[UPDATE 7:49 a.m.] Childhood Buddy With China Creek Suspect When He Was Arrested

Bearcat

Bearcat [Photo by Sarah Thiele from early January 2020]

Tonight, after a long day spent fleeing Humboldt County’s SWAT team in the area of China Creek near Briceland, suspect Ryan Tanner surrendered to law enforcement at the home of a friend from his school days. Scanner traffic indicated that Tanner was wanted for homicide but that has not been officially confirmed.

According to his friend Jon Harmon, a Briceland resident, around 6:30 p.m. Tanner came to his home in the town which is nearby China Creek where the search had centered earlier today. “He was on foot,” Harmon said. “He was freaking and was worried and didn’t know what to do.”

According to Harmon, “I have known Ryan since we were little kids. He was a couple grades behind me in school. I haven’t hung out with him for awhile because he is up to his eyeballs in drugs.”

Harmon said that Tanner told him that law enforcement was looking for him. Harmon said he told Tanner that he had heard that he was a suspect in a homicide. Tanner denied knowing anything about it.

“He was kind of all over the place [in his speech], Harmon told us. “[Ryan] was vague.”

Harmon said he told Ryan he should give up. “If you didn’t do anything, you don’t have anything to worry about,” he said he told the wanted man.

Soon law enforcement came to Harmon’s home. He told us, “It wasn’t but 10 or 15 minutes [after Tanner came to his place] when the Sheriff showed up…I went out and talked to them. I told them [Ryan] was in there.”

Law enforcement told Tanner to come out. “He was right there by the front door…with his hands up,” Harmon said.

Law enforcement took Tanner into custody, according to Harmon. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department didn’t confirm the name of the suspect or why he was arrested.

UPDATE 7:49 a.m.: The Humboldt County Jail records show that Ryan Tanner was booked on two charges– exhibiting a deadly weapon and murder.

Humboldt County Jail record for Ryan Tanner

UPDATE: No Name Released of Victim in Homicide Case That Resulted in SWAT Searching China Creek

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Jason's friends
Guest
Jason's friends
4 years ago

So has anyone seen or heard from the Natalie chic that was seen walking towards Briceland around noon ish yesterday. Supposedly she was another individual on Tanner’s angry agenda??? He was seen in the same area a short while afterwards. Just thinking someone might want to look for her and or if just to find out if she is well safe and a live. Any one no anything??

Any help Jason’s friend?
Guest
Any help Jason’s friend?
4 years ago

Natalie was picked up hitching a ride to shelter cove area (west bound) from a friend of mine. He said she looked pretty traumatized but didn’t realize at the time who she was or what had happened.

Anonymous
Guest
Anonymous
4 years ago

She was walking in Briceland this morning down the road

I know things as well
Guest
I know things as well
4 years ago

Natalie is scum. Multiple times she has entered the property and house and taken things. Even after telling her that, that is not ok to do. Especially in Humboldt in a home where a child resided. That is why she is disliked. She is as ignorant as they come. Chris as well. Known fact your ass was peeping from the forest and entering and stealing from the home. He admitted it to Ryan. Why are these dirtbags free. They are all guilty and an accomplice to this horrific crime.

Jason's friends
Guest
Jason's friends
4 years ago

Rip jason Garrett your friends and family love you. U will be missed hella.

Glenn Taylor
Guest
4 years ago

What do you know about Jason?

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
Ernie Branscomb
4 years ago

All’s well that ends well.

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago

There’s nothing “well” about this Ernie. I fail to understand your flippant attitude.
?????????????

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Yeah,sure

Dear “Yeah Sure”.
There was NO comments up when I made my comment. Where my comment appears now may seem heartless. I was just expressing my relief that the person was taken into custody where he will be treated fairly, and NOBODY got hurt in the process.

Maybe I should change my name to “Flippant”, then I wouldn’t have to answer to blog trolls. I’m sorry about your friends.

The Real Brian
Guest
The Real Brian
4 years ago

I’m sure many knew what you meant Ernie.

Don’t let it get to you too much.

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
4 years ago

Except for his victim(s) and anyone who cared about that (those) victim(s). But I guess it’s all good for you, and apparently that is as far as your perspective lets you see.

Ernie Branscomb
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  I like stars

Guest, Thank you for thinking. You are right again.

Anon
Guest
Anon
4 years ago

Ernie , someone got MURDERED . We already knew it was a homicide warrant .

All’s well that ends well does come off as flippant!

Actually, “I like stars” and “yeah sure” are right

Willie Caos-mayham
Guest
4 years ago

🕯🌳Damn there’s were I left my RV.🐎🗿🇺🇸

Government Cheese
Guest
Government Cheese
4 years ago

Great job LE. Keep rounding up these POS’s. Now if we can rid humboldt of Aron Arlottas girlfriend and crew it would be a blessing. Thieving worthless junkie scum.

Joe Mota
Guest
Joe Mota
4 years ago

Tanner’s a classic example of the tragedy of drug addiction. He was at times desperate and delusional, I suspect from a combination of meth and adderall. He needs to be put away and treated for his addiction, and serve time for any crimes he committed during this latest binge. His probation after release should be very tight and never stop because he’s an addict, always and addict and will fall back to drug use as soon as nobody’s watching.

Government Cheese
Guest
Government Cheese
4 years ago
Reply to  Joe Mota

So why release than? If he is guilty of homicide,missing woman, etc. he should never see the light of day again. Your right, 95% of addicts never change. California is full of failed treatment, coddled, enabled addicts who live lifestyles of crime. Punishment is the answer for most, not hand holding and forced treatment.

Sparklemahn
Guest
Sparklemahn
4 years ago

You don’t have to worry about some crazy driver if you have one of them there sherrifs’ tanks.

Government Cheese
Guest
Government Cheese
4 years ago

….. or my dream ride sparkle man. Daily briceland road commuter!

Anon
Guest
Anon
4 years ago

No lock him up and throw away the key. He had been terrorizing the whole neighborhood. He burned 3 vehicles on crooked prairie recently at someone else’s property. He broke into house on blue slide rd (A lovely old gentleman’s place) stole items, ate food and threw wood stove ashes all over the interior of the home. Then wrote a delusional threatening note Then went to next house and tried to steal an side by side but the owners stopped him. All along the cops did nothing The break ins happened last fall. Obviously this person is dangerous and Should never Be let out again.

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago
Reply to  Anon

It does raise questions about a man who was murderous in 2012 (according to earlier article linked) was free to wreak havoc now. Is there anything bad enough that would make the local courts reluctant to release him?

Angry in Briceland
Guest
Angry in Briceland
4 years ago

I understand that law enforcement has to be careful when entering an unknown situation but last night’s operations in Briceland were completely over the top! Living across the street from the “action” I had a ringside seat which included threatening an 89-year-old man who is extremely hard of hearing with an attack dog if he didn’t move/respond fast enough. Shame on you. I have always had the highest respect for law enforcement but now I’ve seen just a tiny glimpse of the “paramilitary” side of it I can now understand why people are angry.

And if you want to get all self-righteous with me and say that my neighbor shouldn’t have “harbored a criminal”; to you, I say beware. My neighbor was just watching TV in his own home when a relatives’ friend stopped by. The next thing he knows, the swat team surrounded and invaded his home and threatened him with guns drawn and an attack dog.

If you don’t think this could happen to you—guess again. I’m not saying that the police shouldn’t have been on their guard, I am saying that what I saw last night was “police pack mentality ” and we’re just lucky that we don’t have a “collateral damage” death on our hands. How could they not see that they were dealing with an elder—especially since even from a distance of over 100 yards I could hear him telling them that he is 89 years old!

Note to the police—voices carry. Maybe after threatening a very elderly man with an attack dog you shouldn’t make jokes about afterward—someone might just hear you and think your disrespectful humor is in very bad taste. It sure didn’t sound to me that you thought he was a danger to you or your colleagues. Instead, it sounded like you enjoyed making fun of his confusion. Once again, shame on you.

rollin
Guest
rollin
4 years ago

That is how they are trained and it is a major problem. To cops there are only two types of people-cops or criminals.

lauracooskey
Guest
lauracooskey
4 years ago

Definitely lodge a formal complaint. The thugs don’t like it, but the fact is, the world is getting less tolerant of threatening, bullying behavior on the part of the “sic dogs”–they should be on the leash of the law, and not outside of it, and also should always exhibit professional and courteous behavior.
Nowadays they can be recorded at almost anything they do, and they can’t get away with it the way they used to. And even when not recorded, an offended (but uninvolved) neighbor’s dissatisfaction means more than what it used to, because there’s a growing wave of intolerance for law enforcement misconduct.
Let the appropriate overseeing powers know what you saw and heard!

Me
Guest
Me
4 years ago
Reply to  lauracooskey

They arrested a murderer . Maybe you should be thanking them instead of whining that you were inconvenienced by yelling and dogs for a few moments.

Angry in Briceland
Guest
Angry in Briceland
4 years ago
Reply to  Me

I wasn’t inconvenienced by anything, I was a witness to law enforcement putting an innocent, elderly citizen in danger. Maybe that kind of action may be ok with you but I, for one, believe that standing by mutely when I see misconduct on the part of law enforcement isn’t what a responsible citizen does.

Jon
Guest
Jon
4 years ago
Reply to  Me

They already had Ryan in custody when they called my grandpa out of the house and put him in handcuffs.

Angry in Briceland
Guest
Angry in Briceland
4 years ago
Reply to  Jon

This is not OK! I wonder if this is how they would want their own grandparents treated? I hope your Grandpa knows that he has the support of the community—he deserves it!

Guest
Guest
Guest
4 years ago

A rationally worded statement that I would live to see the Sheriff’s office respond.

10 toes
Guest
10 toes
4 years ago

The laws don’t care , they only took the job because it pays $5-7 a hour more than the post office …..and they get to carry a gun…..Biggest, most dangerous gang in the world (law enforcement) . CHP shot at me on “accident “ with a ar15 when they pulled me over at gun point because my “vehicle looked similar” to another vehicle in a crime . And the excuse was he “made a mistake as he raised the gun to point at my vehicle…. Keep in mind this was 2008 I had units on me and guess what ….All units came up missing as internal affairs was taking my statement for the “accidental “ gun shot …… here’s the twist . The CHP officer who “accidentally “ fired at me/ my vehicle also wrote me a ticket 4 mo prior in willits for no seat belt . Then he tore my whole vehicle up and I got mouthy and he told me he would see me again , he was telling me I was trafficking and that he’s gonna find pay and owe logs and ledgers …he found nothing after a hour of being in cop car …then 4-5 months later he shoots at me … on accident of course .

Angry in Briceland
Guest
Angry in Briceland
4 years ago
Reply to  10 toes

This is also not OK. I for one, am fed up with some in law enforcement acting as if everyone is a criminal and that there are no limitations on their actions. The law applies to everyone, even law enforcement. Oh yes, and then there’s that little inconvenient idea that you should be considered “innocent until proven guilty”.

Luke
Guest
Luke
4 years ago

The Bearcat leading the parade coming at you on the Briceland Road sure gets your attention. Now if I was running from them I would appreciate its handling holding everyone back.

Jeffersonian
Guest
Jeffersonian
4 years ago

The reverse evolution of humanity is continually apparent in southern humboldt

Yeah,sure
Guest
Yeah,sure
4 years ago
Reply to  Jeffersonian

Take a drive around Alderpoint. It’s worse than Appalachia. People living in absolute squalor. It’s the poster child of the crumbling of Humboldt, and it’s not the only one. Pretty sad and disturbing.

Frustrated in Briceland
Guest
Frustrated in Briceland
4 years ago

Thank you Angry In Briceland for speaking out. My grandfather has bruises all over his wrists from the deputies cuffing him yet they did not cuff my brother. Confused as to why they handled that situation the way they did honestly considering Ryan came out calmly after my brother told him to give up.

Angry in Briceland
Guest
Angry in Briceland
4 years ago

You’re welcome. The next question is what can be done about it. How do we, as citizens, hold law enforcement accountable for their actions. I hope you have taken photos of the bruises. And if you need a witness of the incident, I was sitting on my front porch and saw the whole incident and I’m ready to testify.

DawnI
Guest
DawnI
4 years ago

File a Grand Jury report long with any other formal complaints.

memy selfandi
Guest
memy selfandi
4 years ago

I was not anti-police, one saved my life when I was a child.

THEN in the last year I witnessed 3 separate acts of excessive force against frail and/or elderly women, an act of cruelty against a legless man in a wheel chair and another, while on-duty, making inappropriate generalizations and statements about homeless while chatting with a bunch of citizens. In one incident the man who called the police cause he was concerned a woman was crying outside in the alley ended up calling in a complaint when he saw the officer grab the little woman by the hair and yank her around and she wasn’t even resisting arrest an didn’t look to be doing anything to be arrested for. We need a citizen’s review board for the county jail, police and also mental health or at least semperviorns as they and the county jail also have the ability to medicate people without permission nor access to the person’s medical history or records. They put people who are mentally ill, having a reaction to a non-recreational medication etc. into jail without even a breathalyzer and the PD says “Judges tend to believe the police.” so what’s to stop them?

memy selfandi
Guest
memy selfandi
4 years ago

Angry in Briceland good, please do. You can file a complaint also. Until there are citizen oversight groups like in some places (Eugene Oregon for one) there will not be enough transparency nor accountability in general.

Dave Sky
Guest
Dave Sky
4 years ago

For every evil perp caught here in so Hum there are several waiting to get caught from past violent deeds. I’m pretty sure a black list would be so long it’d take up everyone’s data!

Old school
Guest
Old school
4 years ago

I agree a lot of evil perps just waiting to get caught. This case is tragedy all around. Including the untold numbers of victims.

Keldaltal
Guest
4 years ago

The poor guy didn’t stand a chance in this world. Being born with opiates in his system and junkie parents. Praying for ya Ry.

Plz blow this up for goodness sake, like it isn't hard enough!
Guest
Plz blow this up for goodness sake, like it isn't hard enough!
4 years ago
Reply to  Keldaltal

Kym might not let this comment stand as it references a child … Granted, it’s the perp ; he was once an innocent newborn. His parents are also presumed innocent especially 35 years down the road , right? Cuz one would have to have some hard proof to make such a damning statement, about them now. And about a baby. Please.

cleareyes
Guest
cleareyes
4 years ago

One only has to have known the background. What keldaltal said is correct. He never stood a chance in life because of it.

Double standard
Guest
Double standard
4 years ago
Reply to  cleareyes

That comment is trash . And so is yours.

No one has a corner on the market on truth; everyone’s memories are skewed. And you’re talking smack (pardon the pun) about A BABY , and two adults 35 years down the road.

Your version of “knowing the background” doesn’t match mine, and imo this whole tangent is in questionable taste.

Kel
Guest
Kel
4 years ago

Are you all that mentally incompetent? How are you getting talking shit about a baby? Read it again, and again maybe it will click. RYAN was born with opiates in his system. He was raised in a lifstyle no child should ever know about. GET my words now. That’s the best I can do for you…[edit]

Humanity needs serious help
Guest
Humanity needs serious help
4 years ago
Reply to  cleareyes

He didn’t have to kill Jason because of it. I am so against the largest gang in the nation and I would like to express that I disagree whole heartedly with the cop’s mistreatment of the elderly gentleman. Shame on the them. They are supposed to protect us from injustices NOT be the ones perpetrating injustices against us. That being said I have known Jason since he was a young man, because of my friendship with his mother and stepfather. He did not deserve this. His family does not deserve this. Jason was a human being and imperfect as every single one of us is; however, he never maliciously harmed anyone. This is heartbreaking for all of us and I tend to have very little sympathy for his killer.
You can blame his imperfect childhood all you want but let me point out this undeniable truth:

There have been people born into the world and raised in horrid circumstances and they have risen above it and contributed so much to the betterment of mankind. There have also been people born into the world with silver spoons in their mouth and offered every opportunity in life and they have been total degenerates with no sense of right and wrong. Environment is in the vast majority of cases only an excuse…. Eventually every person in the world makes the conscious decision to be the person they are.

Who did Ryan choose to be? A killer

memy selfandi
Guest
memy selfandi
4 years ago

Please reconsider the impact of environment. I grew up in horrid conditions and I recognize as an adult that many I grew up with had nuanced differences in their life environment that unless you lived with them and were able to also be objective you are not likely to witness nor recognize. Also being able to assess those complex factors and their impacts is quite rare (because we don’t invest enough in psychology and mental health) . When in terrible pain have been the type take my own life before someone else’s yet in my older age I have finally became angry enough, the pain so horrendous, I finally understand, just a little bit, some of those folks that go into a rage and act destructive, especially young men with energy to spare and a community that is uninvolved.

I also recognize that what a person does is based on a menu of built by equations that go something like this (and which are mostly subconscious but which we “The Village” can affect and thereby create enable fellow human beings and heal folk):

type of trauma (i.e. personal, inflicted by family, vs. political vs. accidental) +
relation of perpetrator to victim, number of traumas, frequency of trauma +
how many different places the traumas occurred, +
was the trauma victim treated quickly or not, +
what sort of treatment did the victim get,
+social support networks and how they addressed the victim’s trauma, +
age of victim
MINUS
offsetting protective factors such as: has having developed an internal world of hobbies and flow and focus before the trauma, having someone who knows them and loves them and having treatment with a team including someone who like a good physical therapist can assess if someone is over working their leg with the emotional broken bone or under working it.

Our mental health system must change and focus far more on how environment is what determines who we will be or not.

All involved are guilty
Guest
All involved are guilty
4 years ago

With multiple persons involved, how are you so sure Ryan was the killer? Maybe he was just as witness to the murder and the rest told lies. Don’t assume and make up your own story about what happened. I believe there is more to it than what has been written about.

Joey
Guest
Joey
4 years ago
Reply to  Keldaltal

Yep. I concur. Still innocent till proven guilty.

Randy harmon
Guest
Randy harmon
4 years ago

Dident have a chance i gotta call ya on that one. Bull s t. Ive know all kinds of people in my life. And every person is accountable for what thay do.cant blame it on drugs.thats just a cop out. Nothing more. Problum is thay should of locked his ass up in the past for the way he is. Just saying. And the law is way out of line the way thay treat people in the first place.thay had no reason to put that older man in cuffs
No reason. Thats that.

Concerned citizen
Guest
Concerned citizen
4 years ago

Back in 2010 Ryan used to brag about having dead bodies on his property. At the time I thought he was bluffing until i started to see all the bruises on the mother of his children.

Disgusted by citizens
Guest
4 years ago

Concerned Citizen. What a good human you are to not report to the police your observation. Obviously your just as a piece of shit as he is. So what? Good idea… sit back and wait for something bad to happen. Along with all the other neighbors that did nothing about what they heard going on, on that hill. You should be ashamed of yourselves. You all thrive off the drama and are quick to talk trash. Go dig up your own properties. I bet you will find bone treasures. Shady shit goes on all over that county and it has for years. Keep you mouth closed. You make yourself look foolish.

A concerned citizen
Guest
A concerned citizen
4 years ago

I have no idea who this person who committed the murder is, or allegedly did this. However, we can all be born into life as an addict of something or the other. We can be mistreated horribly. I was left for dead in a car in the middle of winter as a newborn by my bio mother and physically, emotionally, verbally abused by a stepmother. Am I out there terrorizing and murdering people NO..We are accountable for our actions as we grow into adults.
Secondly my son is an officer of the law. Had this lunatic been in your home I am sure you’d of been overjoyed to have them come into your home like this. An elderly man in your eyes was mistreated but eldlery people can do wrongs also. The police were protecting your life and their lives and the elderly mans life too. If they were gruff with him, so be it. He is alive and that is what counts. They have no idea what they are walking into in any situation. They are there to protect us and my son puts his life on the line every single day to protect us. I have found that the only people who really hate the police are those that have something to hide. Did the elderly man call the police and tell them he was there or just allow him to hide out there? Not downing him, just curious.
I guess none of you will ever call the police if you are in trouble since you are making the4m to be the bad guys.
Keep up the good work Officers…I support the thin blue line