Yuba City man accused of assaulting deputy with bear spray. Here’s what triggered attack

A Yuba City man was arrested Friday after attacking a sheriff’s deputy with bear spray and evading authorities for eight hours, the Sutter County Sheriff’s Office said.

According to a Saturday news release, the Sheriff’s Office responded about 1:30 p.m. to a report of a suspicious vehicle near the 900 block of South Barrett Road. A deputy contacted the driver, identified as Christopher Matthew Tyler Kelsey, 35, who the officer said was recognized as having a felony warrant.

When the deputy attempted to detain Kelsey, he became combative, according to the release. He was able to get away, the release stated, retrieve a can of bear spray from the vehicle and use it to subdue the deputy and flee the area.

Kelsey was taken into custody about 10 p.m., with assistance from the Yuba City Police Department and other Sheriff’s Office personnel, according to the release. He is being held in Sutter County Jail on $150,000 bail for the felony warrant, as well as new charges that include assault on a peace officer.

The deputy was treated for non-life threatening injuries at a nearby hospital and released.

This story was originally published July 17, 2022 at 10:28 AM.