REGIONAL — The man whose bizarre behavior and flight into the woods last week prompted an extensive search near Greaney is now in the St. Louis County Jail after admitting to recent methamphetamine use in violation of his probation.
Clayton Leroy Nukala Jr., 40, was booked April 17 and is being held on a felony probation violation and a bench warrant related to a gross misdemeanor driving after cancellation inimical to public safety case.
Authorities were first called to the 12000 block of South Willow River Road around 5 p.m. on April 11 on a report of an unwanted male. Deputies identified the man as Nukala, who fled into the woods when they arrived and could not be located.
Deputies were called back to the scene at about 10:30 a.m. the following day after Nukala again showed up, this time reportedly acting strangely. He was last seen wearing a white bathrobe and walking back toward the woods.
A multi-agency search followed, involving the St. Louis County Rescue Squad, sheriff’s deputies, and Orr Ambulance.
With wet, cool conditions at the time, authorities said hypothermia was a major concern. Nukala was not wanted on any criminal charges during the search, and officials said their focus was on locating him safely.
He was found later that evening on April 15 by a family member walking along a road near Greaney and was taken to a hospital for evaluation. Authorities said he appeared to be in good condition.
Earlier that day, Nukala had been scheduled to appear for a court hearing in a separate case. After he failed to show, a judge issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
Two days later, Nukala was in custody.
His April 17 arrest was likely tied to that warrant. He was also held on a probation violation stemming from a December 2024 felony conviction for fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle.
As a condition of that probation, Nukala was required to refrain from using alcohol or other mood-altering substances. According to a probation violation warrant filed April 17, Nukala admitted to using methamphetamine within the previous week, a time period that overlaps with the days he was reported missing and behaving erratically.
Nukala had also been convicted just weeks earlier, on March 30, of fifth-degree controlled substance possession, a felony. In that case, he was sentenced to 19 months in prison, with the sentence stayed for three years of probation.
The fleeing conviction that placed Nukala on probation stems from an October 2024 incident in which he led deputies on a pursuit through and east of Gheen before stopping on a gravel roadway, where his vehicle was found burning both inside and out. A chainsaw lying nearby was also on fire, with its fuel cap off.
When ordered to stop, Nukala fled on foot, prompting a search involving additional officers, a K9 unit, and a drone. He was eventually located about 20 feet up in a tree and fell to the ground while climbing down before being taken into custody.
Court records indicate Nukala Jr. has a criminal history in Minnesota dating back to at least 2005, including multiple convictions for drug offenses, impaired driving, fleeing law enforcement, and driving after cancellation. He has also faced charges involving assault and property damage.
Nukala remains in custody pending further proceedings.