The Ukiah Daily Journal is reporting that an Arcata man was arrested May 15th in Mendocino Co. Officers learned from GPS information that a stolen vehicle was withing city limits. One officer sighted the vehicle and began following it.

At Orr Springs Road, the car made a sudden U-turn, and the officer initiated a traffic stop. The car stopped near Mendo-Mill, but then suddenly sped away with the officer in pursuit. At the on-ramp to southbound Hwy. 101, the car reportedly nearly collided with a Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office deputy’s vehicle, then stopped.

The suspect, identified as Justin D. Crumbley, 38, of Arcata, then reportedly ran out of the car and into a UPD vehicle, which had just pulled up behind the car he was driving. Crumbley fell backwards and was taken into custody.

More can be read here.

Fortuna Police Dept. Press Release

On May 16, 2013 at about 8:30 PM, officers with the Fortuna Police Department responded to the 1800 block of Kenmar Road for report of shots fired. The reporting party reported that his neighbor was trying to shoot him. Upon arrival officers determined that 66 year old Audrey Gipson had discharged her .357 Revolver at her neighbor during a dispute.

Upon further investigation, officers learned that Gipson was upset with her neighbor because of an ongoing issue with loud noise coming from the residence and leaves from vegetation in his yard that were falling into her yard.

Gipson admitted that during the dispute, she became upset over the ongoing issues and fired her revolver in the victim’s direction. Gipson was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and the department will be seeking charges for the following:

- Assault with a deadly weapon
- Negligent discharge of a firearm
- Brandishing

 

 

 

Today, officers with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department prepare to continue a search for Shane Miller at their command post at the Petrolia Volunteer Fire Station. (Photos provided by Mark McKenna)

Humboldt CO. Sheriff’s Office Press Release:

From the onset of the search for homicide suspect Shane Miller, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Detective Todd Fulton, was assigned as the lead investigator to assist the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office with the apprehension of Shane Miller.

On Wednesday May 15th, Detective Fulton began checking voluntary trail registration forms from the “Iron Rangers” that access the King Range Conservation Area. Iron Rangers are metal boxes that the voluntary registration forms are deposited into, prior to hikers entering the King Range. The Bureau of Land Management also requires that all overnight campers obtain a “Bear Canister” prior to entering the management area. Detective Fulton called several telephone numbers for persons who indicated they would be departing the King Range, via the mouth of the Mattole River, on Wednesday May 8th. Detective Fulton was able to contact a witness regarding Gigi, the Miller family dog that was found in the area of the mouth of the Mattole River, Lighthouse Road, Petrolia. The witness stated that two hikers were trying to start out from the parking lot on the trail and Gigi continued to follow them towards the beach. The two hikers then met with the woman whom Gigi was given to and later recovered from by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. This parking lot is one and the same where Shane Miller’s truck was initially located and reported to law enforcement. It appears that Gigi was abandoned at that parking lot, most likely by Shane Miller.

Update on Search for Miller:

The search for Shane Miller continues this morning. Staffing at the Petrolia Command Post has been significantly reduced. Command staff from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office remains at the command post, along with Detectives who are following leads and tips. Road patrols will continue 24/7 by Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputies for the next several days. Closure of the Petrolia Command Post will occur in the next 6 hours. The road patrols mentioned will be dedicated solely to the Mattole Valley to answer any calls for service in that area.

Sheriff Downey and the members of the law enforcement community are tremendously grateful to the residents of the Mattole Valley Community for their support, patience and assistance over the last week.

 

PREVIOUSLY:

• King Range Manhunt Winds Down
• Miller’s Dog Found—Law Enforcement Searches for Hikers Who Found Her
• Miller Told Ex ‘Everything Will Be Alright’
• ‘We Don’t Care If You Have a Meth Lab in Your Backyard, We Just Want to Find the Baby Killer!’
• Sheriff’s Office Manhunt Today: Checkpoints, Door-to-Door Searches, More Marshals Arriving
• ‘Defeated’ Suspect in Triple Homicide Left Note in His Abandoned Truck
• Law Enforcement Expands Manhunt to New Boundries
• Shelter in Place Request Lifted—Caution Still Advised as Authorities Search for Homicide Suspect, Shane Miller
• Dead Body Rumors Unfounded, Says Lt. Hanson
• More Officers Arrive to Search for Triple Homicide Suspect
• No News From the Shane Miller Manhunt in the Mattole Valley
• Photos of Petrolia as Hunt for Triple Homicide Suspect Continues
• Afternoon Manhunt Update: No Leads to Report, But Tour of the Unknown Coast Will Go Forward
• Sheriff Downey: Where We’re At in the Mattole Manhunt
• Mattole Schools Close as Manhunt Continues 
• Vehicle of Suspect in Shasta County Triple Slayings Found at Mouth of Mattole
• Humboldt Connection in Shasta Triple Murder

 

Mendocino County Sheriff:

On 05/13/13 Deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office were detailed to investigate the report of an indecent exposure incident which had occurred on 05/12/13 near the Eel River in Leggett, California.

Deputies contacted an adult female who advised she had been at the river swimming with some adult aged friends and their children (pre-teenagers & teenagers) when they noticed a white male adult above them in the bushes.

The adult female advised the suspect had his pants down with exposed genitals and appeared to be masturbating while watching the group of swimmers.

The swimmers were able to locate the suspect’s vehicle and provided the license plate number to Deputies.

Further investigation revealed the vehicle was registered to Carlton Lawrence Draper who resided in Gyserville, California.

Through investigative efforts Deputies discovered Draper was a registered sex offender and was currently on probation in Mendocino County for a similar offense.

One of the swimmers was able to positively identify Draper in a photographic line up.

A stop and arrest Be-On-The-Look-Out (BOLO) was issued by Deputies for Draper in regards to the incident.

On 05/14/13 Draper was contacted by Deputies from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office and arrested for the violations.

Draper was subsequently booked into the Mendocino County Jail where he was to be held in lieu of $15,000.00 bail on charges of indecent exposure and violation of probation.  

 

Guest post by residents of the Petrolia area, John Williams and Kathy Radke who attended Wednesday’s meeting in Honeydew. LoCO thanks them for sharing their experiences.

Sheriff Mike Downey told a crowd at the Honeydew School this evening that the search for Shane Miller will soon wind down, although for another week or two, six or seven deputies will remain in the Mattole Valley to provide a rapid response if evidence emerges that Miller is still in the area. Lynda Roush of BLM announced that the King Range Conservation Area, including the Mattole Beach, will remain closed through May 30 unless Miller is found. 

Downey said that there have been no confirmed sightings of Miller since last Wednesday, and searches in the King Range have found no trace of him, although personnel from many agencies have been involved, and search tactics have ranged from stake-outs at the Smith-Etter and Big Flat cabins and other areas to which Miller might be attracted, to fine-scale searches in the area where Miller’s truck was found abandoned. Downey noted that Miller could be dead, could still be at large in the King Range, or could be elsewhere. Based on the negative results of the search, he thinks the second possibility is least likely. However, he noted that noted that area is large and rugged, that Miller is a skilled woodsman, and that he is good at avoiding arrest. Years ago he was charged with possessing a machine gun, and it took five years to bring him into custody. 

In response to questions, Downey reported that members of Miller’s family have been questioned, and there is no evidence that any are helping him. Many of his acquaintances have also been questioned, and have offered diverse opinions about where Miller might be or what he might do. His cell phone has not been detected since last Wednesday. Downey acknowledged that early in the search some searches of structures did not follow normal procedures, on account of the extraordinary circumstances. However, he emphasized that the search has been for Miller only; on several occasions deputies have turned their backs on evidence of non-violent felonies. 

In contrast to the Sunday meeting in Petrolia, the Honeydew meeting was relaxed and had somewhat the flavor of a political event. Besides Sheriff Downey, supervisors Rex Bohn and Estelle Fennell were present and spoke briefly, and thanks and praise were extended all around. 

PREVIOUSLY:

• Miller’s Dog Found—Law Enforcement Searches for Hikers Who Found Her
• Miller Told Ex ‘Everything Will Be Alright’
• ‘We Don’t Care If You Have a Meth Lab in Your Backyard, We Just Want to Find the Baby Killer!’
• Sheriff’s Office Manhunt Today: Checkpoints, Door-to-Door Searches, More Marshals Arriving
• ‘Defeated’ Suspect in Triple Homicide Left Note in His Abandoned Truck
• Law Enforcement Expands Manhunt to New Boundries
• Shelter in Place Request Lifted—Caution Still Advised as Authorities Search for Homicide Suspect, Shane Miller
• Dead Body Rumors Unfounded, Says Lt. Hanson
• More Officers Arrive to Search for Triple Homicide Suspect
• No News From the Shane Miller Manhunt in the Mattole Valley
• Photos of Petrolia as Hunt for Triple Homicide Suspect Continues
• Afternoon Manhunt Update: No Leads to Report, But Tour of the Unknown Coast Will Go Forward
• Sheriff Downey: Where We’re At in the Mattole Manhunt
• Mattole Schools Close as Manhunt Continues 
• Vehicle of Suspect in Shasta County Triple Slayings Found at Mouth of Mattole
• Humboldt Connection in Shasta Triple Murder

Eureka Police Dept. Press Release:

On 5-15-13, at about 2223 hours, The Eureka Police Department received several calls reporting approximately four gunshots in the vicinity of the 1900 block of J Street in the city of Eureka. Officers responded and attempted to locate evidence of a shooting. At about 2234 hours, while officers were still on scene, the Eureka Police Department was notified by the St Joseph Hospital Emergency room that they were giving care to a male with a gunshot wound. 

Eureka Police Officers were able to connect the “shots fired” call to the wounded male at the hospital. The Eureka Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division responded to assume the investigation. The wounded man is a 24 years old Eureka native, who was in surgery at the time of this news release. He is expected to survive. 

This incident occurred across the street from the Eureka High School, however is not involved with the school and the scene is considered safe. No school shutdown is expected. 

EPD Detectives expect an update news release later in the afternoon. Anyone with information regarding this shooting should contact lead Detective Pete Cress or Senior Detective Ron Harpham. 

Detective Cress pcress@ci.eureka.ca.gov or 441-4390

 

 

Photo provided by Earth First!

Earth First! Humboldt Press Release:

Trinidad,CA: 9:00 am Earth First! Humboldt dropped a large banner 100 ft. up in trees that can be seen from Highway 101 just North of Trinidad, Ca. 

The banner reads in large print “Respect Strawberry Rock”, and below in smaller print, “Forest Stewardship Council and Sustainable Forestry Initiative Green-Wash Green Diamond’s Clear-Cuts.” 

Green Diamond is the first U. S. based company that has received FSC certification while still practicing clear cut forestry methods, something that FSC is selling to the public as sustainable. For the SFI, industry created label, clear-cutting is status quo. Green Diamond holds both FSC and SFI certifications. 

Despite much vocal opposition from the community, including the mayor of Trinidad, as well as a few dedicated tree-sitters maintaining tree-sits, Green Diamond Resource Company is continuing its clear-cutting, aka “even aged management” around Strawberry Rock. These plans include logging stands of residual old-growth and old second growth redwoods. Included in the forest is a rare and little understood species, Bishop Pine. 

Green Diamond has a 45 year clear-cut rotation plan, including all of the land around Strawberry Rock. 

Earth! First Humboldt is calling for Green Diamond Resource Company to create a special management zone of the Strawberry Rock area in which restoration forestry practices are followed include but are not limited to: not taking more than a third of the annual growth of the forest, protecting rare and endangerd species such as the Bishop Pine, Spotted Owl, and Marbled Murelet, and restoring mature forest habitat. The group plans on continuing to support as well as engage in the resistance to Green Diamond’s destructive forestry practices, and will be hosting a skill building camp beginning June 14th called Redwood Coast Rendezvous.