robbery by use of force or fear, assault with a deadly weapon or by force likely to produce great bodily injury, felony vandalism, and making threats against a peace officer. The two are being held on $100,000 bail.

Mr. Burris suffered minor injuries that included numerous scratches, abrasions and bruising. Most of the deputies received minor abrasions; one suffered a sprained hand which required medical treatment. The damage to the UPS truck is estimated to be $5,000.

A female relative of the Banuelos' was heard to say, "I knew something like this was going to happen."