News

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriffs Office:

      On 02-25-2012, approximately 11:30 a.m. a Humboldt County Sheriffs deputy was dispatched to investigate a Commercial Burglary that occurred at Luzmila’s Restaurant, McKinleyville. When the deputy arrived he met with the owner of the restaurant who told him the suspect(s) had turned off the circuit breakers to the restaurant, and pried open the back door to the restaurant causing damage after scaling a six foot fence. The burglary happened sometime between 11:00 p.m. on 2-24-2012 and 10:00 a.m. 2-25-2012. The restaurant owner reported several cases of alcohol had been stolen, including cases of Wine, Tequila and Triple Sec.
      The deputy reviewed a security video tape at the restaurant and saw at approximately 12:15 a.m. a white male suspect is on the back patio of the restaurant moving items around and stacking crates below the camera. The suspect then accessed the camera using the crates to stand on and began smashing the camera. The deputy recognized the suspect from previous contacts as Casey Jay Cooper, 28 years old from McKinleyville. The deputy ran a criminal check on Cooper and learned he was on four separate summary probations for drug and weapons charges, with search clauses.
        The deputy drove to Cooper’s residence on Park Road, McKinleville with another deputy and found Cooper hiding under a tarp in the back yard of his residence. The deputies also located several of the cases of stolen alcohol which they recovered.
      Cooper was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on burglary and possession of stolen property charges, along with violation of probation. His bail is set at $50,000.00.