The former head of the Rohnert Park Public Safety Department’s drug interdiction team pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges of conspiracy to commit extortion under “color of law,” falsifying records in a federal investigation and tax evasion. Ex-Sgt. Brendan “Jacy” Tatum and his former partner, Joseph Huffaker, were both indicted by a federal grand jury […]
Kym Kemp
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Redheaded Blackbelt Receives Facebook Grant for COVID-19 Coverage
Yesterday, Facebook notified Redheaded Blackbelt that we would be getting the entire grant we applied for through its Facebook Journalism Project COVID-19 Local News Relief Fund Grant Program — $44,215! We applied for that money to go directly to stories for you, our readers. Every cent will translate into either photos or words that will […]
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Crab Season Starts With Vessel Rescue, Fisherman Lost Overboard
After spending 11 hours combing 700 square miles off the coast, the U.S. Coast Guard has suspended the search for a crew member who fell off a crabbing boat in a tragic start to the commercial Dungeness season. “It is with a heavy heart the Coast Guard makes the decision to suspend a search-and-rescue case,” […]
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Still Missing: Ivan Linan
A Spanish man who worked as a professional mountain climber and guide remains missing in Eastern Humboldt. Ivan Liñan Cano, 31, was reportedly struggling with mental health issues and paranoia on Nov. 28 when he attacked the friend who was driving a car in which he was a passenger on State Route 36 near Carlotta. The […]
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Online Fortuna Fire Comments Spark Controversy
A local fire chief and reporter are in a bit of a standoff over comments left on a blog about the fatal fire that took the life of Martha Ann Robertson in the early hours of July 11. Robertson, 76, was a resident of Royal Crest Mobile Estates in Fortuna, CA and apparently perished due to […]
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Sheriff Launches Scotia Death Investigation
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is in the midst of a death investigation after deputies responded to a report of a foul smell in Scotia to find the decomposing remains of Justin Joseph Nevis, 32, of Sacramento. An autopsy is currently pending to determine a cause of death, but the the case is possibly linked […]