News

After a daylong search that included a CHP helicopter and SWAT team members, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office arrested a man suspected of homicide in the Ettersburg area around 7:15 p.m. Feb. 17.

According to a release, Ryan Anthony Tanner, 32, was taken into custody without incident. The sheriff’s office states detectives and investigators responded to the scene at 11:30 a.m. after it “received information regarding a possible homicide” at a property on Crooked Prairie Road.


“Due to information indicating Tanner to be armed and dangerous, a SWAT operation was conducted to carry out the service of the warrant,” the release states.

Evidence “indicating a homicide occurred” was located during a search of the property.

According to Redheaded Blackbelt, Tanner surrendered to law enforcement at the Briceland Road home of a friend that he knew back in school. He was arrested on suspicion of murder, false imprisonment and criminal threats.

No information has been released about the person believed to be the victim of the homicide. The case is being investigated by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division.

Read the HCSO release below:

On the evening of Feb. 16, 2020, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received information regarding a possible homicide occurring at a property on Crooked Prairie Road in the Ettersburg area, with the suspect being identified as 32-year-old Ryan Anthony Tanner.

Upon further investigation, a warrant was obtained authorizing a search of the property.

Due to information indicating Tanner to be armed and dangerous, a SWAT operation was conducted to carry out the service of the warrant.

Humboldt County SWAT, in addition to sheriff’s investigators and detectives, responded to the Ettersburg area at about 11:30 a.m. on February 17 to serve the warrant.

During a search of the property, crime scene investigators discovered evidence indicating a homicide had occurred.

Deputies searched for Tanner throughout the day in the Ettersburg area. A California Highway Patrol helicopter assisted deputies in this search. At about 7:15 p.m., Tanner was located at a residence on the 6300 block of Briceland Road. He was taken into custody without incident.

Tanner was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of murder (PC 187), exhibiting a firearm (PC 417(b)), false imprisonment (PC 236) and criminal threats (PC 422). He is being held without bail.

This Humboldt County Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Division is investigating this case.

Further information will be released when available and appropriate.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the California Highway Patrol for their assistance with this case.