UPDATE: The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has identified the deputies involved in the shooting as Deputy Rosalie Freixas and Sgt. Gregory Musson. Freixas, who was injured, is “doing well and recovering from her injuries.” In its press release, the officers are credited with exemplifying “courage and strength throughout this incident.” Previously: With several members of […]
William Honsal
Posted inNews
County Warns Employees Personal Info May Have Been Compromised
The county of Humboldt just sent a letter to all of its more than 2,000 employees, warning that their personal information — including driver’s license numbers, social security numbers and bank routing information — may have been compromised. According to the letter, it’s unclear how many county employees this affects. In the letter, which is […]
Posted inNews
DHHS, Sheriff, Respond to Grand Jury Reports on Child Welfare
In June, the Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury released two reports related to the outcomes of at-risk youth in our county child welfare system. The reports, “Child Welfare In Humboldt: Getting the Door Open” and “Responding in Time to Help Our ‘At Risk’ Children,’” allege that the three agencies most responsible for protecting local children, […]
Posted inNews
UPDATED: Another Assault on Jail Staff
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office reports that at around 8:35 p.m. on Saturday an inmate housed in a maximum security unit of the county jail assaulted a correctional deputy and two nurses during a routine medical visit. Taume DeMarco, 42, was initially booked into the facility Aug. 9 by the Fortuna Police Department on charges […]
Posted inNews
Sheriff Says Recent Guard Attack Part of Growing Trend
Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal held a press conference this morning to share details about a Wednesday evening assault on a correctional deputy at the county jail and to call for more state resources in response to a surge in similar attacks since the 2013 passage of Assembly Bill 109. According to Honsal, the attack […]
Posted inNews
Sales of Estate Items to County Employees Under Investigation
Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal announced today that the sheriff’s office has launched an investigation into possible improprieties involving the sale of estate assets managed by the public administrator’s office to county employees. In a report by the Lost Coast Outpost’s Ryan Burns, Honsal says the situation came to his attention when the Outpost began […]
Posted inNews
One of Petrolia’s Zebras Fatally Shot
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting of one of the three famed zebras that lives on Mattole Road near Petrolia. Sheriff William Honsal said his office received a report of the shooting Saturday morning, saying it appears someone used a small caliber rifle to fatally shoot the zebra sometime during the preceding […]
Posted inNews
3rd UPDATE: Suspect Killed in McKinleyville Standoff
3rd UPDATE: Multiple news agencies are reporting that the suspect in an armed Mckinleyville standoff that started yesterday morning and continued into the night was killed at about 2:30 a.m. in a shootout with police. According to the reports, an unidentified woman fled the suspect’s apartment, after which he set several fires inside the apartment […]
Posted inNews
Honoring the Fallen
The rain held off but tears were common in the crowd of more than 200 during the Friday evening candlelight vigil in Rohner Park in Fortuna. After the events in Dallas, the vigil had been quickly organized by Sandi Petersen and others of Eel Valley Crime Stoppers, as well as Humboldt County supervisors Rex Bohn […]
Posted inNews
Remains Found at Cuneo Creek Park Identified
Human remains found in Cuneo Creek State Park in 2014 have been identified by the county coroner’s office as those of a Mexican citizen, 31-year-old Luis Eduardo Raya. The Journal originally broke the story here. (Heads up: the original story includes a photograph of the remains.) While the press release says the remains were identified […]
Posted inNews
McKinleyville Residents Turn Out to Talk Crime, Pot, Homelessness With Sen. McGuire
Members of the McKinleyville Community Watch group were able to secure a town hall meeting with State Senator Mike McGuire and other local figures such as Sheriff Mike Downey, District Attorney Maggie Fleming and Chief Probation Officer William Damiano last night. McGuire’s presence was due to the request of Supervisor Ryan Sundberg, who said the […]