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UPDATE: One man was arrested while a second suspect is still on the loose after the stand-off with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office last night.

PREVIOUSLY:
U.S. Highway 101 was shut down in both directions tonight as law enforcement responded to a suspect vehicle that may have been involved in a home invasion near Island Mountain.

A man and his daughter, who is in her 20s, are reported to have been injured in the incident that occurred around 9 p.m. The male victim was reportedly hit multiple times on the head and may have serious injuries.

The two suspects, Hispanic males, reportedly fled in their own vehicle, a blue Honda SUV, and in the victim’s white four-door GMC Denali, according to a person who spoke with the victims.

Things are unfolding quickly at the scene near the Irvine rest stop south of Laytonville, where, according to the police scanner, a suspect vehicle is pulled over and it appears that Onstar may have disabled the accelerator. The suspect is refusing to exit the vehicle, initial reports indicate.


A dispatcher was reporting over the scanner at 10:17 p.m. that, “It’s turning into a SWAT operation,” with Humboldt deputies reportedly telling Mendocino deputies via dispatchers that the suspects stole firearms.

A short time later, the deputy at the scene reported over the scanner that the suspect is holding up a large shiny object,” but, “I’m not sure what it is.”

Read the HCSO release below:

At around 2035 hours, a male victim called 911 reporting that he and his daughter had been robbed at gun point at his residence located on Sesame Loop Road in the Island Mountain area of Southern Humboldt County. The victim stated he and his daughter were confronted at gun point by two young Hispanic males in their early twenties who knocked on the front door. The two men duct taped the victims and forced the male victim to open two safes in the house and garage. The male victim and his daughter were both beaten with firearms and then placed in a closet that was barricaded by the suspects to prevent the victims from escaping. The male victim was eventually able to get he and his daughter free and called 911. Cash, gold and silver coins and seven firearms were taken.

The male victim then discovered his 2016 GMC Denali had been stolen by the crooks. OnStar was contacted and located the vehicle travelling south on Bell Springs Road. CHP and the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office were notified to be on the lookout for the vehicle. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle south of Laytonville on US 101 and OnStar disabled the vehicle.

The suspect, Franklin Molina 11-18-1997, refused to comply with orders to exit the vehicle and a standoff ensued with the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team being mobilized with their Bear Cat. Molina was eventually taken into custody by M.C.S.O. for P.C.148 and C.V.C.2800 and transported to the hospital for treatment and medical clearance. The H.C.S.O. authored a Ramey Warrant for P.C.211, 236, 207, 245(a)(2) and C.V.C.10851(a). The stolen GMC Denali was secured and towed for evidence.

The second suspect is still on the loose and his whereabouts are unknown at this time. Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call the H.C.S.O. at (707)445-7251. Refer to case 201806595.

We would like to thank the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office for their invaluable assistance in taking Molina into custody.

Editor's note: This report first appeared on www.kymkemp.com and is reposted here with permission.