Woman admits to stabbing mall employee

On 02/23/15 at about 7:15 p.m., Officers with the Eureka Police Department were dispatched to the Bayshore Mall after a woman called 911 reporting that someone was attempting to stab her.  Upon arrival, officers located a mall employee that had been stabbed in the arm.

The suspect, Cayla Tatum (26) of Eureka, had been pepper sprayed and detained by mall security and an off-duty police officer prior to officer’s arrival.  Tatum admitted to stabbing the victim.  Based on witness statements, Tatum attacked the victim without any provocation and chased her from one store to another where she cornered and stabbed her.

The victim was transported by ambulance to the hospital for treatment for non-life threatening injuries.  Tatum was transported to the hospital for medical clearance prior to being booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for assault with a deadly weapon.