"Please find attached Mayor’s Bergel response to the letter sent by PETA to local media. The City of Eureka or Mayor Bergel has not received a letter or any other correspondence from PETA, but have prepared the attached response letter," this statement was just sent out by Assistant City Manager and City Clerk Pam Powell.
29 year old Ignacio Bravo Leon was arrested by Arcata Police Department yesterday for VC 23109(a) speed contest, VC 14601.2(a) driving with asuspended license revoked because of a DUI, VC 23578 DUI penalty for exvessive blood alcohol content or test refusal, VC 23152 (a) DUI, VC 23152(b) driving with a blood alcohol level.over the legal limit, violation of probation, PC 422 criminal threats, PC 368(b)(1) elder abuse, PC 242 battery, PC 240 assault and PC 245(a)(4) assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury.
I am not listing all his previous arrests and local court cases.
Convicted sex offender John Alphonso Wells was arrested by Eureka Police Department yesterday for PC 290.018(b) intentional failure to register as a sex offender after a felony conviction or juvenile adjudication. If proven, Wells can be convicted of a felony criminal offense and sentenced to state prison for 16 months, 2 years or 3 years.
Won't happen in Humboldt. The judge will just release Wells back on the streets and he will appear on the jail log again. I am shocked he is still in custody. Usually, these offenders are released on O.R.
On Sept. 17, 2023, at approximately 7:30 a.m. an officer with the California Highway Patrol attempted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation on California State Route 96 in Hoopa. The vehicle initially failed to yield and a short pursuit ensued, ending in the area of the 12500 block of SR-96.
HCSO Deputy and Humboldt CalPoly Police Department Sgt. Janelle Jackson has a lot on her plate. She worked and for 8 months, attended courses on weekends to complete the POST Sherman Block Leadership Institution training course.
Yesterday, Humboldt CalPoly Police arrested a "person of concern" identified as Tino. The moment I heard that nickname, I wondered if it was someone I have previously reported about on the blog. I have reached out to the university police department as well as Humboldt CalPoly Assistant Chief Lt. Peter Cress and he confirmed that the suspect is 47 year old Faustino Bravotapia.
Arcata Police Chief Brian Ahearn is leaving and October 18 is his last day. Chief Ahearn is returning to San Diego. APD Lt. Bart Silvers will serving as acting chief. I just confirmed the news with Chief Ahearn. He was always accessible, day or night. I found him very easy to work with and remember meeting him for coffee when he first started at Arcata.
Mad River Union reported this yesterday.
Humboldt CalPoly Police have "arrested the person of concern who exhibited erratic behavior on campus this morning." according to an update sent to media which was also shared on campus.
When I reported on the arrest of Clinton Ellis-Gilmore in August, I asked the local chapter of Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence to send me a statement. If they wished. They did not and that was a choice they made. Since I reported on Gilmore's arrest in August, he has changed his profile and mysteriously any references and photos about the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence from his Facebook page have disappeared. That is why screenshots and documentation is important.
On September 15, 2023 at approximately 5:42 a.m., Officers with the Eureka Police Department were dispatched to the 500 block of N Street on a report of an active assault occurring in the street. Officers arrived on scene and located the victim who was suffering from significant head injuries, what appeared to be a broken arm, and the end of one finger had been bitten off. Officers immediately summoned medical aid to the scene. Officers also located the suspect nearby who appeared to have a dislocated shoulder.
On Sept. 12, 2023, at about 8:08 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies in the area of the 1200 block of Hatchery Road near Blue Lake were contacted by an adult female victim reporting an assault.
I reported on Edward Starkey in 2018 and on his 2022 arrest for false imprisonment, torture, sexual battery, kidnapping, domestic violence and great bodily injury.
Today, at trial assignment, Starkey resolved his case. Starkey pleaded guilty to Count 2 Kidnapping and admitted an added special allegation to Count 2 PC12022.7(e) great bodily injury for a total of 12 years in state prison.
I just did a post on attempted terroristic threats Aunna Bollman on August 30. She posted bail on 9/2 and is out of custody. On Monday, I saw her sitting outside Courtroom 3. She looked at me a few times. Bollman has seen me in court covering her hearings. While she may get a bit animated in court trying to explain her side to her lawyer, it is mild compared to other defendants. Bollman usually answers questions in court coherently.
Unlike a random court hearing here and there that other local media does, I have been regularly following up and updating what has been going on with the lawsuit the State of California filed against the County of Humboldt and Karen Paz Dominguez. I often add minor updates to the previous posts. Content about continuances and minor developments seems to pass as the random court coverage for LOCO and Times Standard.
Unlike the misleading headline above on Lost Coast Outpost and their usual PR to just call the County and spin a positive, you can read the what actually happened at the court hearing this week and court minutes I have included.
Humboldturtle's comment on LOCO's article was on point.
The preliminary hearing for double homicide suspect Russell Albers was continued to today. The time estimate at the last hearing is for 3 days. I reported in August that the People are not seeking the death penalty. Defense has subpoenaed Coast Central Credit Union records.
The Public Defender has filed a last minute motion to continue convicted murderer Jake Combs' sentencing which had been scheduled for tomorrow. The motion was on calendar for this morning. It was granted by Judge Kaleb Cockrum but only after some words for Deputy Public Defender Ben McLaughlin about making a written motion his priority and that the the late filing is not the preferred way. Judge Cockrum said that at the time sentencing was set, time was not waived, there should have been notice and that this defense filing affects other people involved. Combs waived time today. Ms. Timm said the motion filed yesterday was one day before sentencing, did not have good cause and that Combs had previously indicated that he was going to write an apology to Earley's family.
Convicted felon Frank Aaron Henry who already had arraignment scheduled for 9/19 was arrested yesterday on warrant which I reported in my last post. I am the only one who has done several posts since Henry led multiple law enforcement agencies on a pursuit that started in Eureka and ended in Arcata. Henry posted bond. The DA filed a new 2023 case on 8/31 with hit and run charge.
Complaint in his other 2023 case and details in previous coverage. I have added exclusive coverage not available elsewhere.
Molestor Darell Tatro resolved his case before trial pleading to two out of three felonies. Tatro pleaded guilty to distributing or showing porn to a minor and meeting a minor for lewd purposes. Tatro entered his plea on 9/8 which was trial assignment.