Nearly six months after it began, an outside investigation into misogynistic, dehumanizing, vulgar and violent text messages shared between a unit of Eureka Police Department officers appears to be nearing its conclusion. “All interviews have been completed and they are in the process of compiling all that information into a report,” Eureka Police Chief Steve […]
Eureka Police Department
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EPD Captain On Leave Amid Investigation
One of the Eureka Police Department’s two captains has been placed on paid administrative leave. EPD Chief Steve Watson confirmed to the Journal that Capt. Patrick O’Neill is on leave, but declined to discuss why or in relation to what matter, saying he’s legally prohibited from doing so. “The penal code and evidence code prohibit […]
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EPD Arrests Man for Alleged Sexual Assault of Child
The Eureka Police Department has arrested Jorge Alcazar Vasquez of Rio Dell for the alleged sexual abuse of a child under 10 years old after a months-length investigation. Vasquez is suspected of oral copulation or penetration with a child under 10, sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child under 10 and recurring sexual conduct with a child. The […]
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UPDATED: Two EPD Officers on Leave, Investigation Underway into Report of Offensive Text Exchanges
Eureka Police Chief Steve Watson placed two officers on administrative leave Wednesday after the Sacramento Bee published an article about obscene, denigrating and sometimes violent texts reportedly exchanged by them and others in their squad over several months in 2020. In a letter to the community, the chief said he had not been aware of […]
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DA Clears EPD Officers in Fatal Shooting
Humboldt County District Attorney Maggie Fleming has concluded the Eureka Police Department officers involved in the fatal shooting of a 51-year-old Eureka man last summer were justified in their actions. John Karl Sieger, a military veteran, was reportedly intoxicated and suicidal when he raised a pistol at officers during a tense standoff at a home […]
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EPD Releases Review Board Findings in Police Shooting
The Use of Force/Shooting Review Board called earlier this month by Eureka Police Chief Steve Watson found officers performed properly at the scene of a July police shooting that killed 51-year-old John Karl Sieger. Sieger, a military veteran, was reportedly intoxicated and suicidal when he raised a pistol at officers during a tense standoff at […]
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EPD POP Detains 14 People at Eureka Residence This Morning
This morning Eureka’s Problem Oriented Policing (POP) team showed up again at the residence of 204 West Hawthorne Street which has a history of law enforcement raids for drugs and in response to neighbor’s complaints. This morning, a large contingent of officers arrived and detained a number of people who were in the home. “POP […]
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Eureka Council Passes New Camping Ordinance
After nearly two hours of discussion, the Eureka City Council voted Tuesday to pass an ordinance repealing and replacing the city’s camping ordinance, with Councilmember Leslie Castellano dissenting. The ordinance was altered to reflect public concern over perceived criminalization of homelessness, changing the recommended criminal charges for involuntary camping from a misdemeanor to an infraction. […]
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Eureka Police: Old Town Death Appears to be Self-Inflicted
The Eureka Police Department reports that a man who died Nov. 2 after being found with a severe neck wound in Old Town next to a broken wine bottle appears to have somehow injured himself. According to a news release, the EPD investigation indicates the 48-year-old man bought the wine about 30 minutes before he […]
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Stabbing on L Street in Eureka
According to Sgt. Eddie Wilson of the Eureka Police Department, a physical altercation occurred on the 300 block of L Street this afternoon during which one man was stabbed. About 2:20 p.m., according to the scanner, officers arrived at the scene of the incident. One officer located the victim with a stab wound and another person […]
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EPD Urges Driver, Demonstrator Hit to Call
The Eureka Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying the driver who struck a pedestrian during a Breonna Taylor demonstration in front of the courthouse on Sept. 24. The EPD is also urging the driver to contact its office to provide a statement and for the pedestrian to call to give an […]