“This tense, highly dangerous incident is yet another example of the dedication and courage our law enforcement officers demonstrate every day in service to their communities. "

Frequently arrested and chronic criminal Mario Marcel Garcia is in custody, again. I have links to previous posts.

EPD Press Release:

On December 11, 2020, at about 8:30 PM, a uniformed Eureka Police Department (EPD) officer was conducting foot patrol at the Humboldt County Library (1313 Third Street).  

The officer saw Mario Marcel Garcia (age 40 years) and another male subject engaged in suspicious behavior possibly associated with narcotics sales at the library.  

The officer recognized Garcia, with whom he’d had numerous past law enforcement related contacts.   The officer requested a local wants and warrants check on Garcia.  

EPD Dispatch advised Garcia had an outstanding, no bail felony warrant for his arrest.  The officer attempted contact with Garcia who walked away from the library eastbound along Third Street. 

As a second officer (EPD sergeant) arrived on scene to assist, the first officer attempted to contact Garcia again near the intersection of Third/P Streets.  Garcia fled from the officer northbound on P Street.   

As Garcia was fleeing from officers, he was observed reaching towards the waistband area of his pants.  The first pursuing officer saw the handle (grip) of a handgun protruding out of Garcia’s waistband, at which time he radioed that Garcia had a gun.   The officers continued chasing Garcia on foot while ordering him to stop.  Garcia jumped over the embankment at Second/P Streets into the thorny berry bushes below.  Garcia resisted all commands given to him by the officers.  Due to Garcia’s active resistance and his failure to comply with commands to put his hands in the air and to stop reaching around behind him, one of the officers deployed his TASER at Garcia. Garcia was taken into custody a short time later.  

A loaded handgun was found on the ground underneath him.  While searching Garcia incident to his arrest, officers found a loaded pistol magazine in Garcia’s back pants pocket that also matched the magazine in the recovered firearm.  

Garcia was transported to the St. Joseph Hospital for medical clearance.  Once medically cleared, Garcia was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for the following fresh violations: 

PC 29800(a)(1)- Felon in Possession of a Firearm, PC 30305(a)(1) - Felon in Possession of Ammunition, PC 25400(a)(2) – Felon with Concealed Firearm on Person, PC 148(a)(1) - Resist or Obstruct a Peace Officer, and PC 1203.2(a) - Probation Violation. (Case # 20-006864.) Additionally, Garcia’s no bail (mandatory appearance) felony warrant for which he also was arrested was issued for the following offenses:  PC 12022.53(b) – Firearm Used in Commission of a Felony, PC 422 – Threats to Commit Crime Resulting in Death or Great Bodily Injury, PC 273.5(a) – Inflict Corporal Injury on Spouse/Cohabitant, PC 12022.5(b) – Use of an Assault Weapon in Commission of a Felony.   A later examination of the firearm recovered from Garcia revealed it consisted of a Glock lower (the pistol grip and trigger housing were from a Glock) and a .22 caliber upper conversion kit. This functionally made the firearm a .22 caliber, full-sized, semiautomatic pistol. There was no serial number on the firearm. A functions check revealed it was fully operational.  

“This tense, highly dangerous incident is yet another example of the dedication and courage our law enforcement officers demonstrate every day in service to their communities.  They are asked to do what has become an increasingly difficult job with ever higher expectations and demands placed upon them, yet they continue to suit up and perform their duties with great professionalism and restraint.”  ~Chief Steve Watson       

Previous posts:

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/11/compared-to-his-previous-charges-this.html?m=1      

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/07/90000-bail-for-mario-garcia-who-is-in.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/07/this-is-what-mario-marcel-garcia-looked.html?m=1

https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2020/07/armed-and-dangerous-carjacking-assault.html?m=1