Humboldt County District Attorney Stacey Eads has determined the shooting of 31-year-old Matthew Robert Williams by Eureka police officers was legally justified, saying Williams pulled a handgun, chambered a round and pointed it at an officer when police opened fire, fatally wounding him. “Clearly, Williams presented an imminent threat of death or series bodily injury to […]
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EPD Officer Found to Have Failed to Investigate Sexual Abuse Allegation
A Eureka police officer was found to have failed to timely investigate allegations of the sexual abuse of a minor last year, neglecting to take any action on a report from school staff for more than a month. The officer, who resigned amid the internal affairs investigation, was found to have neglected his duties, engaged […]
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UPDATE: EPD Makes Arrest in ‘Man Lit on Fire’ Case
UPDATE: Eureka police have arrested a suspect in the case of a man “lit on fire” near the 400 block of A Street on July 12. “Through extensive investigation, Eureka Police detectives identified 60-year-old Vaughn Pernell Jones as the suspect,” an EPD press release states, noting that Pernell was arrested on a warrant for attempted […]
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EPD Investigating Fatal Hit and Run
The Eureka Police Department is investigating a fatal hit and run crash that occurred shortly before 7 a.m. today at the intersection of Fifth and K streets, between the county jail and city hall. According to an EPD press release, someone called 911 to report someone lying in the roadway there visibly injured with no […]
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EPD Investigating Dead Body Found in Recycling
The Eureka Police Department has launched an investigation after a dead body was found among recycling dropped off at the Samoa Resource Recovery Center on Vance Avenue by a hauling truck. According to a press release, EPD was notified of the female body yesterday at about 10:45 a.m. The body has been identified, according to […]
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EPD Identifies Fatal Crash Victim
The Eureka Police Department continues to investigate a fatal Nov. 3 crash that killed a Fortuna man. According to a press release issued this morning, 32-year-old Aldo Emmanuel Zaragoza was driving southbound on Broadway shortly before 1 p.m. when, for unknown reasons, he crossed the center turn lane and veered into oncoming traffic, hitting a […]
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Eureka Police Save Baby Seal Being Taken Away in Car (with Video)
Eureka Police Department officers saved a baby seal from a couple who took the pup from an area near the Samoa Bridge, put it into an aquarium in their car and were attempting to drive away. A person who witnessed the incident called police, who were able to locate the car and bring the seal […]
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UPDATE: Eureka Police Reports ‘Situation Clear” on Broadway After Suspicious Device Investigation
UPDATE: The Eureka Police Department reports, “situation is clear and roadway is back open.” PREVIOUS: The Eureka Police Department is asking people to avoid the area of Broadway and West Washington, where an investigation into a suspicious device is underway. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office bomb squad has been called to the scene and nearby […]
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NCJ Preview
With a new batch of ugly messages between members of a Eureka police unit revealing a culture of misogyny and cruel and violent attitudes toward homeless and mentally ill people, the department faces a reckoning. We’ll go over how the police officers’ extensive workplace protections affect the impact and secrecy of that reckoning. And Eureka […]
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NCJ Preview: Anti-Asian Racism, Government Transparency and Those EPD Texts
This week we’re talking about how the recent shootings in Atlanta and their aftermath fit a historic pattern of anti-Asian racism and how the national trend ripples to Humboldt. We’ve also got the Foilies, the annual roundup of outrageous incidents of redaction and refusal of public records. And we’re following up on the Eureka Police […]
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Protestors Call for Firing of EPD Officers Involved in Reported Text Message Scandal
About 50 people turned out yesterday to a protest in front of the Humboldt County Courthouse calling on the Eureka Police Department to fire the officers who reportedly sent misogynistic and violent text messages that were leaked to the Sacramento Bee. EPD Chief Steve Watson has placed two of the six officers involved in the […]
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Man in Critical Condition After Eureka Shooting
The Eureka Police Department is investigating after a 56-year-old man was found shot on the 700 block of 10th Street just before midnight yesterday. He is reported to be in critical condition. “Based on the investigation, it was determined the shooting occurred near a residence on 1000 block of I Street,” a news release from […]