Two Arrested After Attempting Multiple Robberies; Deputies Find Weapons, Handcuffs, Zipties, SWAT Type Vests and Uniforms

Yesterday, two people were arrested for attempting to break into several permitted cannabis grows in the Ettersburg area. According to a victim, the suspects carried items consistent with those needed for a home invasion while posing as law enforcement. He said they had: Multiple articles of clothing that said “sheriff”, vests that said “SWAT”, Zipties, handcuffs, bolt cutters, a chainsaw, and an item that looked like an AR15 style rifle but may have been an airsoft gun.

“Someone called me at 12:16 p.m.,” the victim told us. “Someone has a U-Haul backed up to your gate and they were trying to rip that gate open.”

Because this was a security gate, the suspects were unable to break in at this permitted cannabis grow.

“They went to the next driveway [which was just another access point to a different part of the first property] and cut a chain that went across the road,” the victim told us. “They got up on that property but there was nothing there.”

“I called my neighbors,” the victim said. “Before they came to my place they went to his. They were trying to take out his gate.” But again were unsuccessful.

By this time neighbors had identified that besides the U-Haul there was also a red pickup that was connected to the attempts to break in. Members of the community, including the victim who spoke to us above, drove around looking for the suspects.

Meanwhile, a third victim contacted law enforcement and the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office sent deputies to look for the suspects.

Eventually, the victim located the U-Haul on the Kings Range Road. “We turned around and followed them,” he told us. “They must have seen us turn around They tried to get away their brakes were smoking. We called 911.”

A Sheriff’s deputy joined the chase. “They turned on their lights and sirens, but [the U-Haul] didn’t pull over.”

After about a mile, the victim estimated, the U-Haul pulled over.

“The passenger started to jump out,” the victim said. “Both deputies were right on it with their guns drawn. They had the suspects raise their hands and walk backwards towards them.

The suspects were a man and a woman.

While this was going on, a red pickup came up behind and flipped around, speeding off in the other direction. They were able to flee and were eventually believed to have been seen around 3:30 p.m. at the Petrolia Store. One report says there were two men and one woman in that vehicle. However, it hasn’t been confirmed that these were connected.

The victim said the Sheriff’s Department was very efficient and he was grateful they were able to catch the suspects in the U-Haul. “They had all that gear,” he said worriedly. “They had all that stuff to home invade people.”

UPDATE: Sheriff’s Office Seeking Victims of Couple Suspected of Impersonating an Officer in the Course of Attempted Robberies in SoHum