Ian Michael Treadwell was driving jeep stolen from Humboldt State area
Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel
A routine traffic stop in Eureka developed into a high speed chase involving four local and state law enforcement agencies this afternoon which wound up on Table Bluff Beach.
Ian Michael Treadwell, 28, was observed at about 2:57 p.m. committing a traffic infraction, according to a press statement by Eureka Police Department sergeant Steve Watson. The observer, a member of the EPD Problem Oriented Policing unit who was driving an unmarked vehicle, attempted to stop the green Jeep Wrangler at the intersection of Allard Avenue and Little Fairfield Street.
Instead of stopping, Treadwell allegedly sped away on Little Fairfield Steet at a high rate of speed, with pursuit ensuing. The vehicle popped on EPDs system as recently stolen from the area of Humboldt State University in Arcata.
The assailant, who was wanted on felony warrants of violating probation and parole conditions, attempted to evade pursuing EPD units by driving on surface streets south to Herrick Avenue, west to Highway 101, and then southbound to the Hookton Road exit near Loleta. At this point, both Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office deputies and California Highway Patrol units were called in to support the chase, which reached speeds of approximately 80 miles per hour.
Ian Treadwell upon his arrest by EPD and supporting law enforcement agencies.
According to the EPD release, Treadwell continued on Hookton Road to Table Bluff Beach, at times racing at unsafe speeds on the wrong side of the road. Upon reaching the Table Bluff Beach parking lot, Tredwell drove off-road in his four-by-four vehicle headed south on the beach — where law enforcement was initially unable to follow until a state Fish and Game warden in a four-by-four pickup truck arrived to continue pursuit.
CHP joined F&G on the offroad chase, while EPD, HCSO and other CHP personnel set up a large perimeter around the beach. The warden and CHP trooper eventually located the stolen jeep, now abandoned at the water’s edge, and observed Treadwell swimming across a slough and running into a marshland area. The two officers continued to pursue the suspect on foot across numerous water obstacles, eventually finding him at about 3:30 p.m. hiding behind a log.
Treadwell was arrested at the scene, with the keys to the stolen Jeep on his person. All three men were airlifted out of the slough area by a helicopter called in by the CHP from Redding, and Treadwell was subsequently taken to Humboldt County jail and booked on possession of stolen property, felony reckless evading and resisting arrest charges. The Jeep was driven back to the Table Bluff Beach parking lot and released to a towing company at the request of the owner.
