Stolen Vehicle Leads Deputy to Man Wanted for Armed Robbery

Left to Right: Stockhoff and Barnes

This is a press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

On 04-13-2016 at about 11:30 p.m. a Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Deputy on patrol on Russ Street near Dolbeer Street, Eureka located a stolen 2001, silver, Chevrolet Impala parked next to the curb on Russ Street. The vehicle was stolen out of the City of Fortuna. The vehicle was unoccupied.

The deputy saw two male suspects walking away from the direction of the stolen vehicle. The deputy contacted and detained those two suspects for further investigation. The two suspects were identified as 27 year old, Andrew Arthur Barns from McKinleyville and 25 year old, Michael Sherman Stockhoff from Eureka. The deputy requested additional officers respond to his location.

When deputies searched Stockhoff they located a loaded Kimber, .45 caliber, handgun in his waist band. Deputies also located what appeared to be multiple small bags of narcotics in his pants pocket. Stockoff was then placed under arrest. It was later learned that Stockoff had (3) three separate misdemeanor warrants for his arrest.

At first when Deputies were questioning Barns he provided deputies with a false name. Through their investigation deputies were able to learn of Barnes true name. Barnes had an arrest warrant issued by State Parole and also was wanted for the recent armed robbery in the City of Fortuna.

Both suspects were transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility in Eureka. Stockoff was booked for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm in public and for possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine). Stockhoff was also booked on his (3) misdemeanor arrest warrants. One misdemeanor arrest warrant was a no bail warrant for failure to complete a jail sentence through Humboldt County Superior Courts.

Barnes was booked into jail for a no bail State Parole violation, armed robbery and providing a false name to law enforcement.

The stolen vehicle was stored at a local towing company to be returned to the legal owner. At this time both suspects have not been charges for with the stolen vehicle. The case is still under investigation by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and the Fortuna Police Department.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.