What does the local gang "Crazy White Boys" have to do with the attempted murder on David Seigl?

On August 16, Benjamin Heidmann and Konnor Wright were held to answer on all charges in the attempted murder of David Seigl after a preliminary hearing.

Arcata Police Department's Officer Don Arminio was the only witness to testify.

During the preliminary hearing, according to statements made by Wright to Officer Arminio, Wright claimed that Heidmann told him "that he wanted to exact revenge" on Seigl. Wright told Officer Arminio that Heidmann said, "he wanted to kill Siegl and any family members at the residence" and "named individuals that would be at the residence". One name was Shane Hamsi.

Arminio said that Wright also told him that Heidmann told him that Siegl and he were members of a gang called "White Crazy Boys" and that Siegl and other members tried to rob Heidmann.

Heidmann was doing this "to exact revenge."





According to Officer Arminio's testimony, on July 29, 2016, he was working the North beat in Arcata when he was dispatched to a call of "shots being fired" at a residence.

Sgt. Keith Altizer was already on the scene "talking to two occupants of the dwelling," said Officer Arminio.

"Only saw one or two shell casings, initially," said Officer Arminio. Later, they found three of one caliber and one of another caliber.

"The window in the north east corner of the residence had multiple bullet holes." Officer Arminio estimated that 7or 8 bullet oles were "initially found on the siding east of the of the window."

Officer Arminio spoke with Seigl. The officer drew a diagram and gave detailed testimony on Seigl's room. Bullet holes were found in the north east corner of the room. "The bed was pushed up directly across the window with the head towards the Northwest corner." Officer Arminio noticed "glass shards all over the window shield. There was glass on the bed. Bullet holes on the south side of the bedroom that went through cabinets of the walls."

Deputy District Attorney David Christensen asked, "So bullets went through  two walls?"

Officer Arminio answered, "yes."

Seigl told Officer Arminio that he heard "a vehicle engine outside, woke up and saw two people hanging out of a vehicle who started shooting." Seigl said he got down on the ground and "laid down near the bed until the shooting stopped."

Seigl said he did not recognize the two people and described the car as a dark colored Ford sedan.

Officer Arminio also spoke with Roxanne Hernandez, Seigl's aunt. She said "she was asleep. Her bed is west of Mr. Seigl's bedroom. She awoke to the sound of gunfire and looked out the window. She was unable to see much because of a bush covering the window."

Officer Arminio then described the two types of caliber of the bullets found. "Approximately an hour later," his beat partner, "noticed a vehicle going southbound on K street. This matched the description of the vehicle in the alleged shooting. A traffic stop was initiated. His partner requested backup because "he observed a barrel of a firearm" and "detained the two occupants" until Arminio and other officers arrived.

The identies of the two men were learned later. After probbale cause, the car was searched and ammunitions, weapons and bulletproof vest "with ballistic panels"consistent" with the shooting at the residence was discovered .

Wright was searched and "two 30 round magazines" were found on him. Wright said that he used the AR-15. When Heidmann was being booked, "casings from his boot" fell out that were similar to the casings found on the scene and in the car.

Heidmann was interviewed first, then Wright. Officer Arminio said that Wright told him that Heidmanna asked for his help and to use his guns but until he arrived on the scene, he did not know what Heidmann's plans were. Wright admitted that they did a "slow car roll" by Seigl's residence and "opened fire" from the windows in the car, which were open.

Wright told Officer Arminio that he did not intend to kill Seigl, "only scare him." Officer Arminio said that Wright asked him if anyone was injured and expressed relief when he found that no one had been injured.

Aug 16, 2016

Benjamin Heidmann and Konnor Wright held to answer on all charges in alleged attempted murder of David Seigl

A preliminary hearing was scheduled on 8/15 for Benjamin Heidmann and Konnor Wright. It was continued to this morning in Courtroom 5; sent to Courtroom 1.

Count 1: attempted, willful deliberate, premeditated murder with a special allegation that they "personally used firearms"; rifles, causing this to be a serious and violent felony.

Count 2 assault with a semi-automatic firearm, also a felony.

Count 3 Shooting at an inhabited dwelling. If they are convicted of this charge, there is minimal jail time.

The special allegation in Count 3 only applies to Heidmann, that he wore a body vest in the commission of the offense alleged in Count 3.

Alleged victim is Daniel Anthony Siegl.

Deputy District Attorney David Christensen is prosecuting the case. Bail was $1 million for each. Public Defender Mr. Robinson was present with Heidmann. Mr. Marek Reavis was present with Wright.

The People presented one witness APD Field Training Officer Don Arminio. Defense did not present any witnessses.

Arraignment on information is on August 30 at 2 p.m. Both defendants were held to answer on all charges after the preliminary hearing.

Family members and other supporters were present for both defendants. No other media was in court.

Aug 2, 2016

Benjamin Heidmann and Konnor Wright to be arraigned on attempted murder, assault with a semi automatic firearm and shooting at an inhabitated dwelling

Wright

Heidmann

The Arcata Police Department sent their report to the District Attorney's office this morning, Sgt. Todd Dokweiler told me.

Benjamin Heidmann and Konnor Wright needed to be arraigned by today or they would have been released from custody, according to Penal Code 825.

They were arraigned today on the following charges:

Count 1: attempted, willful deliberate, premeditated murder with a special allegation that they "personally used firearms"; rifles, causing this to be a serious and violent felony.

Count 2 assault with a semi-automatic firearm, also a felony.

Count 3 Shooting at an inhabited dwelling. If they are convicted of this charge, there is minimal jail time.

The special allegation in Count 3 only applies to Heidmann, that he wore a body vest in the commission of the offense alleged in Count 3.

Alleged victim is Daniel Anthony Siegl.

Deputy District Attorney David Christensen is prosecuting the case. Bail was $1 million for each. Public Defender Casey Russo appointed for Heidmann. Mr. Kaleb Cockrum appointed for Wright.

Intervention August 11. Preliminary hearing is August 15.

Jul 30, 2016

Heidmann and Wright each have 1/2 a million $ bail; are cellies in max; and booked for 5 felonies and 3 misdemeanors which include conspiracy to commit a crime

Benjamin Heidmann and Konnor Wright, who were arrested yesterday are still in custody. I just checked the following information at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.

Each has half a million dollars bail. They are both in the max unit and are "cellies."

Each has been booked for following felonies: Attempted murder; assault with a firearm upon a person; Wearing a body vest; Shooting an inhabited dwelling and Conspiracy to commit a crime.


Each has been booked for the following misdemeanors: Possession of a controlled substance (armed); possession of a controlled substance; and wearing masks for unlawful purposes.

Jul 29, 2016

Two arrested by APD for attempted murder after shots fired into a residence

On 7/29/16 at about 2:12 AM Officers responded to the 1700 block of Stewart Ave for multiple reports of shots fired in the area.  Officers from the Arcata Police Department responded and located a residence with multiple bullet holes through a window and the front siding of the house.  Shell casings were also found in the roadway near the residence.  The residents inside the home were contacted and were uninjured.

The vehicle was described as a dark colored four-door sedan possibly occupied by two subjects.

At about 3:11 AM, an Arcata Police Officer conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that had been seen while officers were responding to the initial call that was similar to the description of the suspect vehicle.  During the traffic stop, the officer noticed a rifle in the back seat.

Officers detained the two occupants that were inside the vehicle.

During a search of the vehicle, two firearms were located that were consistent with the casings found on scene. Additional evidence was located inside the vehicle that tied the two occupants to the shooting.

Benjamin Isaia HEIDMANN age 18 from Arcata was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Jail for 664/187 PC - Attempted Murder, 245(a)(2) PC - Assault With a Firearm, 246 PC - Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling, 12022.2(b) PC - Wearing Body Armor While in the Commission of a Felony, 11377(a) H&S - Possession of Methamphetamine, 11364(a) H&S Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, 182(a) PC - Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, 11370.1 PC - Possession of a Firearm While in Possession of Drugs, and 185 PC - Use of a Mask Committing a Crime.

Konnor Lee WRIGHT age 22 from McKinleyville was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Jail for 664/187 PC - Attempted Murder, 245(a)(2) PC- Assault With a Firearm, 246 PC - Shooting into an Occupied Dwelling, 12022.2(b) PC - Wearing Body Armor While in the Commission of a Felony, 11377(a) H&S - Possession of Methamphetamine, 11364(a) H&S Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, 182(a) PC - Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, 11370.1 PC - Possession of a Firearm While in Possession of Drugs, and 185 PC - Use of a Mask Committing a Crime .

The investigation is ongoing.  Anybody who witnessed the incident is urged to contact the Arcata Police Department.