DUI suspect Ricky Arndt armed with crossbow uncooperative with EPD, even after arrest

On March 17, 2020, at about 3:28 p.m., officers with the Eureka Police Department responded to the 2000 block of Buhne Street in Eureka for the report of a collision involving a moving vehicle and a parked vehicle.

While officers were responding, information was received that the driver of the involved vehicle was possibly under the influence, disgruntled, and was suspected of brandishing a crossbow minutes earlier in the greater Eureka area. 

Officers arrived on scene and attempted to contact the driver and single occupant of the vehicle.  The male, later identified as Ricky Arndt (41 of McKinleyville), was uncooperative and yelled for officers to shoot him. 

Based on the information received that Arndt was possibly armed with a crossbow and the totality of the circumstances, an officer with a less than lethal bean bag shotgun arrived on scene.  Arndt failed to follow multiple commands and one round from the bean bag shotgun was deployed.  Arndt was struck in the leg with one bean bag round and was taken into custody after a brief struggle.

Arndt was transported to the hospital by ambulance where he continued to be uncooperative with first responders and hospital staff.  Arndt was arrested for DUI and felony resisting arrest.  When medically cleared, Arndt could be booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. 

A crossbow and machete were found at the scene.