Altercation at DHHS Office Prompts Law Enforcement and Medical Response in Eureka
[All photos from Ryan Hutson]
Eureka Police officers and emergency medical personnel responded to the Department of Health and Human Services building on Koster Street Monday afternoon after an altercation inside the lobby left one man struggling to breathe, according to both law enforcement and witnesses at the scene.
According to scanner traffic, medical personnel were requested to stage near Koster Street in Eureka just after 12:30 p.m. Medical personnel were initially asked to stage nearby until officers determined the scene was safe, EPD Commander Leonard La France said. According to La France, officers were dispatched after receiving a report of an altercation involving DHHS security personnel. He said the man involved had been at the office on routine business before the confrontation.
EPD officers and members of the city’s CSET (Community Safety Engagement Team) arrived at the county’s DHHS building after an altercation between security personnel and a man seeking county services.
A short time later, paramedics were cleared to enter and began assessing the man, who, according to his daughter, has a pacemaker and diabetes. She told Hutson she had called for medical help after her father began experiencing shortness of breath inside the office, but law enforcement arrived first due to the reported altercation. Medical personnel were cleared and arrived on scene just after 1 p.m., roughly 30 minutes after the initial call.
The daughter also shared a video with Hutson showing a DHHS security guard on top of her father, who is wearing a red sweatshirt. In the recording, the man can be heard saying he is “going to have a heart attack,” while his daughter can be heard telling the guards to get off him. It is unclear from the video or accounts at the scene what triggered the initial confrontation, but the man appeared to develop difficulty breathing during the struggle.
The subject was transported to a local hospital for medical clearance. EPD is reviewing surveillance footage of the incident to determine what prompted the altercation. If initial information is corroborated by the video surveillance, La France told Hutson the man will likely be arrested in connection with the incident once cleared medically. EPD is continuing to interview witnesses and staff to determine what led to the altercation.
Redheaded Blackbelt has requested additional information and will update this story as more details become available.
Update: EPD Seeks Arrest Warrant After Alleged Hate-Crime Assault at DHHS Koster Street Office
Note: This article has been updated to correct the spelling of Commander La France’s name. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.
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But, but, social workers can solve all behavioral problems, cops are not necessary. Just ask all the defund demonstrators…
You seem confused- on so many levels.
Attack the idea, not the commenter…
OK. Those were several very delusional statements in a mere two sentences.
(Grammatically, it should have been three sentences. But I’ll let that pass.)
Is it fair to ask the commenter if they actually believe the rubbish they’re spewing,
or if they’re just trolling?
And, if it’s the latter, why?
Jebs, Jebs Jebs,
No need to be so uptight…
They weren’t delusional statements, at all Jebs…
It was a SARCASTIC and/or FACETIOUS comment…
It wasn’t a comment intended to be taken literally, at all…
I understood it just fine…
It was a Pro Law Enforcement, Anti Defund The Police Demonstrator, comment, in truth…
Simple…
It may have been a confusing comment, to you, but that doesn’t mean it was the commenter that was confused…
Let me decipher it for you…
“But, but, social workers can [not] solve all behavioral problems, cops are not [un] necessary. Just [don’t] ask all the defund demonstrators….”
Now do you understand it..???
It’s a comment posed oppositely of his true meaning, in a heckling sort of way…
Facetiousness is a bit nuanced..
It’s literally not to be taken literally…
You insulting Ronda Illis, was completely uncalled for…
Nope. No sale. I take it the way DTJ says it. But that’s why we still have free speech. The President guaranteed it. LMAO.
Facetiousness is not to be taken seriously or literally…
The point is, is that, with facetiousness…
“The opposite is true”…
https://youtube.com/shorts/bLUNbwNLwvs?si=RMYkNEbZHD2C3QMi
Bus. Stop. Walk. 2. It.
Actually, most reform proposals don’t suggest replacing police entirely, but rather adding specialized teams so police aren’t the only ones responding to complex social or mental health crises. It’s about matching the right kind of help to each situation.
Is defund still a thing? Where-a-u been? Mars?
Defund was never a thing.
Although Fox news sure got some mileage out of it.
But Liberal DAs and judges who turn criminals right back on the streets is a real problem in the Judicial system in Democrat run cities.
The “defund police” activists are losing ground. Good. The ICE goons, hooded government agents, and troops in the streets when not required, are gaining ground under the Trump regime. Bad.
I’d like EPD to explain why it took 30 minutes to get this guy up from under the security guard, cuffed, frisked, and restrained so the EMTs could look at him. 2 minutes should have been enough.
Staging medical personnel is routine when a situation involves violence. I’d you send your EMTs into an unsafe situation and they’re hurt, then there’s no one to provide medical assistance on scene.
I have no issues with staging EMTs. What I have an issue with is untrained and unlicensed “security” guards restraining someone. They should never be allowed to place hands on anyone, let alone in any kind of restraint position. What I see in the very short video above is a man lying with his weight on the individual’s chest. That prevents the intake of a full inhalation and when someone is in flight/fight mode, respirations need to be increased in rate AND depth in order to keep up with the increased demand on the cardiovascular system. Being unable to take deep breaths because someone is lying on top of your chest restricts breathing, sometimes enough to cause respiratory failure. That’s what happened to George Floyd.
The problem is training. Cops aren’t allowed to use good old pain compliance any more. Now you have to squish ’em. It’s time consuming, draws crowds and causes injuries.
What baffles me is the lack of knowledge by some officers as to how to bend an arm.
If you’re going to grapple for a living yer an idiot if you don’t take your skills seriously.
Actually, the cops in England are pretty creative when it comes to hand to hand.
Support advanced training for your LE. It takes money. Tell your Mayors to tell the bean counter to see to that.
I agree with most of what you said but you didn’t address my question.
Why did it take 30 minutes to render the room safe?
It took 30 minutes from the time of the first call, till the medical staff was at scene to evaluate the guy. That included response time for both the PD and the FP, stand by till the scene was secured by PD and determining the basics of what is happening. The security guard was not on top of the guy that entire time.
The PD has the responsibility to provide safety not only for their own safety, but for that of the involved parties, by standers, and assisting personnel.
“Clearing the room” isn’t a rush situation if there are unknowns. The 30 minutes was from the time the dispatcher was contacted, received info from the caller, dispatched the PD units and FD units, their response time to the staging area. The PD’s entry to access the dangers and determine what is happening, and then the FD’s entry.
So it didn’t take 30 minutes to “clear the room”, it was 30 minutes from time of the first call, to the time medical personel made contact with the patient. Nothing says the security guard was on top of the guy for 30 minutes.
Hope that explains the 30 minutes.
Because they have to first assess the scene then hurry up and wait for permission to approach and secure by senior officer . They must travel in packs to respond or haven’t you noticed? The securing of a scene prior to entry by emt staff is the same for all physical confrontations from fists to guns has been for 20+ years since I was a first responder.
My understanding of security guards working in these Federal offices are they are contracted under FPS, hence they are actually fairly well trained. But I’m occasionally incorrect concerning Govt contractors.
They are well trained to be confrontational jerks!
DHHS is a county office, not federal. As far as the security is concerned, every guard in California must receive training, then be approved by the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services and are issued a guard card. Every weapon carried is another training and certificate issued by BSIS certified trainers. The BSIS website has all the information needed.
California DHHS isn’t Federal. It’s state. That’s a county office where state programs (MediCal, CalFresh, etc.) are administered.
How about this for a convo,is anyone capable of humbeling oneself to be honest,and how do you tell,when your not crucifying some one for a strategious guess,an assumption,and why shoul ones opinion matter about someone you dont know,either side. We are nit responsible for one anothers emotions,every family every race has a horrible story,if your old enough to know that.thank you. I th9ught cyber bulling was illegal,and defemation of character,idk,i was just thinkn,thanks.
And one more think people,we have no reason to lie,we risk nothing,jail is only bad for bad people,but if your good you get out. We are out breakn laws,people wanna talk bad about my dad for when he turned 18,like they was there,you dont know us or my dad,but my dads right about smart people,to smart for your own good. We are proud of how our dad cleaned his life up and chilled,you dont know us.and thats ok. Agree to disagree is ok.
Oops,we are not out breakn laws,oh crap,i can hear it already,predictable.
Depending on the security company hired by dhhs the license/certification varies. But I do know from due diligence that the company hired that patrols for them here is a private security company and despite this the security officers hired are not in compliance with requirements. The certifications and clearances in order to transport persons to carrying a weapon are clear as are whether the company is a private one or not. It’s not whom they provide service to as I learned but the status of the company itself. You can look up individual guards and check their histories.I recommend it.
Thank you, I was wondering if the security guard was arrested? he should not be assaulting anyone who was there to get help. I wonder what really happened.
That security guard was probably trying to recover from a nasty Monday morning hangover…
I’d say that the security guard needed an immediate work related incident drug and/or alcohol piss test just for good measure…
It’s unlikely that we will ever actually see the DHSS video surveillance, but I can’t help being a bit curious about how this actually went down…
Lets not forget Eric Garner’s death, just over eleven years ago, July 17, 2014, at the hands of Law Enforcement, due to an illegal choke hold, just for selling loose cigarettes…
Emphasis on… …”I can’t breathe”…
..
…
Next watch,they will blast the guy on lostcoast,with lies and crap they dont know about,they can hate you you cant hate them,dont seem right,every opinion and just as important,or not,it is mutual though,this whole holding every body else for our own emotions,everybody wants to be a victim except the real victim,remember these words,i told you so. Remember,they said the guy tried to get around the desk,that means 2 witnesses lied and the gaurds,the guy said the gaurd aggressed at him throwing him and pushing him against the wall,the one witness that seen the gaurd go around the desk and aggressed and was yelling,his statement isnt in here,so 6 of us seen it,and the office video will prove all.thank you all out there,respect.
And nobdy was getting attack’d for ethnicity it just came up,but not between the gaurd and the guy.i seen the gaurd aggress and guy defend himself. And i really like to read all comments,but lets remember,assuptions are indeed the mother of all bleep ups. The guy was just not letting the gaurd toss him choke him. Sorry im a tell it how you see it person,”see it”👀
30 minutes just for medics to get into the room? And–no shots fired. Seems excessive
Article says “roughly 30 minutes after the initial call.” that’s pretty responsive.
He wasnt cuffed and hes still in the hospital,you guys should really get you facts right otherwise your just like and old gossip sewing circle,or lil girls glub,and you dont care who you hurt with your false claims and lies.
And fyi,lechance is pissed because we are persuing a few complaints on a few epd,and hes pissed,we just confronted his officers about corruption and lieing,with video,we video everything,doesnt everyone these days,so heres the bad guy,ask me anything, we are so chill and respectfull we been all over humboldt mendo sanoma stanislause sac i get disability because i worked and raised all my kids and then some, and i just got another defib pace maker,im not in as good shape as i use to but im not useless, and can still defend myself but i do get winded, and i dont need to lie to keep no job and wouldnt. And for alls fyi,i was just giving one of my daughters a ride,who is just getting help until she goes back to work,the got got irate because i asked for a sticky note to take his boss’s number. He cant bully me or scare me so he got mad,then he couldnt just slam me,i wont let that happen,i did not try to get around his desk,why, he made contact i defended,but he was haveing a hard time so i chose not to throw hands,just not let him choke me slam me smash me,because i wanted his bosses number,because a few months ago,i gave my daughter a ride and he got irrate and agressuve because i walkd in the bathroom had to piss,bad i take furosamide piss pills to stop fluid from surrounding my heart,i piss allot and uncontrollable, he did the same except then hjust k8cked the bathroom door in and said hey motherfucker you answer him when he talks to you,i said hold on because it feels good to release that piss pressure,it hurts, i tild him i will talk when im done,he trued to bully me alm the way outside in the parking lot,even then another guy told him to stop,gaurd called cops ,again i wasnt doing nothing wrong, we left it,i was buay with a giod life, but this time he put hands on me i defended myself by not letting him ruff me up,size dont mean nothing,in or oitside the ring or in any level 4 joint in cali,like we said,its gonna go to jury trial for sure,we did nothing to deserve that,i been called an indian all my life my people too,is it racist to be who you are be proud,cant nobodt touch my pride for my bloodline, and no matter what you think,i hold staut7s in my people as all real tribal folk,we runbour rez,n9body else,our home,always has been always will be,we arent going nowhere but hilome,thank you very much. Oh sorry i didnt spell perfect,crqzy,cant speak our own language,or spanish,or english. Dammit,well better just start makeing exscuses like everyone out there.
Was waiting to get checked in and the guy kept trying to get behind the counter, when he was told no he escalated and tried to stab the guard with a pen.
I have no idea what happened prior to all that though and didn’t pay attention to the conversation.
Thanks for the truth. And that was why the shit went down! [Edit]
Yeah I mean prior to the lady recording no one said anything about issues. When she started recording it was he has a pacemaker and a diabetes thing and this and that. Idk the entire thing was weird.
I’m glad he didn’t try attacking one of the smaller guards and went after the big guy out of all the people to try it with.
My dads not a duech bag,when we show the full video,i wonder if people like you will be humble enough to admit it [Edit – no name calling]
We can disagree about what your Dad is or isn’t but his behavior is not acceptable, it’s deplorable. It’s obvious it’s not his first time having issues with law enforcement. I suggest you both grow up and go get jobs.
He cant,hes dieing and has medical,needs,the gaurd got mad because he asked for his boss name,because a few months back the same gaurd did the same thing,my dad didnt say nothing,went in the bathroom,the gaurd went from 0-100 in 3 seconds,kicked in the bathroom door,and yelled full lungs at my dad”hey mother fucker”you answer him when he talks.my dad takes furosamide pills 2 a day for chf it makes him piss,cant control it.and i have a job,wait is that racist,judgement,demeaning,are we victims now,or di you wanna burn us at the steak,you dont know nothing about us,and dont care if you dont care,we all have opinions,and only certain ones seen it all,2 of them were bl9cked by that pillar in front of the desk. Cant wait for jury trial to start. And video inside the building will show my dad was not did not attempt to get behind the desk,perjury is a felony isnt it,we dont hate we just chose we dont have to like,kinda like how you dont like us,see its fair,every race has a bad side,we respect hispanic people but illegals well,i can tell you storeis if you wanna hear why,we arent racusts we just have a freedom like anyone else and if you dont like us we dont have to like you,it dont matter at all,we dont put hands on anyone uless they put hands on us my dad taught us all that,he wasnt haveing a problem with the gaurd,the gaurd,had a problem with him,twice now,i wont disrepsect you for disrespecting us but i will say this.wait for jury trial,the cops let him go before he went to the hospital,then they arrest us for assault with battery,then released him again for like we said,his heart,his kidney’s,exstreme low sodium,2 infenctions in his blood,diabetes too,and he had a bump on his head,gaurd kept slammingbhis head even though he was down,dad was laughing at him calling him weak,gaurd kept trying to also choke my dad with his hands,he was,gonna bite his hand for that but he didnt spit it out,dads not a biter,he boxed for a bit so ho also has diciplim or it woulda been a different scene,my dad is a good dad, and in reality he has a huge family on jis dad and hus moms side. Jury trial,so i hope that helps you somehow, and my dad worked construct,all over tracy,frisco,stockton,sac,lathrop,manteca,santa r9sa healdsburge for years,humboldt and born and raised,weott people.i love my dad we all do,those who dont it matters to us as much as it matters to you,as my nannah would say,lik- uminosh. We will try and grow up as our elders our people say. Its not racist to say every race should be about thier race,.racisms,lol,we as natives laugh at that one. Take it easy have a good night
[Edit]he grabbed a pen and asked the guy for his boss’s number the gaurd got mad and yelled,”get the fuck away from my desk the man something to other security woman about calling ice,apparently people call racism for being who you are and the gaurd started grabbing the man and yanking him around,its all on video , the man was trying to report him for pass verbal assault and threats for useing the restroom,was not even close to trying to go behind the desk,and no cuffs,and he did not go to jail, and the gaurd put hands on him,so dont lie on people is most likely why you dont use your name,i was there too,and there is also the dhhs video,and then while cops were checkn the man,there was a guy smoken meth,they tried to tell the cops ,they didnt care,like i said its on video,so tell the truth.
Oh wait,was you the guy in the green sweat shirt smoken meth,its on dhhs video and a dash cam in a car. Have a good day.
Regardless, the method of restraint was dangerous and unnecessary.
As a nurse, I had a situation once where a guy was trying to get behind the nurses station with a goal of reaching the med cart. He wanted narcotics which the attending refused to prescribe. I stood at the entrance between the counter and the wall and refused to move. The “patient” did his level best to push me out of the way but I didn’t budge. Not an inch. He couldn’t move me and that went on for a bit more than five minutes before help arrived. I’m five feet tall and at the time weighed a bit less than 180 lbs. The “patient” was well over six feet and weighed approximately 220 lbs, if my memory is correct. My point is, one doesn’t have to get physical to prevent access to restricted space.
100% agree, restraint came after the pen stab attempt though.
Your courage while resisting an attempt to seize narcotics is admirable. But you were extremely lucky that the guy did not just go berserk and attack you viciously and violently causing permanent injury or worse. As a female and a nurse, you must have basic knowledge of why women and men have separate athletic teams. Your successful outcome does not necessarily reflect the current event under scrutiny in any way.
My dad actually countered at laughed at the gaurd thats why the gaurd got mad and lied,and dad has self defense,last time he got irrate for him useing the toilet,this is the 2nd time,cops agreed last time and didnt arrest my dad until the gaurd changed his lie,just be patient,hope i didnt spell that wrong,sometimes i feel like dumb indian,lol.even then they released him,so violant and out of hand,hasnt broken any laws in 20 years,about.he dont scare and the gaurd tried,twice. My dad is sitn right here.hes corrosponding with D.A too,with the truth,we all are and the one guy who seen it all.
You’re lucky. I have a friend who was a social worker at a methadone program (nowhere local) and one of her clients nearly strangled her to death because he was mad about something.
Ya gotta give EPD Commander LaFrance props for not immediately rendering judgment…
Kind of refreshing….
Lisa Music,
Correction.
As I was about to post the previous comment, I actually hesitated, wondering about the proper surname spelling for EPD Commander Leonard “La France”…
I saw it was spelled “LaFrance” on the video heading, (but, unfortunately, it was actually misspelled there…)…
So, I went with “LaFrance” from the video heading, in.error, even though I somehow missed EPD Commander La France’s clear and obvious, properly spelled name tag on his uniform.
I regret the error…
And now, I’ve also noticed it is also misspelled “LaFrance”, instead of being properly spelled, “La France”, in the body of the article, twice…(second paragraph)
The correct spelling, is actually,
“Commander Leonard “La France” …
My apologies to Commander Leonard La France…
Here’s a screenshot of the EPD Commander’s name tag, that’s on his uniform, for the down voter…
It’s “La France”, not, “LaFrance”…
Oh he rendered judgment and lied,like we said we are all going to jury trial,pay attention ok,please ,all of you,you arent that busy,lol
He likely saw his health insurance go up from $100/mo to $7000/mo and was angry
Trump Is Considering a Push to Extend Obamacare Subsidies
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/us/politics/trump-obamacare-subsidies-health-care.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
Another gaslighting episode by the Cheeto in chief. Here let me take away your Obamacare, think about it and then possibly return it to you so that I’m viewed as a hero by my ignorant base. Anyone else see a pattern here over and over again. Anyone else sick of this farce. Unfit for the position. Get RID of him and his band of rats.
Seems to me this guy was adamant about getting his free stuff. It’s shameful how we make people grovel for subsistence. Should create UBI and bring dignity to these people.
There’s always money for campaigns and bombs.
Yes on UBI.
My dad dont get wellfare he gets disability because hes got congestive heart failure,and other bad health,he dont do drugs he dont drink, he just fishs and relaxes with us adult kids he raised and he focuses on his grandkids while he can,on borrowed time,but hes still happy and living life,and with a bunch of people with opinions of his and our character,he has opinions about others character too,oh but his is racist,we have to like you you dont have to like us,in our own native home,my dad is right and people hate for it,hes right, n9 common sense and self defense is legal,thats why my dad us here and we will see you all at the trial,.he said hes gonna call this one ,toldvya so.
He had already been helped I’m pretty sure.
He was trying to get behind the counter to where the front desk ladies are and tried stabbing the guard because he was told no.
I don’t think it had to do with benefits and the pacemaker and stuff started being said only when the lady was recording and not before.
Yeah, yeah,
I’m always
ready to throw
down with my
super-powered,
defibrillator/pace-maker
and type 2 diabetes.
Not to mention the
other orthopedic,
and cardiac issues
one acquires by age 70.
I don’t always
attack large, young
men with martial arts
training, but when
I do…they shake
with fear!
Speaking only
for myself,
of course.
Your funny and a genious,you sure know alot for not knowing,period. Thats caucasians though,sorry im not as good or as smart as all of you braniacs
Haha that was a good one,my dad is laughing.
Then we can all be “on the res”
Lol,wont be the first a res gets raided by outsiders. Thats so racist.
Not sure what happened here, but….. I am assuming these thugs might have had the same training as the ‘security’ in other local federal offices.
I was at the Eureka Social Security office a month or 2 back. Had lost my card and showed up to replace it. Well!! The security guards there were ASSHOLES! They were provocative and ‘ready for a fight!’ Hardly the courteous, helpful people we might reasonably expect. Certainly what we might want from our government. (These dudes were the ONLY visible people in the office to ask about procedural questions etc. ‘Do I take a number? Sign up? Sit and wait? Ohh. I need an appointment? Ohhh. Use that huge old computer set up to do that? It doesn’t seem to work…..’).
And yes, I get it. They must deal with a lot of difficult people to deal with. But these JERKS were like auditioning to be ICE agents. And it was uncalled for!!
He shouldnt have said ice,he was just getting smarty back to the girl,he didnt attack nobody though,gaurd got caught in a lie or 2,weird part you dont know they said he was arrested but he wasnt.? Why if he is so crazy druggy s3xual deviant criminal piece of crap. Why? Isnt that a good gossip starter
Does anybody know if dhhs has video cams inside,its a state builing,they have to right,thats gonna show,who lied and from past incidints,sorry if i spelled that wrong,we should all follow the court procedeings,sorry if i spelled that wrong,we should watch the full video and judge then. Innocent until proven guilty,isnt it,or is there no constitution anymore. Have a good day yall.