An Indiana man who had just moved to Eureka was assaulted Sept. 26 has died as a result of the injuries received, according to a press release sent out by the Eureka Police Department. The case is now an active homicide investigation and an autopsy is scheduled for today. On Sept. 26, a sergeant with […]
Crime
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One Shot at Cannabis Farm Robbery
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department is searching for three vehicles involved in an armed robbery at a reportedly legal cannabis farm near Blocksburg, where one person was shot in the hand. “We got called at 4:40 [this morning,]” Lt. Mike Fridley said. “There were five to seven armed subjects all wearing black with black masks… […]
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Rio Dell Police Name Eureka Man ‘Person of Interest’ in Shooting
The Rio Dell Police Department has named a Eureka man as a “person of interest” in a fatal shooting of 26-year-old Johnny Renfro that took place Aug. 29. According to a release, the department is having a “third party” analyze any information related to the killing contained on “numerous mobile phones, computers, recordings and other […]
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Bone Positively ID’d as Belonging to Missing Woman
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office confirmed today that a human femur found near the mouth of the Eel River in June is that of Sheila Franks, who went missing in early 2014. The positive identification — first reported by Redheaded Blackbelt — came earlier this month from the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Forensic Services […]
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Pedestrian Killed in Orleans Hit and Run
A pedestrian was killed in a hit-and-run crash on State Route 96 in Orleans shortly before 8 p.m. yesterday. According to the California Highway Patrol, the pedestrian — whose identity is being withheld until family can be notified — was reportedly walking in the middle of the roadway when hit by a black Toyota pickup […]
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Rio Dell Police: Stop Sharing Photos of Alleged Shooting Suspect Online
The Rio Dell Police Department is asking the public to refrain from playing home detective and speculating about who the suspect is in a fatal Aug. 29 shooting and sharing his photograph on social media. “The Rio Dell Police Department has become aware of social media posts that include a picture of a man fitting […]
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UPDATE: Victim in Fatal Rio Dell Shooting ID’d
UPDATE: The man killed last night in a Rio Dell shooting has been identified by officials as Johnny Mack Renfro. According to a release, video surveillance cameras captured the incident and police are searching for a suspect driving a dark colored car that is believed to have one or more broken or missing windows. PREVIOUS: […]
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Altercation in Humboldt Linked to Apparent Homicide
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the apparent homicide of an Illinois man whose family last heard from him after he was reportedly in an altercation with a man he’d been traveling with at a campground in Humboldt County. According to a press release, a car connected to Grant David Whitaker, 25, of Mackinaw, […]
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Vehicle Thefts in Humboldt Declined Last Year
Fewer vehicles were stolen in 2018 than the previous year, according to statistics released by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, with Eureka leading local cities in the highest number of incidents. There were a total of 569 vehicles reported to county’s law enforcement agencies as stolen last year compared to 721 in 2017, according to […]
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UPDATE: Fatal Motorcycle Crash on State Route 36
UPDATE: The California Highway Patrol has identified the man found dead this morning after a motorcycle crash on State Route 36 as 25-year-old Steven Forrest Johnson, of Loleta, who had been reported missing to the Rio Dell Police Department on Saturday evening. PREVIOUSLY: The California Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal motorcycle crash off State […]
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Man Arrested in 2018 Homicide Investigation
Jason Barnes, 46 of Eureka, has been booked into the Humboldt County jail on suspicion of killing 58 year-old Bernhard “Ben” Bertain. On Dec. 22, 2018, a verbal altercation between Barnes and an unnamed female reportedly occurred at the Burre Center in Eureka. An employee working at a nearby business witnessed the altercation and placed […]
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EPD Identifies Juvenile Responsible for Hate Group Fliers, Says no Immediate Threat of Violence
UPDATE: The Eureka Police Department has issued a press release with some additional information, which can be found here. PREVIOUSLY: The Eureka Police Department has identified a male juvenile believed to be responsible for posting white supremacist recruiting fliers around town, interviewed him and determined there doesn’t appear to be an immediate physical threat to […]