CHP Booking Log Indicates Miranda Hit-and-Run Suspect Arrested on Felony Assault Charge

Emergency personnel working on the victim of yesterday’s hit and run. [Photo provided by a resident]

William Tyler Hebard Booking Photo in a 2023 arrest| Humboldt County Correctional Facility

Although the California Highway Patrol has not publicly identified the suspect, the booking log shows William Tyler Hebard was arrested by the CHP’s Garberville office at 8:19 a.m. Friday, less than two hours after the collision was reported on the Avenue of the Giants. He was booked on suspicion of violating Penal Code 245(a)(1), assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm or by means likely to produce great bodily injury, a felony. No release is listed on the booking sheet.

On Friday, CHP Officer Christian Zepeda confirmed that the male driver involved in the incident had been arrested and booked into jail but did not identify the suspect or specify the charges.

The collision was reported shortly before 7 a.m. after a black BMW allegedly struck a pedestrian and fled northbound. According to CHP dispatch traffic, officers quickly located a vehicle matching the description near Hidden Springs Road and detained a suspect by approximately 7:25 a.m.

Emergency personnel initially requested an air ambulance for the injured pedestrian, but REACH Air Medical Services declined the flight because of weather conditions. The extent of the victim’s injuries has not been released. However, a source tells us that he has several fractured/broken bones and is seriously but not critically injured.

Social media accounts claimed the incident began when the driver punched a man’s dog before striking the man with the vehicle and fleeing. Those allegations have not been independently confirmed by law enforcement.

The booking charge may provide the first official indication of investigators’ assessment of the incident. A charge of assault with a deadly weapon generally alleges that a vehicle was intentionally used in a manner capable of causing great bodily injury. However, the California Highway Patrol has not yet released its investigation or described the circumstances that led to the arrest.

Redheaded Blackbelt will reach out to the California Highway Patrol for additional details, including confirmation of the suspect’s identity, the victim’s condition, and the facts supporting the felony charge on Monday. CHP Garberville office is not available for media questions on the weekend.

Earlier: Vehicle Hits Pedestrian in Miranda and Flees

Earlier arrest of Mr. Hebard: Two Arrested After Deputies Investigate Suspicious Vehicle Near Garberville