The Story of Jere Melo's Death and The Hunt for Aaron Basslar (The Best of the Links)

Description of the events of the day of the shooting here.

Excellent slideshow of officers hunting Aaron Bassler. (The photographer catches some great moments of swat officers aboard the Skunk Train.)

Press Democrats’ indepth piece on Jere Melo–who he was and how people are reacting to his death. It also includes the information that it wasn’t a pot garden but an opium farm that Melo and his fellow forester were investigating.

The Ukiah Daily Journal’s pieces have so far been disappointing which is surprising since they are on the spot and the story is being covered in many places such as LA, SF and as far away as Australia.

A Fort Bragg man writes about his memories of Jere Melo.

The Facebook wall of the Mendocino Co. Sheriff where many local residents expressing concern about sending their children to school with the suspect still at large.

UPDATE: 11:15 on 8/29: The Press Democrat just put out a better description of events on the day of the shooting here. Definitely good information.

UPDATE 1:25 on 8/29: Medical Exam on Jere Melo complete. According to a Mendocino Co. Sheriff Press Release:

On August 29, 2011, a forensic medical exam was conducted on victim Jere Melo and the cause of death was determined to be multiple gun shot injuries. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and other city and state law enforcement agencies continue to conduct searches in attempt to locate suspect Aaron Bassler.  Residents are reminded the suspect was last seen armed and he is considered dangerous. Anyone with any information is  encouraged to contact (707) 463-4086 or (707) 961-2479.

UPDATE 8:30 8/29: Skunk train will resume today or tomorrow which indicates they think the suspect, Aaron Bassler, may have left the area.

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Photo from the slideshow mentioned above

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12 Comments
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Jackie
Guest
Jackie
12 years ago

Kym, your first link takes me to the second page of that article. Easy enough for me to go to the previous page for the start of the article, but thought you might want to change your link.

Jackie
Guest
Jackie
12 years ago

Kym, your first link takes me to the second page of that article. Easy enough for me to go to the previous page for the start of the article, but thought you might want to change your link.

Staff
Member
12 years ago
Reply to  Jackie

Thank you. I’ve fixed it now.

humboldtkids
Guest
humboldtkids
12 years ago

Fiance here: Opium? Pot isn’t enough….they have to grow poppies now? Lovely!

humboldtkids
Guest
humboldtkids
12 years ago

Fiance here: Opium? Pot isn’t enough….they have to grow poppies now? Lovely!

skippy
Guest
skippy
12 years ago

Your reporting here has been far more informative than the 6 short sentences appearing in today’s Times-Standard news today, Kym.

This isn’t to detract from the importance of this story here. But… what’s been happening in Fort Bragg lately ? Following the related links from the Press Democrat link here, the Fort Bragg headlines over the past several months leads one to believe this little town is experiencing some major problems.

This month, August, has been a horrendous one for the small coastal town. This is only a partial list of the headlines, Kym What gives?

“Trial Ordered in Fort Bragg Hatchet Attack” (6/7/11)

“Man Wounded in Fort Bragg Shooting” (7/26/11)

“Suspect Sought in Fort Bragg Vase Assault” (8/2/11)

“Fort Bragg Man Suspected of Bank, Bookstore Heists” (8/8/11)

“Fort Bragg Woman Suspected of Trying to Run Down Neighboring Campers’ Tent” (8/11/11)

“SWAT Team Raid Leads to Arrests of Three Fort Bragg Shooting Suspects” (8/11/11)

“Mendocino County Authorities Investigating Homicide along Hwy. 1” (8/12/11)

“Parolee Suspected of Fort Bragg Theft” (8/13/11)

“Mendocino Land Trust Official Slain Near Westport” (8/16/11)

“Fort Bragg Official Slain” (8/28/11)

skippy
Guest
skippy
12 years ago

Your reporting here has been far more informative than the 6 short sentences appearing in today’s Times-Standard news today, Kym.

This isn’t to detract from the importance of this story here. But… what’s been happening in Fort Bragg lately ? Following the related links from the Press Democrat link here, the Fort Bragg headlines over the past several months leads one to believe this little town is experiencing some major problems.

This month, August, has been a horrendous one for the small coastal town. This is only a partial list of the headlines, Kym What gives?

“Trial Ordered in Fort Bragg Hatchet Attack” (6/7/11)

“Man Wounded in Fort Bragg Shooting” (7/26/11)

“Suspect Sought in Fort Bragg Vase Assault” (8/2/11)

“Fort Bragg Man Suspected of Bank, Bookstore Heists” (8/8/11)

“Fort Bragg Woman Suspected of Trying to Run Down Neighboring Campers’ Tent” (8/11/11)

“SWAT Team Raid Leads to Arrests of Three Fort Bragg Shooting Suspects” (8/11/11)

“Mendocino County Authorities Investigating Homicide along Hwy. 1” (8/12/11)

“Parolee Suspected of Fort Bragg Theft” (8/13/11)

“Mendocino Land Trust Official Slain Near Westport” (8/16/11)

“Fort Bragg Official Slain” (8/28/11)

Ernie's Place
Guest
12 years ago

The opium is most likely medicinal, being grown under a 415 permit.
(415 is the police code for violence)
However, opium is one of the most widely used plants in the medicine world. Why aren’t people allowed to grow it? How is it any different than Marijuana?

humboldtkids
Guest
humboldtkids
12 years ago
Reply to  Ernie's Place

Hehe, your right Earnie…its just another medicinal plant, I should have never questioned it in the first place.

Ernie's Place
Guest
12 years ago

The opium is most likely medicinal, being grown under a 415 permit.
(415 is the police code for violence)
However, opium is one of the most widely used plants in the medicine world. Why aren’t people allowed to grow it? How is it any different than Marijuana?

humboldtkids
Guest
humboldtkids
12 years ago
Reply to  Ernie's Place

Hehe, your right Earnie…its just another medicinal plant, I should have never questioned it in the first place.

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[…] The Mendocino Sheriff’s Dept. just released a statement announcing they were now searching for Aaron Bassler in relation to Matthew Coleman’s homicide as well as Jere Melo’s. […]