“Don’t (Expletive Deleted) With the Cove”

Skippy Massey
Humboldt Sentinel

Three men were involved in a solo-vehicle crash that killed two of them while on their way to Shelter Cove for a possible home invasion and marijuana rip-off, the CHP reported.

Domonic Troy Quilici, 20, of Crockett, was driving a 2001 Infinity SUV north on Highway 101 at Cummins Road in Northern Mendocino County on Thursday morning, when for unknown reasons, he drove off the eastern edge of the road, hit an embankment, and overturned several times.

Passengers Greg Saul Dodson, 44, and his son Vincent Jay Dodson, 21, both from Vallejo, were thrown from the vehicle and died of their injuries, according to the CHP.  They were not wearing seatbelts.  Quilici survived.

Vincent Dodson was pronounced dead at the scene.  His father, Greg Dodson, was flown to Mercy Medical Center in Redding, where he later died.

Quilici was treated for minor injuries at Howard Memorial Hospital in Willits and arrested on suspicion of vehicular manslaughter and felony weapons possession charges, the CHP said.

Found inside the Infinity SUV were;

• Three loaded handguns, two of which were stolen;
• Two bullet-proof vests
• Several M80s (illegal explosives)
• An ASP expandable baton, duct tape, and a ski mask

…and a printed Google map with directions from Vallejo to Shelter Cove, according to the CHP.

Police suspect the three men in the SUV were enroute to an unknown address in Shelter Cove, just north of the Mendocino-Humboldt county line, “to perform a home invasion and/or marijuana rip-off,” according to a statement from the CHP on Monday.

Quilici was booked into Mendocino County Jail.  Surprisingly enough, he was released after posting $200,000 bail.

The investigation is ongoing, CHP noted.  They ask that anyone with information to contact the Garberville area CHP at 923-2155.

KIEM-TV news reported CHP doesn’t know the exact residence of where the trio were headed.  There was no final destination address on the Google print out and the GPS system in the vehicle was destroyed. 

KMUD-Radio also has an interview with CHP Sergeant Martin Abshire about the incident.

Lt. Steve Knight said the Sheriff’s Office hasn’t responded to any calls regarding home invasions in Humboldt County recently.  He offered the standard advice:  communicate with your neighbors, keep the property well-lit, check your door before you open it, and don’t flash a lot of cash.  Don’t confront your intruder, leave the house, and call 911 for help.

Sage advice.

Shelter Cove residents, however, were somewhat riled up, lighting the blogosphere up with vigilante nugs:

“The thing about Shelter Cove is there is only one road in and out. These (expletive deleted) would have gotten what they deserved no matter what. Don’t (expletive deleted) with the Cove !!”

“Glad they’re dead! We don’t need more tweeker scum ripping citizens off, it’s already going to a (expletive deleted)-hole.”

“If you have intentions of harming members of this community or stealing from us, if you don’t crash your car on the way up here or get apprehended by Law Enforcement on your way, you will not be greeted with kindness here, you will be dealt with accordingly. Stay the (expletive deleted) out of Humboldt. Plenty of ravines, remote wilderness, ocean, concrete, backhoes, hungry hogs, hungry bears, hungry hippies too, I hope you get the point.”

“This is to be expected and everyone needs to to aware and take precautions.  Someone dodged a bullet.”

“Sad for the families, but good for society. Dead criminals do not kill people.”

“Yeah, the other road doesn’t go anywhere they’d want to be either, unless you want to pick a bone with some Whitethorn riders and Gulch folk. I wouldn’t. By that time the phone tree would’ve been blown up.  Given the fact that they had to have a map to get in to the Cove tells me that they would have gone out the same way they came in.”

“Personally it’s a good thing that they both died.”

“Maybe his family will shut up now. What kind of crap was that? Did they think we’d never find out? I have no sympathy for these a holes. Glad God got them first.”

“Holy smokes that’s some karma.”

“Karma. I say good, someone innocent could of been killed if these thugs made it to their destination.”

“Ripping citizens off?  You mean ripping off black-market profiteers who are polluting our woods and drying up our streams and screwing up our backcountry?  Pot, meet kettle when it comes to the place going to hell in a handbasket.”

“This is why we are leaving.  Full stop.  Tired of this (expletive deleted), don’t want my kids threatened by any of this. Stew in your own (expletive deleted) dope-lovers!”

“I am not saddened that these would-be violent criminal perpetrators have taken themselves out before harming others. Whether Quilici made a suicidal gesture, or simply got distracted or a cramp is between him and his conscience.”

“Punk got what was coming to him! ANYBODY who comes up to this county that tries to mess with our lively hood should die!!!”

“I bet the people in Shelter Cove are alive and safe today because these guys never made it. Bet they’re feeling really lucky right about now.”

“It was a stupid move, everyone I know is so sick from getting ripped off, it’s war time and the criminal element will be killed, no sheriffs need to get involved. Just shoot and bury.”

 Frisky times for the wild wild West’s new gold rush.

We hope cooler heads prevail.

(Posted by Skippy Massey)