Nicholas Bakewell, 36, Died After Being Pepper Sprayed and Tasered by Police Officers on Hearst Willits Road near Willits —> GoFundMe Created to Help Victim’s Family
MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (November 6, 2025) – A man identified as Nicholas Bakewell has tragically died after an encounter with law enforcement in Mendocino County along Hearst Willits Road.
The incident took place on June 5. Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office deputies are saying that they were called to the scene following some type of altercation between Nicholas Bakewell and a driver.
A deputy located him in the middle of the road and exited his patrol vehicle. A confrontation ensued, and the deputy used pepper spray and a taser.
Other deputies were called to the scene and were eventually able to subdue him. Not long after being handcuffed, Nicholas Bakewell appeared to fall over unconscious.
He was given Narcan by law enforcement. Paramedics were called to the scene to provide further assistance. Tragically, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
A full investigation into the death remains ongoing. You can help support the victim’s family through GoFundMe.
Liability for Mendocino County Police Deaths
Police officers have a legal obligation to use the least amount of force necessary when dealing with any member of the public. Pursuant to CA Penal Code § 835a, “the authority to use physical force, conferred on peace officers by this section, is a serious responsibility that shall be exercised judiciously and with respect for human rights and dignity and for the sanctity of every human life.” There are many ways that law enforcement officers may have acted improperly and contributed to someone’s death.
- Excessive Taser Use: The excessive use of tasers and pepper spray can have lethal consequences, particularly if a suspect has certain medical conditions.
- Delayed Medical Care: Police officers may have failed to get a suspect timely medical care as they were going through a medical emergency.
- Positional Asphyxia: If law enforcement officers place their body weight on a suspect in an attempt to subdue them, this could restrict their breathing and lead to positional asphyxia.
Police officers are given a great deal of discretion in how they perform their job duties. At no point are officers allowed to use excessive force. Pursuant to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of any statute or ordinance, causes a person to be deprived of their rights protected by the constitution shall be liable to the injured party through an action at law. The family of any person who died due to the excessive force or neglect of police officers may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.
Steps to Take After California Police Misconduct
Many people are seriously injured or die in police custody each year. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, “Federal law enforcement agencies reported 105 arrest-related deaths and 613 deaths in custody in fiscal year (FY) 2021 (figure 1). From FY 2016 to FY 2021, federal agencies reported an average of 64 arrest-related deaths and 504 deaths in custody each year.” Certain steps should be taken after any person dies in police custody.
- Medical Records: All of the medical records related to any in-custody death should be carefully reviewed. This should include autopsy reports.
- Body Camera Footage: All of the body cam footage from the officers involved should be carefully reviewed. Police officers in California are required to have body cameras.
- Evidence Preservation: Eyewitnesses should be interviewed, and all of the documents related to the incident should be collected.
- Civil Rights Review: The death should be carefully reviewed by a team with ample experience in civil rights law. They can identify any mistakes and misconduct committed by officers.
Deaths in police custody are often highly preventable. They tend to involve situations where officers are either unwilling or unable to properly de-escalate encounters. To make matters worse, law enforcement agencies will virtually never accept responsibility when their officers cause someone’s death. This is why it is so important that these incidents are properly investigated.
Investigating Mendocino County In-Custody Deaths
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Nicholas Bakewell. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Many questions remain unanswered at this time.
Do you need more information about an in-custody death involving the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office? Our team of civil rights investigators is here for you. We care deeply that all people in California are aware of their civil rights and that law enforcement agencies are held accountable for their illegal conduct. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
