Fortuna PD Releases More Information on Manhunt

This is a press release from the Fortuna Police Department. The information has not been proven in a court of law and the individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:

On July 17, 2015 at about 0900 hours, an officer with the Fortuna Police Department was working unformed patrol when he observed a 2002 Toyota Tacoma in the area of 12th Street at Newburg Road. The officers observed that the vehicle matched the description of a vehicle stolen in Fortuna on July 15th. The officer conducted a check on the vehicles license plate and confirmed that the vehicle was stolen.

The officer followed the vehicle until additional units were in the area and then attempted a traffic stop in the vehicle while traveling westbound on Main Street. The driver fled and entered Northbound Highway 101. The vehicle continued North in Highway 101 at spreads reaching 100 MPH.

As the vehicle approached Loleta Drive, the driver made an abrupt lane change and exited onto the Loleta Drive off ramp. At the top of the ramp, the driver was met with by a waiting Marked CHP patrol unit. The driver rammed into the CHP unit in a continued attempt to flee. The driver then drove the pickup off of the roadway down the embankment and back onto Highway 101.

The vehicle continued northbound and exited at Humboldt Hill. The driver traveled several residential streets. The driver then turned into Blue Spruce Drive and drove the vehicle into a heavily wooded area.

Once in the wooded area, the vehicle became disabled and both occupants fled. Officer gave chase into the area and deployed Fortuna Police Department K9 “Nordy”. Moments later, Nordy located the passenger Crystal Lappel (age 21 of Portland, OR and formerly of Fortuna). Lappel was taken into custody for obstructing / resisting arrest and violation of the terms of her current local probation. Lappel was transported to St. Joseph Hospital for medical clearance prior to booking at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.

With the assistance of the Eureka Police Department, Humboldt County Sheriffs Department. Officers continued searching the area of the remaining suspect while awaiting the arrival of the helicopter from the CHP. The CHP helicopter checked the area for the remaining suspect and was unable to locate him. The helicopter was also to identify possible areas that the suspect could be hiding.

The Fortuna Police Department redeployed Nordy and moments later Jonathan Krasnay (age 28 of Myers Flat) was located hiding under heavy brush and taken into custody for Possession of Stolen Property, Felony Evading, Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Krasnay was transported to St Joseph Hospital for medical clearance prior to booking at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.