[UPDATE 5:43 p.m.] EPD Officer Detained Man Who Tried to Steal Cop Car (After Having Been Arrested and Released Earlier in the Day For Car Theft)

A stretcher arrives to pick up a handcuffed man surrounded by law enforcement.

A stretcher arrives to pick up a handcuffed man who is surrounded by law enforcement. [Photos by Mark McKenna]

One man, who tried to steal a Eureka Police vehicle, was injured as he was dragged from the vehicle on 4th Street near the intersection with D Street in Eureka at approximately 1:45 p.m., according to Eureka Police Chief Steve Watson.

Law enforcement handcuffed the injured man and he has now been put on a stretcher and taken to the hospital.

According to Watson, EPD officers were doing outreach with several homeless people on the street. He said, they were attempting to get one of the men into housing, when another man, the suspect seen handcuffed in the photos, attempted to get into and drive off with a police vehicle.

Eureka Police Officer Ross

Eureka Police Officer Brian Ross. [Photo from EPD]

Officer Brian Ross pulled the suspect out of the vehicle which was beginning to move and the police vehicle ran over the leg of the suspect, Watson said.

He added, the quick thinking by Officer Ross was able to stop the suspect from fleeing with a fully equipped police vehicle.

The suspect was transported to hospital for evaluation to see how badly he was injured and also to evaluate his mental health, Watson said.

Watson also said that the same man was arrested earlier today for car theft and had been released already.

 

The man with an injured ankle is strapped to a gurney. [Photo by Mark McKenna]

Please remember that information gathered from initial reports is subject to revision as more facts become available.

UPDATE 5:43 p.m.: Information from Chief Steve Watson’s Facebook page,

kyle stevensOn 1/19/2019, at about 1:33 PM, two officers with the Eureka Police Department’s Community Safety Enhancement Team (CSET) were speaking with a group of homeless individuals near the intersection of 4th and D Street.

A male, Kyle Stevens (age 20), suddenly ran up to their marked black and white patrol vehicle, which was stopped in the street only a few feet away. Stevens opened the driver’s door, entered the vehicle, and attempted to put it in drive. Shifting only in neutral, Stevens was quickly pulled from the vehicle by one of the officers as he revved the engine. As the officers were securing Stevens on the ground, the vehicle, which was still in neutral, rolled over his legs. He sustained non-life threatening abrasions to his lower legs. Stevens was transported to the hospital for evaluation prior to booking at at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for felony auto theft.

None of the officers were injured.

Of note, Stevens was released from the county jail just prior to this incident. He had been arrested and booked earlier that morning around 11:00 AM for stealing a Ford pickup truck.

UPDATE: Video of Suspect in Attempted Theft of a Cop Car After He Is Run Over by the Vehicle

Note: We believe that Stevens may be 30 not 20 as posted above. If we are able to get that clarified, we’ll update.

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52 Comments
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Willie Caso-Mayhem
Guest
5 years ago

🕯Twice in one day,did I get that right?

Bozo
Guest
Bozo
5 years ago

Probably out by now… may be trying for 3 times ?

JoseGonzalezMaricon
Guest
JoseGonzalezMaricon
5 years ago
Reply to  Bozo

Sad but true

Elvis Costanza
Guest
Elvis Costanza
5 years ago

Guess he wanted to be somewhere warm and dry even it is the jail.

LostCoastEMP
Guest
LostCoastEMP
5 years ago
Reply to  Elvis Costanza

Humboldt Hilton. 3 meals a bed n pillow. 67 degrees year round .Hot showers any time of the day. TV. And…… it’s free!

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  Elvis Costanza

~isn’t the ‘catch-and-release’ acted on because of the lifers (fed bribe/grants) Downey left behind in the local jail?

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago

I’m not for corporal punishment, but getting your legs tun over seems like a fitting eye-for-an-eye punishment, Hammurabi-style.

Mobius Dancer
Guest
Mobius Dancer
5 years ago

That’s what you get with a desperate, angry population with few, if any, viable options for actual change.
And, of course, there are more than a few random crazies around to give everyone bad ideas.

Emergency Services Vehicles need a security system to disengage before driving. A gizmo or a code before the transmission engages.

it's old popcorn toes again , saying it like it is
Guest
it's old popcorn toes again , saying it like it is
5 years ago
Reply to  Mobius Dancer

what utter nonsense mobius dancer. How about don’t be a bad person and steal an emergency services vehicle. Sounds like this shithead got a little of what he deserves, hopefully a nice long jail sentence too, but probably not.

Antichrist
Guest
Antichrist
5 years ago

i tend to agrer, yet having heard from law enforcement, thats what you have insurance for and why didnt you have an alarm, and the famous dont leave anything worth stealing in your autos but if you must make sure to hide it. it is fitting that this officer gets told as much. i wonder was there a weapon in that car?if so shouldnt the same laws apply about securing it ?

HOJ in Training
Guest
HOJ in Training
5 years ago
Reply to  Antichrist

A “fully equipped police vehicle” has lots of fun stuff, including a loaded shotgun.

Mobius Dancer
Guest
Mobius Dancer
5 years ago

” How about don’t be a bad person and steal ”
Yes, Old Popcorn – that IS the correct approach to life – but I’ve lived with a chicken coop and raccoons and I know that hungry critturs (and raccoons are also perpetually angry it seems) don’t bother with niceties like, “Don’t take what isn’t offered”.
So.
You have to protect your chickens (and cop cars) with a bit of thoughtful foresight.
This is because we have a society of angry, destitute people with an inbred sense of entitlement. Kind of like raccoons. Makes them crazy. That’s another reason to cover one’s behind with a decent layer of security.
I lock my car, don’t you?

That said – yes, I think that little snot got what he deserved – Karma is a satisfying Bitch, isn’t it?

Tweakers suck
Guest
Tweakers suck
5 years ago

👍

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
5 years ago
Reply to  Mobius Dancer

no. stop thinking like this. they already have keys and gps. using the features they already have would be enough

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
5 years ago
Reply to  Mobius Dancer

Maybe just one of those blow tubes/breathalyzer things they put in drunks’ cars.

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
5 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

no dont add more crap. emergency response vehicles need to take off at a seconds notice if needed

Ullr Rover
Guest
Ullr Rover
5 years ago
Reply to  tax payer

I was joking with the assumption that he would fail the breathalyzer to start the car. I suspect the cop left his car running. Take the keys is the easiest solution.

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
5 years ago
Reply to  Ullr Rover

early morning reaction. now i see.

military vehicles dont have keys. so maybe they will go that way

Chairokee
Guest
Chairokee
5 years ago

More OJT coming down the pipeline,kid you cant get out of fully equipped cruiser surrounded by homeless, remember your schooling, DONT LEAVE EQUIPMENT UNATTENDED!!, don’t try that in prison, you won’t like the outcome, very lucky this time i hope you learn from this mistake,i see Drake is back (cop in tan pants in right side of pict) hope his OJT sunk in not acceptable his unprofessional verbiage.

Deja vu
Guest
Deja vu
5 years ago

This is what happens when he isn’t held long enough for the afternoon meal in jail. Catch and release backfired with this scenario! The show “Cops” would love this street adventure for the show. Looks like Eureka’s finest have him well surrounded and under control.

Most of the time it is very difficult to help homeless street people with possible drug or mental health problems.

Pike Mortar
Guest
Pike Mortar
5 years ago

Will he steal an ambulance from the hospital for the trifecta? No matter if he does, Maggie and the ineffectual Humboldt justice system will get him probation, not incarceration… though he should get decapitation.

Disgusting supervisors.
Guest
Disgusting supervisors.
5 years ago

A fast car and a loaded AR who knows what this crazy fucker would’ve done next.

Mike
Guest
Mike
5 years ago

Traded them for meth and then repeated process. Wait sorry, I believe now in PC California meth is supposed to be referred to as “medicine”

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Meth is a schedule 2 drug in all 50 states and can be legally prescribed by a doctor.

Chem Heads
Guest
Chem Heads
5 years ago
Reply to  Jaekelopterus

Yes it is and here’s why. It’s used for (ADHD) Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder and Severe Obesity. Crack cocaine is also a schedule II drug! Go figure!

https://www.quora.com/Why-is-Meth-not-a-schedule-1-drug

So if you have one of these maladies please go to your doctor and get some Desoxyn. Don’t cook this crap in my neighborhood and poison me and everyone else, including all the animals. Not everyone believes in better living with chemicals!!!

LostCoastEMP
Guest
LostCoastEMP
5 years ago
Reply to  Mike

Yes it is mike.It’s not there fault they have mental drug induced problems. It’s not there fault they can’t sober up or get a job. Meth and heroin is medicine. Please help support these people and there life choices by condoling , turning a blind eye, tolerating and passing new laws to let them off easy. As the employee of TJ max told me when I said something about the guy shoplifting and then walking out the door with stolen goods.” I know Sir, but management says we can not confront shoplifters because of possible violent outcome.” So just don’t let em in again, right? “ no sir , we can’t do that either, that would be discriminatory ….”. As I’m waiting on line paying for my stuff!!!!!

Will
Guest
Will
5 years ago
Reply to  LostCoastEMP

Yeah makes me feel like the idiot for paying for goods.

Too many unansweed questions
Guest
Too many unansweed questions
5 years ago

I’m confused… so officer ross was pulling the suspect out of the moving vehicle, but then the vehicle ran over his leg… then he stops the car from being stolen, but not from moving?

1) how did suspect get from behind the wheel to where his leg was runned over?
2) if car was stopped from being stolen then how did the vehicle continue to move.
3) if officer was talking to another homeless person did the officer not secure the vehicle upon getting out?

gunsmoke
Guest
gunsmoke
5 years ago

Try reading the article.

tax payer
Guest
tax payer
5 years ago

there probably was a struggle. lots can happen

Tweakers suck
Guest
Tweakers suck
5 years ago

Quit trying to speculate you weren’t there. We saw the whole thing. The guy did it to himself.

Chad
Guest
Chad
5 years ago

Real life GTA right there

Michelle Brown
Guest
Michelle Brown
5 years ago

Pretty sure I saw this guy at the courthouse just before trying the handles on a couple cop trucks and told the sheriff that was in the lot…

Disgusting supervisors.
Guest
Disgusting supervisors.
5 years ago

Maybe he’ll get the bearcat next time!!!!

cristal
Guest
5 years ago

Brian,how embarrasing.you left your car unsecured,also careless with your gun?guy was loco,like about 10% in that area.you know that you are responsible for his legs. And if someone joyride your car and crashes you insurance will go up.mine is already $265 a year.now the guy you should have apologized to will get ssi, $1018 on first buys 4 ounces of cristal.ell us your sorry for making fun of him on this news.i might have done thesame.you know a lot of my friends,bunch of lowlifes,but I am really alighned.epd own me money for stealing a car from me,registered in my real name,insured,insured owe $2500 for its impound. Metichi,insureds worse than wildfire.stop blaming coupon on the bottom.do like mexico new dictator.he said corruption goes from top to bottom.

Tweakers suck
Guest
Tweakers suck
5 years ago
Reply to  cristal

I think what they call you is a troll… Troll on. You weren’t there. You know nothing. You’re wrong. Peace.

Central HumCo
Guest
5 years ago

~what a bunch of comedians. Great comments!

cristal,una cardena,de pura-
Guest
Reply to  Central HumCo

Good,as a high IQ, in mexico I’ve had the boot of authority on my throat for many decades.and convinced me to be , a clown.tu tambien,payaso.

Local
Guest
Local
5 years ago

Grand theft auto!
And released the same day!
Good job Humb. County Jail!

local observer
Guest
local observer
5 years ago
Reply to  Local

that’s what he was thinking. I was out today and glad I have a roof at the end of the day.

Lynn H
Guest
Lynn H
5 years ago

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

Really looks like 3 hots and cot. It’s cold and wet out there.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago

The usual mini lecture from the police about always locking your vehicle, never leaving your keys in it, etc was not offered.

Y Knot?
Guest
Y Knot?
5 years ago

Thankfully his legs stopped the car from freewheeling and causing any damage.

Just another reason to ditch the entire cop car gig and go with infantry fighting vehicles, certainly the property owners of Eureka want to see this become reality, just as sohum residents enjoy seeing heavy machinery rip out dope grows.

Everyone needs the right tool for the job.

cristal,una cardena,de pura-
Guest
Reply to  Y Knot?

Residents enjoy seeing.intuitive,enlighting.quien yo?

Huh?
Guest
Huh?
5 years ago

You get ORed in this county for grand theft auto?? WTF

The Entropic Empath
Guest
The Entropic Empath
5 years ago

Amazing story. Eureka rules as the craziest place, ever!

$100,000/year is thought to be spent in public services to each and every homeless guy! The Eureka Police have estimated that they spend 85% of each shift attending to the needs of these highly valuable citizens.

Humboldt County, with it’s off the chart Stupid Drug Crime, skyrocketing murder rate, and it’s operation of the world’s largest outdoor 24/7/365 mental hospital and grey-bar hotel for recidivists, would do well to find a method of dealing with the substrata of society which would produce a more effective and cost-controlled result!

I elect busing all these guys out to Northeastern Nevada BLM lands to a fenced compound, where they will be given a pile of lumber, a box of nails, a few cords of firewood, and a large amount of beans, rice, commodity cheese and garden supplies. Lock them in and sternly warn them not to come back!

I predict that within 6 months, they will have a town built, and a system of government in place, and that they will love it there!

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago

Do you have any citations for those numbers?

The Entropic Empath
Guest
The Entropic Empath
5 years ago
Reply to  Jaekelopterus

It is difficult to get accurate figures out of government agencies. During the recent Proposition C campaign in San Francisco, which was passed, the figure of $100,000 a head was frequently mentioned. The new tax itself, would raise about $40,000/head additional, or $300,000,000/year, to support the estimated 7500 homeless persons.

These figures are staggering, but the 1500-2000 “counted” homeless in Humboldt, and the cost to deal with them? I doubt if the county has ever revealed figures which truly account the cost!

As far as the percentage of an officers time spent dealing with the problem on an average shift, a recent story on The North Coast Journal, cited an officer’s statement that he spent 85% of his shift working with just this population. https://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/late-shift-what-eurekas-police-officers-see-after-dark/Content?oid=9667744

Obviously, the fiscal and social costs of operating a city are greatly increased by the presence of a population as destructive and non-contributory as the Eureka homeless.

Eureka is not the only place with a similar problem. These folks are everywhere in California, from San Diego to Crescent City, and no agent of our government has any idea how to reduce the costs.

Do you have a workable solution?

Even I could not predict the current state of affairs!

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago

Nowhere in that article did I see your 85% figure. Since you provide no citation for all of the monetary data, I’m going to have to conclude you’re making things up.

Pike Mortar
Guest
Pike Mortar
5 years ago

Youth in Asia

Jaekelopterus
Guest
Jaekelopterus
5 years ago

I don’t see that 85% figure anywhere in the article. You appear to be making things up.

Rob Ash
Guest
Rob Ash
5 years ago

Keystone Cops nab Keystone Crook..