News

A county planning and building inspector was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of taking upwards of $100,000 in bribes to expedite projects after a seven-month investigation, according to a news release.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office reports Patrick William Mctigue, 47, was taken into custody in Old Town Eureka on a felony warrant after multiple victims came forward. He is facing charges of commercial bribery, grand theft and being a state official asking for or receiving a bribe.

In response to follow-up questions, sheriff’s office spokesperson Samantha Karges told the Journal that she could not discuss specific details because the case was still under investigation but stated that “these permits were for a range of projects, some involving marijuana cultivation and some having nothing to do with that industry.”

Read the full sheriff’s office release below:

A Humboldt County Planning and Building inspector was arrested Tuesday following an ongoing bribery investigation dating back to last year. The investigation originated in November of 2017 when the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received complaints about County Inspector Patrick William Mctigue, 47, of Fortuna.
The complaints alleged that Mctigue was receiving money from members of the public for expedited permit approval on building and grading projects. Multiple victims came forward to the Sheriff’s Office alleging that Mctigue had defrauded them. Mctigue is believed to have received over $100,000 from the victims. On May 29, 2018, at about 2:15 p.m., sheriff’s deputies arrested Mctigue in the Old Town Eureka area on a felony warrant. Mctigue was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the following charges: commercial bribery, grand theft and state official asking for or receiving a bribe.
This case is still under investigation. Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.