EPD Chief Watson shares incidents that reflect one typical night for the graveyard shift

"Through the night of June 21st, 2019, the dedicated officers of the Eureka Police Department’s Team 2 E-Watch (“graveyard” shift) responded to quite a number of notable in-progress incidents as they worked to serve and protect our City and its residents. "

"The events summarized below were provided to me by their sergeant and I thought I’d share them with you.  I’ve found people are often surprised when they are shown just how busy their hardworking police officers and dispatchers are on any given day, and the kinds of calls for service they deal with on a daily basis.  The understanding and support of their community—you—means more to them than I can possibly convey.  Thank you.

On 6/21/2019, at about 9:11 PM, officers responded to remove a woman from a gas station on the 1000 block of Broadway. She was ultimately located at a different gas station on the 1400 block of Broadway.

The woman ran from officers and crossed into the busy traffic lanes of Broadway where she had to be removed from the roadway and subdued. She fought with officers until eventually forcibly moved into a patrol car.

The woman was determined to be grossly intoxicated by alcohol and methamphetamine.  She had also been released from jail earlier in the day following another arrest for public intoxication. The suspect was evaluated by hospital staff due to her high level of intoxication and then transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. Fortunately, no injuries to officers or the woman resulted.

At about 10:39 PM, officers responded to a fight at a gas station on the 1700 block of Broadway. It was reported one of the involved parties dropped a firearm during the fight. Upon arrival, officers detained two subjects on the ground at gunpoint and secured two additional persons in a nearby car. The subjects outside the car were extremely drunk and one was found in possession of a.40 caliber Glock semi-automatic pistol that had been concealed in his waistline.

Further investigation revealed the two intoxicated men assailed a homeless couple for no apparent reason (although their dog may have barked/lunged at one of them). The subjects were arrested and booked into jail on multiple charges with one first receiving treatment at a hospital for extreme alcohol intoxication.

On 06/22/2019 at about 12:57 AM, officers responded to a bar on the 300 block of 2nd Street for a report of a male patron brandishing a knife at patrons and security. The male, a French national, was detained without incident and arrested for public intoxication as no one on scene wanted more significant charges levied.

At about 1:01 AM, officers responded to a residence the 3500 block of Spring Street for a welfare check of a possibly suicidal subject. Through a window, an officer saw the woman lying on the floor in the residence.  The officer forced entry through the front door. The woman was found with numerous self-inflicted deep lacerations.  Officers immediately rendered life-saving first aid measures until she was transported to the emergency room by ambulance.

As the sergeant concluded, “Just another Friday night!”"