Pursuit and Manhunt in Benton

Date:     September 26, 2015
Subject: Pursuit and Manhunt in Benton

During the very early hours of Saturday, September 26, 2015, California Highway Patrol stopped a suspect on Highway 6 for a traffic violation. The suspect was identified as Jason Wolter, age 42, white male, 5’7”.

Mr. Wolter fled from the CHP when they attempted to arrest him for a felony warrant. Mr. Wolter was later located by CHP on a dirt road outside of Benton. Wolter fled again, eventually abandoning his vehicle on Black Rock Mine Road. Law enforcement officers from the Mono County Sheriff's Office, Bishop Police Department, Inyo County Sheriff's Office, Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management responded to assist.

With help from a CHP helicopter, all responding agencies searched high and low for this definitely dangerous and possibly armed suspect, but were unable to locate him after several hours. Mr. Wolter has no known means of communication or sustenance. 

Law enforcement will continue to search for Mr. Wolter throughout the night. We ask the public to be extremely careful in the hills above Benton and to please not pick up any hitchhikers. A CodeRed was put out to the surrounding community warning them of the law enforcement activity. If you have any information, or see, Mr. Wolter, please contact law enforcement immediately.

The Mono County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank all the cooperating agencies for responding quickly and working together. - Jennifer M. Hansen, Public Information Officer