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Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies took Robert Joseph Cullen into custody this afternoon near Tooby Park, confirmed Samantha Karges, spokesperson for the office. A citizen “saw him walking in the Sprowel Creek area and called it in,” she said.

This marks the second time in two days that community members have worked to helped law enforcement stop the fleeing suspect.

Yesterday, a Humboldt County roadworker saw law enforcement pursing the suspect and two others in a vehicle out Old Briceland Road, said Steve Finch, road division manager for the County of Humboldt. The worker called ahead and arranged for a large dump truck to be parked across the road.

The suspects’ vehicle struck the dump truck and the suspects were forced to flee on foot. Two were taken into custody last night, but Cullen managed to escape only to be caught today.
On Nov. 10, deputies sighted Cullen, a wanted felony warrant subject driving in Redway. They attempted to stop him but he fled striking a number of police vehicles.

A helicopter, a K-9 unit and a CHP plane were used to attempt to capture the suspect. But it took teamwork with the community to capture the elusive man.

With the help of citizen sightings, Cullen was taken into custody after deputies tracked him to Tooby Memorial Park, where he tried to again evade law enforcement by swimming across the South Fork of the Eel River.

Deputies were waiting on the other side.

According to a release, Cullen was booked on suspicion of felony evading, possession of a controlled substance while armed, assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sales, transportation of a controlled substance for sales, felon in possession of a firearm, person prohibited in possession of ammunition, felon in possession of body armor, possession of a switch-blade knife, misdemeanor vandalism and violation of probation.

A woman arrested after fleeing from the car after the crash also gave deputies a false name and is now facing additional charges, according to a HCSO release.

Read the release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office below:

On Nov. 13, 2019, at about 12:15 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Emergency Communications Center received multiple citizen tips regarding the whereabouts of wanted felony warrant subject Robert Joseph Cullen.

Multiple citizens reported seeing Cullen walking along Sprowel Creek Road. Using citizen information, deputies were able to track Cullen to Tooby Memorial Park. During a search of the park and surrounding areas, Cullen was seen attempting to flee from deputies by swimming across the South Fork of the Eel River. Deputies were waiting on the other side of the river bar and were able to apprehend Cullen when he exited the water.

A female associated with Cullen was also contacted on scene and provided deputies with a false name. The female was later identified as 29-year-old Victoria Courtney Jordan. Jordan was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of false identification to a peace officer.

Cullen was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of: felony evading, possession of a controlled substance while armed, assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for sales, transportation of a controlled substance for sales, felon in possession of a firearm, person prohibited in possession of ammunition, felon in possession of body armor, possession of a switch-blade knife, misdemeanor vandalism and violation of probation.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the multiple citizens who provided detailed information to our agency regarding Cullen’s description and whereabouts.