The frontman of a Los Angeles hardcore punk band called Cancer Christ is facing a number of criminal charges after allegedly going on a “scary hike” through Yosemite National Park and surrounding areas on Wednesday, according to local police.
Anthony Mehlhaff, 40, allegedly assaulted a restaurant employee, led rangers on a car chase, crashed the car, stole a bicycle and then threatened workers at another lodge with a knife, according to Mariposa County Sheriff Jeremy Briese.
Mehlhaff then allegedly stripped to his underwear, attempted to kidnap a store manager, stole that manager's car and began crashing it into another vehicle on a local road, crashed again and was taken into custody before assaulting officers during an evaluation at a local hospital, Briese wrote in a statement about the incident.
“This man drove around the county terrorizing our visitors and community members,” Briese said. “I am extremely happy that no one was seriously injured. This man’s behavior was erratic and dangerous.”
Booking records showed Mehlhaff faces charges of vandalism, vehicle theft, reckless driving, kidnapping, larceny, first-degree robbery, theft, obstructing an officer and assault.
Booking photo of Anthony Mehlhaff of the Mariposa County Sheriff's Office.
(Mariposa County Sheriff's Office)
Mehlhaff, who Briese said was being held on $100,000 bail on Friday, could not be reached for comment. In a recorded message on his voicemail, he asked law enforcement and mental health specialists to go fuck themselves and stop trying to contact him.
Representatives for the band's tour did not respond to a request for comment Saturday, and online court records do not show an attorney appointed for Mehlhaff.
Mehlhaff had been posting strange videos on his social media prior to his arrest, with some people expressing concern for his well-being and mental health in the comments. Acting strangely on social media has also been part of Mehlhaff's routine as a longtime hardcore punk musician.
Cancer Christ mixes Christian, Satanic, and other “reptilian” imagery into an intentionally and extravagantly sacrilegious combination, and its members sometimes wear snake masks over religious vestments.
Mehlhaff calls himself “Saint Anthony” and routinely professes genuine religious belief, while the band’s website (which later went private) spoke of it as if it were a church and its fans were parishioners. But the gimmick was steeped in religious mockery.
Mehlhaff denounced Christians and organized religion for spreading hate and said he stood for love. Cancer Christ's recent albums have been titled “Satan is a B—” and “God is Violence” (the latter of which features a cover of Jesus killing himself with a shotgun and a song titled “God Hates Cops”).[Dios odia a los policías].
“Spreading the gospel through their unique brand of Reptilian Power Violence, Saint Anthony and The Snake People have been sent from Heaven on a holy mission to make all politicians, pedophiles and police officers suffer slowly,” the band’s website reads.
Briese said Mehlhaff’s “journey” began in the Buck Meadows area of Mariposa County around 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, when Mehlhaff allegedly approached a pregnant waitress, touched her belly and told her, “The spirits led me to you and your baby belongs to me,” before asking her when his break was starting so he could “be waiting for her.”
“Mehlhaff then stole several drinks, assaulted another restaurant employee and fled in his vehicle toward Yosemite National Park,” Briese wrote.
Mehlhaff allegedly caused problems at Fish Camp and the Tenaya Lodge Clubhouse before being arrested outside the town of Oakhurst, Briese wrote. Briese said a smoke grenade was allegedly found in his vehicle.
