Road rage incident results in arrest for assault with a firearm

On Sept. 6, 2021, at about 7:51 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the area of School Road and Fischer Avenue in McKinleyville for the report of a possible road rage incident resulting in shots fired.

Through their investigation, deputies learned that at about 7:40 p.m. a female victim was attempting to turn her vehicle onto Fischer Avenue from School Road when a male suspect, later identified as 51-year-old Jason Alan Friedley, reportedly cut the victim off and then brake checked the victim. The victim avoided a collision and passed Friedley’s vehicle. The victim told deputies that Friedley followed the victim to a friend’s residence on the 1400 block of Fischer Avenue and began yelling at the victim, prior to fleeing.

The victim then left the residence, escorted by a male friend. While driving back to the Fischer Avenue residence, the victim’s friend was reportedly tailgated by Friedley. The male victim told deputies that he pulled over and a confrontation occurred between the male victim and Friedley. During the confrontation, Friedley reportedly threatened the male victim with a firearm, firing a shot toward the victim prior to fleeing the area. No one was injured during this incident.

Deputies located Friedley at his residence on the 1700 block of Fischer Avenue. Friedley was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of assault with a firearm on a person (PC 245(a)(2)), discharge of a firearm in gross neglect (PC 246.3(a)) and discharge of a firearm from a vehicle (PC 26100(b)).

This case is still under investigation.