Turlock Black Lives Matter Co-Founder arrested early Sunday morning

On Sunday, May 30th, 2021, at approximately 2:30 am, while Turlock Police officers were on scene investigating a vandalism at The Grand Cru located at 130 W Main St, they were approached by security reporting that there was a Volkswagen SUV in the area that possibly had a firearm in it.

Other officers made contact with the driver of the SUV, who was identified as Swede McDaniel, 34, of Modesto, as well as his two passengers. At that time, Turlock Black Lives Matter Co-Founder Jaimee Ellison, 24, of Turlock, noticed what was going on and began to yell at officers. Upon conducting a records check on McDaniel, officers discovered that he was on post release community supervision and searchable by any peace officer at any time. Officers advised McDaniel and his passengers that they would be searching the vehicle and that they would need to get out. As McDaniel got out, officers noticed a handgun on the seat that McDaniel was sitting on. McDaniel was immediately placed under arrest.

Ellison then approached officers and began to physically intervene in the stop. When officers were securing McDaniel in their patrol vehicle, Ellison continued to follow and harass them. Eventually, she physically intervened and pushed two different officers multiple times. One of these pushes caused a piece of the officer’s equipment to move up and hit him in the lip, causing a small injury. After repeated warnings, an officer told Ellison she was under arrest and attempted to take her into custody, but she resisted. Despite resisting, officers were able to take her into custody without using any violence.

When Ellison was placed in the back of a patrol vehicle, she began banging herself inside the vehicle. The other BLM Co-Founder, Elisha Coleman, later stated that Ellison was bruised as a result of the arrest. This is likely how.

McDaniel and Ellison were both booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center. McDaniel on charges of felon in possession of a firearm, prohibited person in possession of ammunition, and violation of post release community supervision, and Ellison on charges of battery on a peace officer and attempted rescue of a prisoner. All charges are felonies.

The investigation remains on-going. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to contact Officer Henry Hernandez at 209-668-5550 extension 6734 or by email at HHernandez@turlock.ca.us. You can also leave an anonymous tip at the Turlock Police Department’s tip line at 209-668-5550 extension 6780 or by email at tpdtipline@turlock.ca.us.