The American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation are demanding that the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and 70 other California law enforcement agencies immediately stop sharing license plate data with their out-of-state counterparts, particularly those in states that have criminalized abortion. At issue is agencies’ use of automated license plate readers — digital […]
Samantha Karges
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UPDATE: Two Shot by Police After Pursuit, Reported Armed Robbery in Eureka
UPDATE: The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has determined that a third man wanted for questioning in the incident that included a police shooting this afternoon is not a suspect and was uninvolved but fled the scene upon seeing guns drawn, according to spokesperson Samantha Karges. No additional suspects are believed to be outstanding. PREVIOUSLY: Two […]
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34 People Infected in County Jail COVID Outbreak
The COVID-19 outbreak at the Humboldt County jail has now grown to infect 28 inmates and six correctional officers after a dozen more inmates tested positive for the virus over the weekend. Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Samantha Karges said in an email to the Journal the outbreak remains isolated in a single housing unit […]
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Six More Jail Inmates Test Positive for COVID-19
Another six Humboldt County jail inmates tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday amid an outbreak that has now infected 21 people, including six correctional officers. Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Samantha Karges said in an email to the Journal that all the inmates who tested positive yesterday were in the same housing unit as the other […]
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Faith and Fever: Humboldt County Churches Ponder Reopening
The Humboldt County Joint Information Center recently released safety guidelines for places of worship that wish to resume services. Churches are among the latest venues approved for reopening by the county, and they are encouraged but “not required” to submit reopening plans to the Emergency Operations Center. Local congregations have had diverse responses to the […]
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New Jail Transportation Assistance Program Will Still Leave Some Arrestees Stranded, At Least Temporarily
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office sent out a press release this week announcing it has revised its program assisting poor arrestees in getting home after they are released from custody to help them “have a better chance to create a healthy lifestyle upon release.” State law has long required that jails offer transportation assistance, upon […]
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Arcata Rancher Charged on 35 Counts Related to Animal Cruelty Investigation
UPDATE: According to Humboldt County Deputy District Attorney Adrian Kamada, at this morning’s arraignment on animal cruelty charges Raymond Christie waived his right to have a preliminary hearing within 60 days. A court date has been set for Aug. 14 and Christie is not currently in custody. The district attorney is filing a motion to […]
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UPDATE: HCSO Serves Warrants on Multiple Properties in Animal Abuse Investigation
2nd UPDATE: On Mar. 22 The Humboldt-Del Norte County Cattlemen’s Association sent out a press release rebuking Christie, calling the scene “horrific and disturbing” and saying the Christie was not a member of their association. UPDATE: A press release sent out this morning by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Raymond Frank Christie was […]
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Former Crabs Infielder Killed in Logging Accident
The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office and the California Occupational Health and Safety Administration are investigating the death of Scott Eskra, 42, who died yesterday morning on a logging operation in Hydesville. According to scanner traffic, Eskra was injured when a tree branch fell on him, breaking a femur. Samantha Karges, spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, […]
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UPDATED: Sheriff’s Office Pulls Body from Van Duzen River
UPDATE: According to a press release from the sheriff’s office, deputies recovered a male body from the Van Duzen River, near the south side of the Van Duzen River bank, located “approximately 1000 feet from the mouth of the river.” An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 7. Previously: The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that deputies […]
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Sheriff, Bachelor Contestant Respond to Media Frenzy
When our story broke yesterday that one of the “Humboldt 35” – people on the California Attorney General’s database listed as missing from Humboldt County – was not only safe and sound, but vying for a rose on national television, it was greeted by a variety of responses, and a lot of questions. The most pressing question: How did Martinez’s […]
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Drug-Related Deaths on the Rise, say Sheriff, Coroner
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office released a comprehensive report Monday which shows that deaths due to alcohol and other drugs continue to rise. The report, compiled by HCSO public information specialist Samantha Karges and Humboldt County Coroner’s Office legal office assistant Brent Ferguson and reviewed by the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services, examined […]