[UPDATE 11:28a.m.] Sheriff’s Deputies at McKinleyville Residence: Report of Barricaded Suspect and Possible Gas Leak

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is reporting as of 9:09 a.m.,

HCSO is currently on scene at a residence on the 1400 block of Railroad Drive in McKinleyville for the report of a barricaded subject and possible gas leak. Residents in the area are asked to shelter in place until further instructions are given. Please stay off the road.

UPDATE 10 a.m.: According to the North Coast Journal, a real estate agent called in the issue to law enforcement after contacting the tenant “who refused to answer the door.” They have more in the article. Click here to go to the article.

UPDATE 10:06 a.m.: The ambulance has been released from the scene. The scanner is indicating that the building has been cleared.

UPDATE 10:22 a.m.:  Humboldt County Sheriff’s spokesperson, Samantha Karges tells us that officers are now clearing the scene. “We searched the residence and didn’t find anyone inside,” she explained. “The leak was determined to be from an underground source…It is unclear what was the cause.”

The gas has now been shut off. She told us, “Just before 8:30 this morning, we received a call from a realtor that was checking the property [on Railroad Avenue].”

The realtor said that a tenant who was being evicted was living in the property. “It is unclear what stage of the eviction process,” Karges stated.

The realtor smelled a strong odor of natural gas and called for emergency assistance, according to Karges.The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office personnel, Arcata Fire, CHP and PG&E responded. “We sent a Sheriff’s Office team in as well as a PG&E,” Karges said. “We searched the residence and didn’t find anyone inside.”

Reverse 911 has been lifted for the area residents.

UPDATE 11:28 a.m.: Press release from the HCSO:

On Oct. 2, 2018, at about 8:30 a.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call for a gas leak and a possible barricaded subject at a residence on the 1400 block of Railroad Drive in McKinleyville.

The reporting party, a realtor, told dispatchers that she was checking on the property and its current tenant when she noticed a strong odor of natural gas. The realtor indicated that she was unable to make contact with the male tenant and that he may be barricaded inside.

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office deputies, Arcata Fire and Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) responded to the residence. During the course of the investigation, five residents on adjacent properties were evacuated and other nearby residents were notified to shelter in place due to the natural gas leak. McKinleyville Middle School voluntarily initiated a lockdown of the campus.

Upon further investigation, PG&E crews found that the gas leak originated from an underground source. Deputies searched the residence and were unable to locate the tenant on the property.

PG&E is currently working to repair the gas leak.

This incident is still under investigation. Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

The Sheriff’s Office encourages the public to always call 911 if you suspect a natural gas leak.

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Chuck U
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Chuck U
5 years ago

What time?

MIKE
Guest
MIKE
5 years ago

I ACTUALLY CALLED THE SHERIFF DEPT ON SATURDAY NIGHT CAUSE I DROVE PASSED THIS RESIDENCE AND NOTICED THE SMELL AND THE LADY WHO ANSWERED SAID IT ALWAYS SMELLS LIKE THAT IN THIS PART OF MCKINLEYVILLE?

Samsung
Guest
Samsung
5 years ago
Reply to  MIKE

What the heck? That’s crazy. No check?

Mobius Dancer
Guest
Mobius Dancer
5 years ago
Reply to  MIKE

Sewers? Septic tanks?

I don’t know what the system is out there – but I’ll guess it’s connect to the septic systems not the fuel supply.

I lived in a house in Rio Dell with a sewer leak that always smelled like the gas was leaking…

Dan F
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Dan F
5 years ago
Reply to  MIKE

You CAN be heard without SHOUTING!!!! ;-]

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago

A school lockdown and shelter-in-place issued for a leaky gas pipe? Wow.. I’m surprised I didn’t get an automated (some color) alert on my phone.

Guest
Guest
Guest
5 years ago
Reply to  THC

Partly so much reaction due to it being a house with a rancorous eviction was going on?

THC
Guest
THC
5 years ago
Reply to  Guest

We had a renter stop making payments for over 6 months, it took 6 months to finally get them evicted by the sheriff and never once did they order a lockdown or shelter in place. lol, the guy even shot a bunch of holes in the roof with a dreaded AR-15 and left thousands of dollars in garbage we had to clean up.