News, nature, and community throughout the Emerald Triangle
Sighted this morning at 8:15 near the home of his mother, Aaron Bassler, the suspect in two recent homicides that have rocked Mendocino Co. continues to elude capture. According to the SF Gate, “[m]ore than 50 law enforcement officers are combing a neighborhood on the eastern edge of Fort Bragg today. “It was a positive sighting,” Capt. Kurt Smallcombm spokesperson for
Read moreResidents of the Shelter Cove area were grateful to have Humboldt Co. Deputy Robert Hamilton drive around yesterday with a flyer describing the reputedly dangerous fugitive Aaron Bassler. Hamilton talked to Dena Baker, who keeps the Pioneer list which disseminates local information to its members. According to Baker, Hamilton asked her if she had heard of Bassler. When she
Read moreA resident of Shelter Cove is reporting that Humboldt Co. Deputies are searching for Aaron Bassler, suspect in the homicides of two well-known Mendocino men, Matthew Coleman and Jere Melo. Bassler has reportedly been seen in the Chemise Mt. area between Whitethorn and Shelter Cove. [googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Chemise+Mountain+Road,+Whitethorn,+CA&aq=1&sll=39.681597,-93.396099&sspn=58.588882,114.169922&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Chemise+Mountain+Rd,+Whitethorn,+Humboldt,+California+95589&ll=40.018869,-124.002456&spn=0.115951,0.222988&z=13&output=embed&w=425&h=350] UPDATE: MIKE DOWNEY SAYS THEY HAVE NO CREDIBLE INFORMATION THAT BASSLER IS IN
Read moreA comprehensive look at the Jere Melo killing and the suspect, Aaron Bassler by the Fort Bragg Advocate. Smallcomb said Melo died of multiple gunshot wounds ranging from the lower to upper torso. Asked if the wounds entered from the front or back, Smallcomb replied, “Both.”… It’s been widely reported that Melo was shot while encountering a pot farm in
Read moreA Message from the Family of Councilmember Jere Melo The family of Jere Melo is brokenhearted over the devastating loss of their beloved husband, father, brother, uncle and friend. Jere was murdered on Saturday, August 27th on private timberlands four miles east of Fort Bragg while investigating a report of a marijuana/opium poppy grow there. Jere is a fallen warrior
Read moreThis morning, Mendocino’s KZYX’s news has an interview with the spokesperson for the Mendocino CO. Sheriff’s Dept, Capt. Kurt Smallcomb about the murder homicide of Jere Melo. The written summary underneath contains all the information in the audio but listen to the audio for a sense of how oddly cagey law enforcement is being about what they have had 3
Read moreDescription of the events of the day of the shooting here. Excellent slideshow of officers hunting Aaron Bassler. (The photographer catches some great moments of swat officers aboard the Skunk Train.) Press Democrats’ indepth piece on Jere Melo–who he was and how people are reacting to his death. It also includes the information that it wasn’t a pot garden but
Read moreThe Fort Bragg City Council has issued a press release: The City of Fort Bragg is in shock over the murder of Fort Bragg City Councilmember Jere Melo yesterday morning on private timberlands east of town. In his capacity as a security contractor for a local timber company, Jere was investigating a marijuana grow operation when he was shot to
Read moreJere Melo, former Mayor of Fort Bragg and a City Council Member currently, was shot around 10:30 am yesterday. Apparently, he and at least one other forester (Melo worked for the Georgia Pacific Lumber Co.) were inspecting property in the rugged hills near the Skunk Train tracks near Northspur when Melo was shot, according to the Press Democrat, by a
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