Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Oct. 18, 2023, at about 1:41 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in Garberville conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation in the 1300 block of Redwood Drive.

Deputies contacted the driver and single-occupant of the vehicle, 34-year-old Jason Jerome Armstrong of San Rafael, CA. During their investigation, deputies learned that the vehicle had been reported stolen out of Rohnert Park, CA, with Armstrong as the primary suspect.

Armstrong was taken into custody without incident and was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of vehicle theft (VC 10851(a)), possession of a stolen vehicle (PC 496d(a)), driving with a suspended license (VC 14601.1(a)) and violation of probation (PC 1203.2(a)(2)).  

At the Correctional Facility later that morning, Armstrong reportedly physically assaulted another inmate unprovoked. He was booked on additional charges of assault (PC 240) and battery (PC 242).

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.