Bail increased for Highway 50 manhunt target

Bail was raised against a 19-year-old who led authorities on a dangerous chase last week in Douglas County.

Roderick Angus MacLeod appeared in Minden's East Fork Justice Court for a standard arraignment where he was advised of his rights. His bail, originally at $55,500, was raised to $75,000.

MacLeod's financial status was slim enough for Tahoe Township Judge Richard Glasson to appoint a public defender.

According to a criminal complaint filed Friday by Deputy District Attorney Dina Salvucci, the Carson City teenager is charged with three felony counts. They include one count of eluding police officers and two counts of assaulting officers with a deadly weapon.

MacLeod was arrested Tuesday after a 13-hour chase from Carson Valley to Glenbrook. MacLeod was the driver in a stolen U-Haul that failed to stop when deputies pulled behind it.

During the chase, which speeded into Stateline, MacLeod allegedly pointed the truck at Deputy Robert Duff who was laying down spike strips, the complaint stated.

The U-Haul was close to a head-on collision with Deputy Jeff Schemenauer, who had to swerve his patrol car.

Salvucci considered both instances felony assaults on officers.

The chase ended when MacLeod was discovered in heavy brush near a home in Glenbrook, about 14 miles from South Lake Tahoe on the east shore of Lake Tahoe.

Mike Mitchell, 20, who reportedly jumped for the moving U-Haul and initially said he was held hostage, was in Minden court on a misdemeanor count of obstructing, resisting and/or giving a false report to law enforcement and a probation violation.

MacLeod will appear Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. in Tahoe Township Justice Court in Stateline for a status conference.

E-mail William Ferchland at wferchland@tahoedailytribune.com