FBI Operation in Hayfork With Helicopter and K-9 Captures Two Fleeing Suspects

FBI agents gathered in Hayfork in late July for what appears to be an operation connected to today’s events. [Photo provided by a witness]

Today around 2 p.m., the FBI supported by the Trinity County Sheriff’s Department stopped a vehicle on Hwy 3 near the Hayfork Fairgrounds. Two suspects attempted to flee the vehicle but were captured.

A spokesperson for the FBI, Gina Swankie, wrote in response to our questions, “Today, the FBI with assistance from the California Highway Patrol and Trinity County Sheriff’s Office apprehended a fugitive wanted in Virginia during a traffic stop in Hayfork.  At this time, we do not have additional details to provide.”

A Trinity County woman who was caught up in the action with her children spoke to us anonymously. She had been driving south out of town and just before she got to the Trinity County Sheriff’s substation, she said two Sheriff vehicles came out “really fast.”

She continued behind them only to have more law enforcement type vehicles come out of the substation driveway behind her. “Two big trucks came up really fast,” she said. “I could tell they wanted me out of the way.” She pulled over and let them by. “Two more came up really fast right behind me,” she said. “They had their lights on.”

Then she said more law enforcement type vehicles came from the other direction. They appeared to force a vehicle to stop that was ahead of the law enforcement vehicles that had passed her.

“The next thing I know I see two guys running for their life,” she said. “Police Officers with guns drawn going after them–about eight [officers]…One of the [suspects] who was running appeared to take stuff out-maybe a gun…He was slinging things right and left. They were chasing him.”

The woman described at least one K-9 officer. “A helicopter appeared, [also],” she said. “It makes me think this wasn’t a spur of a moment thing. They must have a little bit of a heads up…There was one guy who had like an army fatigue helmet on. Everyone else…had Trinity County vests on and what not.”

A fence runs along Hwy 3 in the area and one of the suspects tried to get through it to the open field beyond. The woman explained, “[The suspect] tried to find an exit…He tried to jump [over the fence] but he couldn’t.”

At this point the woman was worried that law enforcement might start shooting. “I got the kids out of the car and got behind the car,” she explained.

By this time the officers had detained the suspects including the man that had tried to jump the fence. “They had seized him and they got the other guy as well,” she said. “There might have been three [suspects]. I’m not sure.”

Eventually, law enforcement checked the suspects’ vehicle. “They were very cautious about opening the guys’ car,” the woman told us. “But there wasn’t anyone there.”

The officers put at least two men in handcuffs. “One guy had black hair with dyed red tips and the other guy had only black hair,” the woman said. “About 15 to 20 minutes later, they let us pass through.”

We don’t know if the FBI has concluded their investigation in the tiny remote town of Hayfork. We’ll update if we get more information.

Earlier Chapter: FBI, Helicopters, More Join Massive Law Enforcement Raids in Western Trinity County