Eureka Police Dept. Press Release:

On 5/12/13, at about 7:30 PM, a Eureka Police Department officer on uniformed patrol saw a black 1999 Mercedes sedan traveling westbound on the 200 block of 14th Street, Eureka. The officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop on the Mercedes for an observed vehicle code infraction. The driver of the Mercedes, later identified as Steven Nicholas Upton, yielded on the 1300 block of ‘A’ Street.

Upon contacting Upton, the officer recognized him and recalled he was presently wanted for a recent felony domestic violence offense. The officer subsequently took Upton into custody. During a search incident to his arrest, the officer located several grams of marijuana and drug use paraphernalia on Upton’s person. The unemployed Upton was also suspiciously found to be in possession of multiple $100.00 and $50.00 dollar bills. Additionally, Upton’s 32-year-old male passenger was on felony probation

Officers conducted a search of Upton’s vehicle. Under the driver’s seat, officers found a loaded .40 caliber Walther P99 semi-automatic pistol. A criminal history check confirmed Upton was a convicted felon and thus prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. 

Upton (age 23) was arrested for carrying a concealed loaded firearm in a vehicle, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, and being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition. He was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked on the aforementioned felony offenses in addition to the separate domestic violence charge.