Hoopa schools advised to be on lockdown due to pursuit of male suspect

12:28 p.m. update : Deputies are still searching the area for suspect who was in a stolen vehicle and fled on foot. 

1:21 p.m. update: "The lockdown at Hoopa Schools has been lifted. Suspect was not located, however, there is no perceived elevated or imminent risk to the Hoopa community related to this individual at this time. Vehicle involved in the pursuit has been recovered."

2:31 pm update: Bair Road pursuit suspect located and arrested by Hoopa Valley Tribal Police in the area of Cherry Flat/Matilton Cutoff. More information will be released later today or tomorrow morning.

HCSO Press Release (December 10):

On Dec. 9, 2021, at about 10:37 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the Blue Lake area observed a stolen vehicle parked alongside Old Highway 299. The vehicle was found to be occupied by one male.

When deputies attempted a felony traffic stop on the vehicle, the male, later identified as 33-year-old Perry Dale Sanderson, fled in the vehicle at a high rate of speed. Deputies pursued Sanderson onto State Route 299 and then onto Bair Road. During the pursuit, deputies observed Sanderson commit multiple vehicle code violations.

The Hoopa Valley Tribal Police Department and the California Highway Patrol (CHP) were requested to assist deputies. During the pursuit, a CHP officer successfully deployed a spike strip near Hoopa, disabling the suspect vehicle. Sanderson then fled from the vehicle into a wooded area.

At approximately 1:58 p.m., a Hoopa Valley Tribal Police Officer located Sanderson in the area of Matilton Cutoff Road. Sanderson was found to be in possession of over 13 grams of suspected fentanyl.

Sanderson was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of evading a peace officer (VC 2800.2), fleeing a peace officer (VC 2800.4), possession of a stolen vehicle (PC 496d(a)) and possession of a controlled substance (HS 11350), in addition to warrant charges of evading a peace officer (VC 2800.2) and fleeing a peace officer (VC 2800.4).

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Hoopa Valley Tribal Police Department and the California Highway Patrol for their coordination and assistance with the pursuit and apprehension of Sanderson.