51 year old Shawn Kolpak arrested by APD for attempted murder. He was also booked for PC 245(a)(4) assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury, PC 12022.7(a) great bodily injury enhancement and PC 12022(b)(1) committing a felony while out on bail or OR.
Since there is no booking photo to compare with HCSO offline on Vinelink and no photo on the Linkedin and Facebook profile, difficult to add any more information unless I can verify.
On 1/28, arson suspect Stephen Paiment failed to appear for his preliminary hearing. Humboldt Superior Court Judge Kaleb Cockrum issued a bench warrant for $75,000.
Last August Humboldt Superior Court Judge Kelly Neel ordered supervised release and electronic monitoring for Paiment.
Third time in a month. Always on a weekend when Courthouse and County offices are closed. One elevator is still broken.
Once again, after my post, Monday morning, HCSO is online again.
Yesterday, a suspect was arrested near the protest at the Courthouse. Based on the time and charge, I have reached out to EPD to confirm if it is this man.
Gary Herbert Beckett arrested and booked yesterday at 4:57 p.m for PC 415(1) disturbing the peace. He was released on O.R.
EPD PIO Laura Montagna responded, "Yes. Here you go! We can confirm that is the individual arrested. However, this is an on-going investigation as there was an event leading up to his arrest. Some of the information being provided in social media does not appear to have a factual basis."
There is a difference between reporting & information from court records or official authorities and misinformation on social media. The local protest was part of the national protests yesterday. People online jumping to conclusions and saying it was a Trump supporter & not waiting for more official information are the problem.
Daniel, here is your 15 seconds of fame which you obviously are desperate for.
Anyone who does not follow proper procedure and messages me on messenger is blocked or ignored; that is if I even see the message. Daniel Smith who does not even have a phone number on his campaign website thinks yelling at Eureka City Council members, having a Facebook site and disparaging me is the way to get what?
If you were professional and had a team, who you have not disclosed, you would have sent a press release out to all media before your joke of a Facebook page and theatrics at a Eureka City Council meeting.
Daniel I reported from your website, election paperwork and I don't need you to lecture me on journalism or politics. Unlike you, I have worked on winning campaigns in Humboldt, outside Humboldt, reported in Humboldt and outside Humboldt and I get results. I am not obligated to reach out to any Tom, Dick, Harry, Jane or some idiot who thinks a Facebook page entitles you to contact; let alone free press.
It was only after my post exposing you and the couple of people endorsing you on Facebook which include a failed Eureka Council candidate who is MAGA and extremely far right in his views that you now claim to be "center right." I know that individual personally. Your political affiliation isn't a disqualification for me but your attitude and manipulating the public instead of answering specifics you have yet to provide. Are you going to attack any local media who isn't favorable to you?
You have nothing to offer Eureka. You have not proved you can get endorsements or money. If there is anyone backing you or Jason McCutcheon, neither of you are transparent.
Unlike you Daniel, I am busy, I work 24/7. I have volunteered, used my own money to benefit the community. And this includes many in Humboldt who are ungrateful, abusive, grumpy because they are used to being bullies, getting their way, doing shoddy work.
From the courts to politics to business, the cliquey incompetence exposed are haters who should have been called out and exposed by the decades old media who were in Humboldt before I moved to this hell. Those who gossip behind my back and glare at me at the Courthouse reveal themselves for who they are.
If you had proved to be a serious challenger, I would have reached out to you. The Eureka City Council elections are in November 2026.
You and many in Eureka do not understand business. After years of negative loss and lack of investment from people who expect a lot and for free; I spend my time focusing on those who invest and appreciate.
I have to do an impossible, thankless job without adequate compensation, constant hate and abuse from toxic Humboldt and distractions from entitled dime a dozen locals like you. Humboldt in a global and national news environment with many options isn't profitable. It is a choice to do local news.
You can crawl back in the hole you came from and get your publicity elsewhere. For the last several elections, the community and those who have power and money know who the people trust and read. Even my critics.
The choices right now for Ward 5 are incumbent Renee Contreras-DeLoach and you. And you are not an option. However to win, Renee has to put in the work and not take voters for granted.
Humboldt and Eureka will remain stagnant and depressing because there are too many people like you Daniel who think a Facebook account means your 1 cent opinion matters. No one gives a damn about those sitting on Facebook or online commenting 24/7 when you have done nothing and contributed nothing.
For change, people have to get out and be involved, take on the failed leadership and power which has kept Humboldt and Eureka from prospering. There are those who do and contribute; and there are those leeches like you who attack.
As I have said before; if I was not effective; people would not attack. So Daniel, ignoring me would have been smart. But, you and many in Humboldt have already proved opinions are like...
Last Thursday, CHP Northern Division issued a press release about the arrest of 40 year old Michael Jay Kamfolt. It took a few days for regional and national news to cover the bust.
Eureka Police Chief Brian Stephens just sent out a letter.
Leslie Castellano Eureka City Councilmember is termed out but Eureka City Councilmember Ward 1 has a candidate, Jason McCutcheon. Daniel Smith who is challenging Ward 5 incumbent Eureka Councilmember Renee Contreras-DeLoach is McCutcheon's FB friend.
McCutcheon's 501 form shows middle initials as A.W. There is a traffic case is Humboldt Superipr Court for a Jason Allen Wayne McCutcheon. Can't verify if people do not list their full names to compare. Also McCutcheon has yet to qualify or be a serious candidate, the City of Eureka elections are in November 2026. I am not spending time nor providing free information to any potential challenger. It is McCutcheon's job and if he has a campaign team or backers to consider potential issues.
McCutcheon has either scrubbed or restricted his fb page so more later. Many Facebook profiles for Jason McCutcheon in Eureka and Humboldt County. With no photos, no middle name, which Jason McCutcheon filled out Form 501? Could be none of these.
Yesterday, I reported that I covered Christopher Diven in 2022 and 2023. I also reported he has four cases on calendar this afternoon. Diven was already in custody on two cases and was booked on 1/29 for two 2026 cases while in custody. These cased does not include the arrest for the murder of Vincent McKenney. The Ramey warrant for that arrest is no bail.
These are the four cases. He was arraigned on 1/28. Public Defender's office appointed. OR bail is this afternoon.
Michael Anthony Offutt who was arrested twice last year by Humboldt County Sheriff deputies was arrested again yesterday by HCSO and once again for PC 451(d) arson and PC459/461(a) burglary.
HCSO issued a press release at 12:22.
Attorney General Pam Bondi says Don Lemon was arrested this morning. His attorney says he was taken into custody last night. Other media reported he was arrested last night, they have not updated that claim on X or their websites.
Only CBS News is saying sources say the "charges are conspiracy to deprive others of their civil rights and violation of the FACE Act by allegedly interfering by force with the exercise of others' First Amendment rights."
I have been covering the hearings on George Zinn's three cases in Utah State Court. I was covering live when Zinn expressed to Fourth District Judge Thomas Low that he wanted the cases to move forward. Zinn waived his preliminary hearing on all three cases.
I reported on Christopher Diven in 2022 and 2023. He has four cases on calendar tomorrow afternoon. Diven was already in custody on two cases and was booked on two 2026 cases while in custody.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2023/07/christopher-diven-had-10-cases-in.html?m=1#more
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/08/christopher-diven-arrested-on-ramey.html?m=1
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2022/05/one-repeat-offender-among-two-arrested.html?m=1
On Jan. 28th, 2026, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested 23-year-old Tyler Leroy Hilbert of Calhoun, Missouri, on federal charges stemming from the numerous threats made against McKinleyville High School in Nov. and Dec. 2023.
"The Eureka Police Department is implementing a visibility and safety strategy known as Rear Amber Deterrence to help improve roadway safety for motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and officers while also deterring crime. As part of this effort, patrol vehicles may activate rear amber lights while driving or when stopped.
All those Eureka City Council commenters who don't live in Eureka but comment and want items on the agenda that have zero impact on the daily bread and butter, infrastructure issues Eurekans want fixed, please take notes. At least this guy dressed in costume to provide some entertainment and spoke on an issue that will impact California.
When I cover Humboldt courts or am at the courthouse, what happens is better than a TV show. Humboldt is #1 for cray cray but a Minnesota man has snatched that title.
Mark Anderson was arrested last night after claiming to be an FBI agent and saying he had a court order to release Luigi Mangione.
When asked by personnel at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn for his federal credentials, Anderson presented a Minnesota driver's license, claimed he was carrying weapons which turned out to be a BBQ fork and a pizza cutter.
He threw a stack of documents at officers and described them as legal claims against the U.S. Department of Justice.
I just did a post yesterday on City of Eureka is suing Zephyr Hospitality LLC and Does 1-10. That case is confidential or sealed and access is denied so I have no additional information.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/01/zephyr-hospitality-filed-bankruptcy.html?m=1
Yesterday, I also reported that Zephyr Hospitality LLC filed for Chapter bankruptcy on December 23, 2025.
While looking for information on the City of Eureka cse, I found a small claims lawsuit filed by Michael Reinman against Zephyr Hospitality and Nicole Fryer in July 2025.
Reinman was present in court on October 3,2025. Fryer was not and no one was there for Zephyr Hospitality. Humboldt Commissioner Sarah Kaber ruled in favor of Reinman, awarded him the $5,000 he asked plus costs of the lawsuit. Reinman had loaned $10,000 interest free for 3 months to Fryer for her business.
In 2024, I did a post about Zephyr Hospitality and Nicole Fryer acquire Humboldt Bay Social Club and Social Spas.
A federal jury today convicted former Google software engineer Linwei Ding, also known as Leon Ding, 38, on seven counts of economic espionage and seven counts of theft of trade secrets for stealing thousands of pages of confidential information containing Google’s trade secrets related to artificial intelligence technology for the benefit of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). The jury’s verdict follows an 11-day trial before U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria.
I could hear the fire alarm from the Courthouse blocks away in Old Town. 1:13 HCSO Sgt. Josh Comer just said, "all clear, false alarm."
I was told by someone else the fire alarm went off in the jail. On 1/30 around 9:48 a.m. it kept going off again. I heard it walking on 5th.
This alert was sent out to parents at 12:17 p.m. about Freshwater School being on lockdown. HCSO PIO Erin Inskip confirmed the school is on lockdown and deputies are still on scene checking the area.
12:49 p.m. All clear message sent to parents. HCSO PIO Erin Inskip told me, "The units have cleared the scene, and school lockdown has been lifted. The noise heard was likely related to construction at a nearby residence."
PG &E kicked off a gas safety project in Eureka this week. PG & E spokesperson Megan McFarland just sent out information with details.
Tyler Robinson's defense team wants to block still photographers, tv cameras & mics from the courtroom, now they are objecting to the video of Charlie Kirk being shot for the February 3 hearing.
The entire world saw that video many times. The defense's argument about Robinson's right to a fair trial is what they say for everything forgetting Mrs. Erika Kirk, Charlie's children, the prosecutor, the media and public also have rights in this country.
The Utah media motion filed January 16 makes excellent points about access & "No one trusts what happens in a secret criminal proceeding."
I have included the Utah news media opposition filed on January 16.
On January 26, I did a post on the two day preliminary hearing for Rio Dell Dr. Frank Fisher. That post has details, charges, background and court minutes from both days.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2026/01/preliminary-hearing-for-dr-frank-fisher.html?m=1
I spoke with Humboldt Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees after the hearing.
If you read the previous post, you will see the attorneys waived his preliminary hearing for certain counts and was held to answer.
After the stipulation, "We pared the charges down 11 counts from the 22," said Mr. Rees."Some of same victims were included in more than one count."
"The assault charge was a novel legal theory. He forced an employee to take Adderall because she wasnt working fast enough and had to take it in front of him. He did no examination nor did he check her blood pressure," said Mr. Rees.
"Judge Cockrum felt there were issues & was not ready to hold Dr. Fisher to answer for that charge for the preliminary hearing, " said Mr. Rees.
I also reached out to Mr. Patrik Griego who represents Dr. Fisher. He is still considering if he wants to comment now or wait until later. Humboldt Superior Court Judge Kaleb Cockrum gave a lengthy, detailed ruling on the record. Mr. Griego has ordered a transcript and said he would rather wait and let Judge Cockrum's words be included in a response.
Convicted felon Shaine Haugen has two 2025 cases. One is for 7 charges including burglary and vandalism at Cal Poly Humboldt. He was out of custody on bail when he picked up that case. The other case is from when he disrupted the Arcata City Council meeting and the 6 charges include battery on Arcata City Manager Merrit Perry.
Ms. Kathleen Bryson substituted in as Haugen's attorney in October 2025. On 1/27/26, defense petition for mental health diversion was continued to 2/23 petition after opposition from the Humboldt County District Attorney. Preliminary hearing is scheduled for 3/11.
I reported in September 2025 when Haugen was arrested that he has a family law case in Humboldt Superior Court which was transferred from Michigan.
In 2024, I did a post about Zephyr Hospitality and Nicole Fryer acquire Humboldt Bay Social Club and Social Spas.
https://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2024/08/zephyr-hospitality-and-nicole-fryer.html?m=1
On the February 3, 2026 Eureka City Council meeting agenda under closed session is an existing 2025 lawsuit filed in Humboldt Superior Court.
City of Eureka is suing Zephyr Hospitality LLC and Does 1-10.
Zephyr Hospitality LLC filed for Chapter bankruptcy on December 23, 2025.
Access is denied in e court and no information is available. This usually means documents are under seal by court order and the case is confidential.
County wide bulletin issued by HCSO for assault suspect Phillip Donahue.
On 1/23/26, there was a case management conference scheduled in the 2023 civil lawsuit filed by Michelle Hill vs Uonan Uonan.
Both Uonan's attorney, Ms. Cyndy Day-Wilson and Hill's attorney Mr. Marco Rodriguez were a no show.
Humboldt Superior Court Judge Timothy Canning issued an order to show cause regarding both attorneys' failure to appear and failure to file a case management statement.
I have covered both the civil lawsuit as well as Uonan's 2024 criminal case in which he is charged with human trafficking and money laundering. Settlement discussions have been ongoing for months.
I have just been adding updates to the previous posts because nothing significant is happening other than substitution of attorneys for both parties and now they don't even show up for court.
Another Case Management Conference is scheduled for 4/24/26.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta's Office just issued a statement about the arrest of a La Costa Canyon high school teacher in Carlsbad for possession of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) after an investigation determined he attempted to purchase CSAM on the internet. Special Agents conducted subsequent searches of electronic devices in his control which further confirmed his possession and attempted possession of CSAM.