2nd UPDATE: EPD Chief Andrew Mills gave a statement to the press at around 7:40 p.m., saying that the incident originated with a call from the California Highway Patrol at around 4:43 p.m. asking EPD to assist with a suspect with a gun having “footbailed” from a car. EPD officers were in the middle of […]
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Alcohol, Hearing Evidence May be Excluded in McClain Trial
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge said Tuesday he is unlikely to permit evidence that a man shot and killed by an officer in Eureka two years ago was drunk and had hearing problems when the case goes to trial this November. According to his parents’ May 2015 lawsuit, 22-year-old Thomas McClain was complying with […]
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Pride Parades in the Face of Violence, Mounting Tensions
Humboldt Pride got underway in Halvorsen Park this morning but a shadow of violence hung over the event. “Our hearts are heavy after hearing of the violent acts against members of our community,” a post on the Humboldt Pride Facebook page read. “In light of tehse events, we have increased security at (today’s) parade and […]
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Appellate Court Wants to See EPD Video, Sets Oral Argument Date
Justices in California’s First Appellate District have decided they want to look at the police dash camera video Eureka is trying to keep the public from seeing. In an unusual order, the justices asked the Humboldt County Superior Court file a copy of the video under seal with the appellate court. But the superior court […]
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Manslaughter Arrest Made in September Death
The Eureka Police Department has arrested a 24-year-old on suspicion of involuntary manslaughter for the September death of a local homeless man, Terry Lee Thomas. Thomas, 63, was found bloodied and unresponsive shortly after 8 p.m. on Sept. 8 in the parking lot of the Courthouse Market in the 900 block of Fourth Street. He […]
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Video Captures Failed Armed Robbery
A McKinleyville man was arrested last night after citizens detained him during an attempted robbery of a liquor store on Eureka’s Fifth Street and the whole exchange was captured on the above surveillance video. See the full press release from Eureka Police Department below. From EPD: On 03/14/16 at about 9:37 p.m., officers responded to […]
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UPDATED: Officer-involved Shooting Suspect Wanted for Murder of David Ganfield
2nd UPDATE: EPD Chief Andy Mills has confirmed that the man shot by DA investigators this morning was Nickolas Ryan Joseph Johnson, a suspect in the April 28 deadly assault of David Dwane Ganfield. Johnson has been wanted in connection with Ganfield’s death since April 2015. Mills said DA investigators had “him on the run” and […]
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Mills, Frustrated, Shelves Gun Ordinance
Eureka Police Chief Andy Mills has pulled his proposed gun control ordinance, saying his department is going to focus on an education campaign urging people not to leave weapons unattended in their homes and businesses. Mills, with guidance from the city attorney, had developed a proposed ordinance requiring gun owners to lock up their firearms […]
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EPD Makes Murder Arrest
UPDATE: A press release from the Eureka Police Department contains additional information about the arrest of murder suspect Derek Charles Payton, 22, of Eureka. According to the release, Payton admitted to a detective that he opened fire on Elliot Michael Walin and another man during a marijuana-related dispute on the night of Oct. 21. Walin […]
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UPDATE: EPD Identifies Victim of Saturday Shooting
Capt. Steve Watson says his department has identified the 31-year-old man killed near Hammond Park on Saturday night as Elliot Michael Walin. A second man admitted to the hospital with a gunshot wound has been confirmed as connected to the case. Walin was arrested in 2013 after allegedly running over a sheriff deputy’s foot in […]
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Homicide in Eureka UPDATED With Memorial Information
A memorial for Terry Lee Thomas will be held tonight at the Holiday Inn Express at 6 p.m. Thomas’ sister, Phyllis Thomas, says in the announcement: “We’ve heard that Terry was well liked by all who knew him despite his circumstances. We invite you to come join us to share the experiences and memories you […]
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UPDATED: CHP Investigating Possible Cop-Versus-Pedestrian Accident in Eureka
UPDATE: See the full press releases from the Eureka Police Department and the California Highway Patrol copied below this post. PREVIOUSLY: The California Highway Patrol is current investigating an incident in which a Eureka police officer may have run over a transient sleeping on the Balloon Track property, according to Eureka Police Capt. Steve Watson. […]