Humboldt Sentinel

Floyd Bowen was allegedly wrestling at home before using broken bottle

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A man is sitting in county jail with bail set at $50,000 after he allegedly stabbed his adult son in the chest with a beer bottle.

At about 1:45 a.m. on May 5, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a stabbing victim was under treatment at Redwood Memorial Hospital in Fortuna. Upon arrival, the deputy met with the 22-year-old victim, a resident of Loleta, who was being treated for a deep stab wound in his chest and a small laceration to his arm.

According to the victim’s statement, the man had been wrestling with his 46-year-old father at their Loleta residence when his father stabbed him with a broken bottle. The dad, Floyd Monroe Bowen, was being treated at the hospital at the same time for scratches to his face and was also complaining of throat pain.

After the elder Bowen was treated and released by hospital staff, he was arrested by the HCSO for assault with a deadly weapon and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.

Fernbridge Cafe free of any further regulatory snafus

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A sad interlude of bureaucratic intransigence and red tape-slinging has come to an end as Humboldt County officials announced today the dismissal of all criminal charges against Steve Sterback, the owner of the Fernbridge Market and Cafe.

“Ultimately, the District Attorney’s Office determined that dismissal of the pending charges would be in the interest of justice, given the fact that the issues identified by the County have been addressed and the Café has been legally open and operating for some time,” Deputy District Attorney Kelly Neel stated in a release today.

It all started over a year ago, when the Humboldt County Division of Environmental Health suspended Sterback’s food facility permit due to water quality issues — despite the assurances of the owner that he was using bottled water during the period that a nearby water supply was temporarily contaminated by runoff. After the March suspension, the DA pressed charges in April 2011 on three counts of operating a food facility without a permit, which would constitute a violation of California Health and Safety Code section 114381.

Numerous attempts to set the case for trial, only to be frustrated by the lack of an available courtroom and unavailable witnesses; during this time, the county was under public pressure to allow Sterback to stay in business, and with the water quality issue cleared up, Sterback had re-obtained his permit and was legally open and operating for several months.

The case was set for trial numerous times, but each time was continued for reasons that included lack of an available courtroom and unavailable witnesses. In the meantime, the People and Mr. Sterback worked at trying to resolve the case. Ultimately, the District Attorney’s Office determined that dismissal of the pending charges would be in the interest of justice, given the fact that the issues identified by the County have been addressed and the Café has been legally open and operating for some time.

“At this point, the County is satisfied that Mr. Sterback is operating in compliance with the applicable laws and regulations and continues its oversight of the Cafe’s operations,” Deputy District Attorney Christa McKimmy, who handled the prosecution for the People, stated today.

Two men tie up, sexually assault and rob woman

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

Local law enforcement are asking for the public’s assistance in response to a brutal home invasion robbery which took place this morning outside of Fortuna.

It all started at about 9 a.m. this morning, when a 38-year-old resident at her home on Drake Hill Road encountered an unknown man in her home.

According to her statement, he demanded money, drugs and knowledge of the location of an indoor marijuana grow — after which she was covered with a sheet by another unseen man. After tying her to a chair with electrical cord, the victim was sexually assaulted, then burned with a lit cigarette by the suspects who demanded to know where the money and drugs were. The woman continued to tell the men she had no drugs or marijuana grow operation.

In the course of the robbery, the victim’s husband called her; she was able to answer the telephone with her foot despite being tied up. When he answered, she began screaming into the phone to her husband about what was occurring. The suspects apparently heard the victim calling the husband, and fled the home prior to the arrival of police — they were able to make off with some of the victim’s cash and jewelry.

Although Fortuna Police fielded the initial call from the 3000 block of Drake Hill Road, they immediately notified the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, as the crime occurred in their jurisdiction. Upon their arrival, deputies found evidence consistent with the victim’s account; they also found no indication of any illegal drug activity or marijuana cultivation at the residence.

The victim refused medical treatment, and promptly provided descriptions of the two suspects, one of whom was described as a white man in his early 20s, approximately 5’10″ tall, 150 pounds with a slender runner’s build. He also had straight dark brown hair below the ears and was wearing black wranglers and black suede-type shoes with ‘E’ written on them. The other man was not seen clearly by the victim and was only described as another white male.

Members of the public with information for the HCSO regarding this case or related criminal activity are encouraged to call them at (707) 445-7251 or their Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Short-lived success at Bear River Casino ends in assault, robbery

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A local man’s successful night of gambling ended with a trip to the hospital yesterday, with several suspects involved in a vicious assault under Fernbridge.

At about 11:10 p.m. yesterday, emergency service personnel and a Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the Renner Fuel Station, where a 42-year-old man was found bleeding from his head and face and also had a swollen left eye.

According to the unnamed victim, he had enjoyed some cash winnings while gambling earlier at Bear River Casino, and called a friend named “Brodie” at 10:50 p.m. for a ride. When his supposed friend arrived, the victim got into Brodie’s grey 1980s Toyota Celica, which was also occupied by an unknown blond female. Although the victim asked to be driven to Fortuna, “Brodie” drove as far as Fernbridge and told the victim to get out of the car, after which “Brodie” drove off.

A short time later, according to the report disclosed by lieutenant Steve Knight in a press statement, an unknown male and two females contacted the victim and forced him to walk under Fernbridge. Once underneath the bridge, the male assailant struck the victim with a bat while the females kicked him repeatedly. After assaulting him, the assailants stole the victim’s wallet with his cash and cell phone — they also allegedly threatened to shoot the victim if he got up, although no firearm was displayed by the suspects.

Further descriptions of the attackers were not forthcoming due to the darkness, and the victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.

Members of the public with information regarding this case or criminal related activity are encouraged to call the HCSO at (707) 445-7251 or their Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Guns, pot, 141 empty butane bottles near day care center

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

Three Hydesville residents are in the slammer on half a million dollars bail after an alleged drug manufacturing house was taken down yesterday morning.

At about 7:45 a.m. on Jan. 31, the Community Response Unit of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant issued by the local Superior Court at a residence at the 3100 block of Greybrook Lane in Hydesville. Law enforcement acted on a series of complaints about drug activity at the home, which is located near a daycare center, according to a press statement by lieutenant Steve Knight.

Upon entering the residence, deputies found 113 growing marijuana plants, 33 pounds of bud packaged for sale, a scale, a rifle, a handgun and $3,800 in cash, along with items consistent with hash manufacturing, including 141 empty butane bottles.

The charges stacked up against the three residents included manufacturing of a controlled substance, possession of a firearm in the commission of a felony, cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale. Arrested and imprisoned in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility were 31-year-old Matthew Gary Caston, 58-year-old Thomas Dennis Miranda and31-year-old Sarah Rachel Miranda, with $500,000 in bail set.

Members of the public with information regarding this case or criminal related activity are encouraged to call the HCSO at (707) 445-7251 or their Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Glenna Morrison also had hash, 15 pounds of bud

Staff Report
Humboldt Sentinel

A resident of Hydesville, subject to unannounced police searches due to her probation status, was popped for drug possession and sales just after dawn today.

At about 7:45 a.m., the Community Response Unit of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office conducted a probation search on 55-year-old Glenna Morrison at her residence on the 3200 block of A Street. The HCSO had been tipped off by local residents concerning allegations of drug sales occurring at the home.

In the course of their search, deputies found over 15 pounds of processed marijuana, an unspecified amount of hash and two grams of methamphetamine. While Morrison told the cops that the cannabis was actually medical marijuana, law enforcement found items consistent with the sale and packaging of marijuana, according to a press statement by lieutenant Steve Knight.

Morrison was arrested without incident and booked into county jail on charges of meth possession, marijuana cultivation and possession for sale, possession of concentrated cannabis and violation of her probation conditions. Her bail is set at $25,000.

Members of the public with information on this case are asked to call the HCSO at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.