Reviewing the Reports
Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel
The word on the streets from our different agencies:
(Arcata—APD) Vehicle Collision and Death
On Wednesday, December 12th at approximately 7:30 a.m., officers from the Arcata Police Department were dispatched to a reported single vehicle collision in the 5900 block of Ericson Way in Arcata.
Upon the officers arrival they discovered a white Volvo wagon had collided with a segment of a temporary bridge that was being stored in a fenced equipment yard.
The vehicle had been traveling northbound on Ericson Way when the driver left the roadway for unknown reasons. The vehicle traveled off the east side of Ericson Way, through the fence, and collided with the large steel bridge segment, killing the 34-year-old driver and sole occupant.
Personnel from the Arcata Fire Protection District responded and extracted the victim from the badly damaged vehicle. Because of the remote area of the crash, authorities believe the crash may have occurred several hours before it was discovered and reported.
Police are unsure if drugs or alcohol are a factor in the crash.
UPDATE 12/13: The Coroner’s Office has identified Kenneth Moilanen, 34, of Arcata, as the sole victim.
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(Fortuna—FPD) Salvation Army Kettle Thief
On December 12, at about 5:00 p.m., the Fortuna Police Department received a report of a theft that had just occurred in the area of Safeway at 701 South Fortuna Blvd.
Reporting parties reported that a male subject had approached the Salvation Army Bell Ringer and stole the donation kettle being used to collect holiday donations.
The bell ringer pursued the subject on foot and recovered the kettle. The subject, however, fled on foot to the rear of the Safeway store.
With the assistance of several witnesses, officers were able to locate the suspect, identified as Kevin Clausen (age 23, of Fortuna) in the area of Barry Avenue. Officers were able to identify Clausen as the suspect and he was placed under arrest.
Clausen is currently on probation and was arrested by Fortuna PD on November 19, 2012 for burglary to several vehicles. Clausen was out on court ordered own recognizance release for the prior burglary charges.
Mr. Clausen was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for Robbery and Probation Violation.
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(McKinleyville- HCSO) Armed Robbery
On December 11, at approximately 4:30 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was notified of an armed robbery which just occurred at the US Cellular Store located at 1985 Central Avenue in McKinleyville. When deputies arrived on the scene they met with the store manager and a sales representative.
The sales representative told the deputies she was working the front when the suspect entered the store and pointed a silver colored handgun at her and demanded money.
During the robbery the suspect heard a noise in the back room. The suspect made the sales representative move to the back room at gun point where the noise came from and he discovered the store manager on the telephone.
The store manager was unaware of the robbery in progress and had his wallet in his hand while placing a phone order. Seeing the suspect with the gun, the store manager immediately dropped his wallet and put his hands in the air. The suspect stole his wallet and then demanded money from the cash register.
After stealing the money and wallet, the suspect ordered both victims at gunpoint into the rear store bathroom and attempted to lock them inside it. The suspect then fled the store.
The victims waited a short time, exited the restroom, and called 911 to report the crime. No one was injured during the robbery, the HCSO said.
T
he suspect is described as:
- Male
- Approximately 5’6” tall
- Approximately 190 lbs
- Stocky build and dark skin
- Wearing sunglasses, a light gray or white hooded sweatshirt which he used to cover most of his face
- Possibly Hispanic or Native American
- Armed with a silver colored handgun
Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251– or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.
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(Humboldt County Jail, Eureka—HCSO) Death in the Jail
On December 12 at approximately 6:40 a.m., a Humboldt County Correctional Officer was notified by an inmate that another inmate, identified as Jonathan Michael Sorrell, 35 years from Hoopa, was having a medical issue.
The Correctional Officer immediately went to Sorrell’s aid and called for jail medical, extra correctional staff and an ambulance to respond.
Initially Sorrell was breathing; however, while the Correctional Staff was with Sorrell, he stopped breathing. They began C.P.R. until they were relieved by jail medical staff.
After an ambulance arrived at the facility, a physician determined that Sorrell was deceased.
The Humboldt County Corner was summed to the scene. There was no sign of foul play. An autopsy will be scheduled by the Humboldt County Coroner’s Office to determine the cause of death.
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(Eureka—District Attorney) Additional Charges Sought for Jason Warren
District Attorney Paul Gallegos says he will likely bring charges against 28-year-old Jason Warren for the Bayside fatal hit-and-run of joggers, and the Hoopa homicide of Dorothy Ulrich, together.
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office turned in the Hoopa homicide report last month. The CHP turned in their hit-and-run report Tuesday, seeking murder charges for the death of Suzanne Seamann who was killed in the Bayside crash.
Gallegos says the reports will be reviewed together and then he will decide if any additional investigation is needed. If he believes there’s sufficient evidence, charges will be brought against Warren for both cases at once.
Gallegos added that if they do being charges against Warren this month there will not likely be any court appearances until January as there are holiday concerns from both families involved in the cases.
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(Posted by Skippy Massey)
