News

The Humboldt County Drug Task Force seized 4 ounces of fentanyl, the largest seizure amount in HCDTF history, earlier this morning after serving a search warrant on a vehicle belonging to Roscoe Reidel of Eureka.

According to the release, HCDTF had been investigating Reidel since December for allegedly transporting large quantities of fentanyl from San Francisco to  Humboldt County for distribution. 

Last night, HCDTF agents began surveilling Reidel as he allegedly drove from Eureka to the Tenderloin District in SF. Earlier this morning, agents conducted a traffic stop on Reidel on Highway 101 where they found the 4 ounces of fentanyl.


Reidel, Brian Adams and Courtney Garrett, who were also in the Reidel's vehicle, were arrested for suspicion of transportation of controlled substances across noncontiguous counties, possession for sale of controlled substances, transportation of controlled substance for sale and conspiracy to commit a crime.

According to the release, in 2020 there was 11 overdose death in Humboldt County associated with fentanyl and a high percentage of heroin users in the county are transitioning from using heroin mixed with fentanyl to straight fentanyl use as it's almost 100 times stronger than morphine.

In 2019, the fentanyl opioid crisis washed into Humboldt County's drug stream in various forms from pills to powders and everything in between, killing nine people that same year. Read more about how the fentanyl crisis hit Humboldt County here.

“As we see fentanyl overdoses increasing in Humboldt County my number one concern is for our youth. With the rise of prescription drug misuse and abuse by teenagers I am very concerned that our youth will come into contact with fentanyl resulting in severe medical issues including fatal overdoses. My hope is that we as law enforcement along with parents, coaches, educators, and community leaders can make our youth aware of the dangers of fentanyl” said Sgt. Matt Tomlin in the release.

Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes are encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 267-9976.

Read the full press release below.

The Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) has been investigating Roscoe Reidel (45 years old- Eureka) for distribution of fentanyl in Humboldt County since early December 2020. Agents had received information that Reidel was picking up large quantities of fentanyl in San Francisco and transporting it back to Humboldt County to distribute to customers. On the evening of January 11^th, 2021 agents conducted surveillance on Reidel as he drove from Eureka to the Tenderloin District in San Francisco. An HCDTF agent obtained a search warrant for Reidel based off the investigation.

In the early morning hours of January 12^th, 2021, HCDTF agents, with the assistance of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), made a traffic stop on Reidel on northbound Highway 101 at the Pepperwood Dr. exit as he retuned from San Francisco. Reidel was detained along with Brian Adams (37 years old- Eureka) and Courtney Garrett (31 years old- Eureka).

Agents served a search warrant on the vehicle and located ¼ pound (4 ounces) of fentanyl. This is the largest seizure of fentanyl in HCDTF history. The street value of this fentanyl is approx. $22,400.00.

Reidel, Garrett, and Adams were transported to the Humboldt County Jail and booked for the following charges:

• H&S 11352(b)           Transportation of controlled substances across noncontiguous counties
• H&S 11351                 Possession for sale of controlled substances
• H&S 11352(a)            Transportation of controlled substance for sale
• PC    182                     Conspiracy to commit a crime

Fentanyl in Humboldt County

* In 2020 there were 11 overdose deaths in Humboldt County associated with fentanyl

* A high percentage of heroin users in Humboldt County are transitioning from using heroin mixed with fentanyl to straight fentanyl use

*Fentanyl is commonly being pressed into pills or placed in capsules to imitate prescription medication

* Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports is 80-100 times stronger than morphine.

“As we see fentanyl overdoses increasing in Humboldt County my number one concern is for our youth. With the rise of prescription drug misuse and abuse by teenagers I am very concerned that our youth will come into contact with fentanyl resulting in severe medical issues including fatal overdoses. My hope is that we as law enforcement along with parents, coaches, educators, and community leaders can make our youth aware of the dangers of fentanyl” -Sgt. Matt Tomlin

The HCDTF is committed to investigating all complaints of fentanyl trafficking in Humboldt County. Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes are encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.