Traffic Stop Leads to Discovery of Illegal Firearm, Drugs, and Paraphernalia
Evidence [Image from HCSO]
This is a press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty:
On Dec. 5 at about 2:45 a.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputy conducted a traffic stop near Fern St. and Vista Dr. in Eureka on a 1998 Toyota 4-Runner that had a license plate belonging to a 2009 BMW attached to the vehicle.
Deputies contacted the driver, Zachary Osborne, age 27, of Eureka, and inquired about the false plate on the vehicle. By running the VIN, deputies confirmed that the vehicle had not been registered with the DMV for the past 2 years. Upon contact, deputies observed that Osborne was displaying symptoms of drug intoxication such as erratic movements, inability to speak coherently, and rapid speech. This caused the deputies concern that Osborne was operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs.
Osborne was asked to exit the vehicle to conduct a sobriety check. When he exited, Osborne was asked if he had any weapons in his vehicle. Osborne replied, “No, but there is one on me.” Osborne was detained and searched. Deputies then located a loaded glock-style handgun in his waistband. Osborne was then arrested for carrying a concealed loaded firearm in public (PC25850(a)). A search incident to arrest was conducted—drug paraphernalia and a glass tube containing fentanyl were found in his possession. The vehicle was then searched and deputies also located small baggies used for storing illicit substances and a glass methamphetamine pipe.
Osborne was transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for the following charges:
- Possession of a controlled substance while armed—HS 11370.1(a)
- False evidence of vehicle registration—VC 4463
- Possession of a controlled substance—HS 11350
- Possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia—HS 11364
- Carrying a loaded firearm in a public place—PC25850(a)
- Carrying a firearm capable of being concealed—PC 25400(a)(2)
- Felon in possession of a firearm—PC 29800(a)(1)
Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity 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.
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With locals like Mr. Osborne freely roaming among us…his foolish and dangerous choices hardly being unique to him…it is no wonder that successfully surviving this county for anyone is no small undertaking. Only 27 years old and he is in this deep, astonishing and frightening.
Awww he probably suffered childhood trauma and is simply self-medicating the best way he knows how. He is surely the victim here and who are we to judge anybody for their personal choice of therapy. The Glock is how he addresses his insecurity issues most likely stemming from childhood abuse and uncertainty in this crazy modern world that he did not ask to be born into…He is a victim! And he deserves all of our sympathies and best wishes as he gets released immediately from jail to once again pursue his therapy and medication regime….
And this is why, I impress on people to get as much under/non-insured driver coverage on their auto insurance policies that they can afford. There are more than a few people like this, along with Mr. Wrong-way yesterday that shouldn’t be on the roads, yet there they are.
20 percent of the vehicles on the road would contain illegal drugs. Where do people think half the cars on the road are going? Selling drugs, buying drugs, looking for drugs , or just on drugs, crack me up.
20%?! Who do you hang out with? people on crack?
Zach, you do stupid really well.
> Felon in possession of a firearm—PC 29800(a)(1)
As a point of clarity, this charge always confuses me. I thought “felon in possession of a firearm” was a charge that applied to someone who was PREVIOUSLY convicted of a felony, but i see it in reports like this where the firearm possession is in CONJUNCTION with separate felony charge.
Kind of makes me wonder, is this just one of those things where the police stretch the charging a bit, knowing it will get tossed later by the DA? Feels like a hack that should result in a reprimand to the police.