News

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has de-escalated a standoff situation in the Cutten area with a man believed to be having mental health issues.

“We had a subject who was mentally unstable and was acting out some — had some violent tendencies — and his parent had some concerns so she called the sheriff’s office,” said Undersheriff Billy Honsal.

When deputies arrived on scene, Honsal said the man refused to exit the residence and threatened deputies “that there would be trouble” if the attempted to enter. Honsal said the sheriff’s office called in assistance from county mental health, the Eureka Police Department’s Problem Oriented Policing Team and its homeless liaison, Pamlyn Millsap. Law enforcement presence at the scene also swelled.

The group again asked the man to exit the residence, Honsal said, so he could undergo a mental health evaluation. The man again refused.

“At this point, we decided to let him cool off,” Honsal said. “We demobilized and left the scene. He’s alone inside the residence. His parents are outside. They’re going to allow him to cool off and then approach it later on.”