The Fortuna Police Department has arrested Fortuna Union High School math teacher and wrestling coach Gary Landergen on allegations he sexually assaulted at least two students. According to a press release, “at least two students” came forward to report they had been the victim of “inappropriate and unwelcome groping and/or fondling by Landergen.” The Fortuna […]
Crime
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‘Kevin’ the Baby Seal Has a Name and New Home, For Now
The baby seal rescued by Eureka Police Department officers who responded to a report of a couple taking the pup from near the Samoa Bridge, putting it into an aquarium and driving away has a new name: Kevin. The young one is under the care of the Northcoast Marine Mammal Center, which reports the nonprofit “will […]
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SoHum Man Pleads Guilty in Grisly 2020 Killing
A Southern Humboldt man pleaded guilty today to manslaughter in connection with the grisly February of 2020 killing of a man that he reportedly kidnapped off a rural road. Under the plea deal, 34-year-old Ryan Tanner is scheduled to be sentenced April 11 to 39 years in prison and agreed to waive credit for the […]
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Drug Task Force Investigation Leads to Record Fentanyl Bust
A months-long investigation led to the seizure of 15,000 “30” fentanyl pills this week, the largest bust of the powerful opioid in Humboldt County’s history, according to a news release from the Humboldt County Drug Task Force. Three men were arrested Tuesday after drug task force agents, with the assistance of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s […]
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Newsom, Unions Eye $50k Bonuses for Juvenile Prison Workers
As the state prepares to close its youth prisons, workers for the Division of Juvenile Justice could receive up to $50,000 bonuses to stay on the job until then, CalMatters has learned. If approved, the bonus appears to be among the largest offered by the state to retain a group of employees. Gov. Gavin Newsom’s […]
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Local Agencies Warn of Email Hacking Throughout Region
Multiple agencies including the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services this past week have been warning residents of multiple phishing scams and email hacking incidents attempting to access or damage a computer or network system. In a Facebook post on Monday, Humboldt County OES said they had received numerous reports of cybersecurity-related incidents targeting local government agencies […]
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Sentence Handed Down in Bear River Triple Homicide
One year after a newly engaged couple and a 16-year-old girl were shot to death at a home on the Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria Reservation, the now 19 year old who pleaded guilty to their murders was sentenced today to 150 years to life in prison. Judge Timothy Canning handed down the […]
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Chico Man Convicted of Murdering Couple in SoHum
A Chico man was convicted Monday of double murder and other charges in connection with the shooting deaths of a couple at a marijuana farm in Southern Humboldt. “Because he committed multiple murders, a ‘special circumstance’ under California homicide law, Mr. Rodriguez faces a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole,” a Humboldt […]
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Eureka Releases Video of Dec. 30 Police Shooting
The Eureka Police Department has released body-warn-camera footage of detective Joseph Couch shooting a suspect during a multi-agency task force operation Dec. 30. The video — which offers a limited vantage point of the shooting — is the only one available, according to EPD, as Couch was the only officer on scene with a body-worn […]
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Is This Another Way to End California’s Death Penalty?
Instead of outright abolition, opponents of the California death penalty are pushing legislation to limit death sentences. But the blowback to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to dismantle Death Row at San Quentin demonstrates the political risk. Unable to persuade California voters to do away with capital punishment altogether, the movement to abolish the death penalty […]
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One Arrested After Arcata Homicide
Arcata police arrested a 50-year-old man on suspicion of murder last night after a fatal assault near the footbridge connecting the Cal Poly Humboldt campus to the area around 17th and G streets in the city. According to a press release, police responded to a report of a physical altercation in the area around 5:30 […]
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Two Arrested for Fentanyl Sales in Eureka
The Humboldt County Drug Task Force arrested two Eureka residents Thursday as part of an ongoing investigation into fentanyl sales, according to a news release. According to the release, agents contacted Amy Spindler, 45, who had been under investigation since early in the month, at a gas station on the 2800 block of Broadway and […]