PREVIOUSLY: Reports of Shooting in Shelter Cove

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William Lloyd Nelson, the suspect in the shooting of a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy in the Shelter Cove area yesterday, was arrested at 3:30 a.m. this morning.

The deputy, along with another officer, was serving a court-ordered civil eviction notice when Nelson is alleged to have shot him in the chest.  The officers returned fire while retreating from the residence. The deputy was airlifted to St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka with non-fatal injuries. A bulletproof vest was credited with saving his life.

A large law enforcement contingent was activated and sent to the area. The Humboldt County SWAT Team, the Humboldt County Critical Incident Response Team and the Crisis Response Team (Negotiators), as well as the California Highway Patrol and medical personnel, poured into the area.

The area was secured and the suspect was taken into custody at 3:30 a.m., according to Lt. Steve Knight of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On 05-07-2014, at approximately 3:30 a.m., 55 year old William Lloyd Nelson, was taken into custody at the Kelly Lane property. Nelson was arrested for attempted murder of a police officer and using a firearm in the commission of a felony. Nelson was not injured.  He was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked. His bail was set at two million dollars.

A Humboldt County Superior Court Search Warrant was obtained and served on the Kelly road residence and property. The Humboldt County Critical Incident Response Team, consisting of Humboldt County Sheriff’s Detectives, California Department of Justice, Humboldt County District Attorney’s Investigators, Eureka Police Detectives and Arcata Police Detectives are still on scene continuing with the investigation.

The deputy who was shot has been released from the hospital and is recovering from his injuries.

Humboldt County Sheriff Michael Downey will be holding a news conference to further discuss the incident at 2 p.m. today, 05-07-2014, in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility Conference room.