Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s
Office has recently received several reports of a phone scam
targeting our community.
As
part of this scam, the caller claims they are from the Humboldt
County Sheriff’s Office and may identify as current and/or former
employees. The scammer tells the victim that he is a deputy and
claims that the victim missed a subpoena to court and must now pay a
fine immediately to avoid arrest. Some victims have reported that the
scammer knows personal information about them, including nicknames
and former court records and insists that they are not allowed to get
an attorney or seek outside help. The scammer is spoofing the HCSO’s
phone number (707-445-7251), with their caller ID identifying the
caller as our office.
The
Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like the community to know
that this is a scam. While
law enforcement may contact you regarding a warrant or investigation,
we will never demand payment in exchange for dropping a warrant or
stopping an investigation. Additionally, no government agency will
ask you to mail large sums of cash, use a credit card over the phone
or pay with gift cards or pre-paid money cards. If you have any
questions about a call, please call us at (707) 445-7251.
Remember
these tips to help protect yourself from fraud:
1.
Spot imposters
Scammers
often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a
family member, a charity or a company with which you do business.
Don’t send money or give out personal information in response to an
unexpected request – whether it comes as a text, a phone call or an
email.
2.
Do online searches
Type
a company or product name into your favorite search engine with words
like “review,” “complaint” or “scam.” Or search for a
phrase that describes your situation, like “IRS call.” You can
even search for phone numbers to see if other people have reported
them as scams.
3.
Don’t believe your caller ID
Technology
makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information, so the name
and number you see aren’t always real. If someone calls asking for
money or personal information, hang up. If you think the caller might
be telling the truth, call back to a number you know is genuine.
4.
Talk to someone
Before
you give up your money or personal information, talk to someone you
trust. Con artists want you to make decisions in a hurry. They might
even threaten you. Slow down, check out the story, do an online
search, consult an expert — or just tell a friend.
5.
Don’t rely on personal information
Living
in the digital age, access to information is easier than ever.
Scammers are often able to get their hands on very personal
information, providing it to their victims to make their scam look
more legitimate. Don’t trust a scammer who is able to provide your
personal information. If you followed the above tips and still aren’t
sure, call back at a publicly listed number for the organization from
which the scammer claims to be or contact your loved one directly.
Sign
up for the Federal Trade Commission’s scam alerts at ftc.gov/scams.
Patricia
Barth passed away Thursday, December 1, 2022.
Pat,
as she was known, was born in Wiesbaden, Germany on
June 22, 1960, where
her father was stationed in the US Army. She spent her early years in
the Twain Harte
area, playing outside and enjoying nature with her family. They went
to the forest every Sunday, explored and had picnics together.
When
Pat was an adolescent, her family moved to Redway, the community
where she would spend most of her life. She made a lasting impression
on many people and had more friends than she realized. She graduated
from South Fork High School in 1980. After high
school,
while working at the Hartsook Inn, she met Clemente Beltran. They
went on to marry and have two children, Roberto and Lee Beltran. Pat
and Clemente spent many years together. During
this time Pat was a loving mother and homemaker.
Starting
a new chapter in her life, Pat retuned to Redway in 1994, after
living in Laytonville for a few years. Upon her return to Southern
Humboldt, she reconnected with many people and made more friends. It
was during this time that she met Mike Dunphy. They lived on a
beautiful ranch off Briceland Road for nearly 25 years together,
where they enjoyed nature and each other’s company. The many walks
on the roads behind their home brought Pat joy. She had a love of
animals and always had pets that she loved and cared for, from cats
to dogs, to deer, foxes and turkeys — they were all “her pets.”
Pat and Mike were often seen at local events and enjoying breakfast
together in a local restaurant nearly every weekend.
Pat
loved going to local musical events, especially the Redwood Run and
local art fairs. Pat had a lifelong love of reading, and she
commented many times that she could not afford to go anywhere, so she
traveled through books. Embroidery was a passion of hers, and many
people knew her for her work. The art that she created for those that
were close to her adorn the walls of many homes in the area. Her
passion for embroidery started in high school and stayed with her all
her life. She always had several projects in various stages of
completion.
A
hard-working, independent woman, Pat spent the last year of her life
recognizing her long held dream of living on her own, which made her
proud. Pat was a kind, free spirit who lived life on her own terms;
she was always her authentic self.
She
was preceded in death by her father Dan Barth, and her older sister
Danette Barth.
She
is survived by her longtime former partner Mike Dunphy, Mother Mary
Barth, sister Teresa (Randy) Green, her brother Jeff Barth, her two
sons, Roberto and Lee Beltran, her two grandchildren Max and
Alexander Beltran, nieces and nephews Roger (Ehlana) Kirkpatrick,
Mara Green, Justin Green, and Tiffany and Armand Moore. She is also
survived by many more family members and friends in the community.
Pat’s
friends and family are invited to a celebration of life potluck at
the Healy Senior Center on Saturday January 7 from 11 a.m. to
3 p.m.
###
The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Patricia Barth’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.
Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
On 12/28/2022, at about 1:46 p.m, Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the
1900 block of Pishka Court in McKinleyville for the report of a
sighting of double homicide suspect Russell Albers.
Albers | Booking photo
Russell
Albers was seen leaving the area is a grey Toyota Tundra by a deputy
sheriff and a pursuit ensued. Deputies pursued the vehicle south
bound on Highway 101 to Arcata before heading north on Highway 101 at
speeds excess of 100 mph. The pursuit went north bound on Highway 101
through Trinidad and proceeded north on Scenic Drive. The suspect then
proceeded north bound on Highway 101 from Sue-meg State Park. The
suspect was driving in excess of 100 mph north bound in the south
bound lanes of Highway 101. California Highway Patrol (CHP) assisted
with the pursuit. CHP performed the PIT maneuver (Pursuit
Intervention Technique) which forced the vehicle off the road;
however, it continued in the shoulder of Highway 101. A deputy then
rammed and immobilized the suspect vehicle. Russell Albers was taken
into custody without further incident.
Albers
was subsequently transported and booked into the Humboldt County Jail
for two counts of homicide (PC 187), two counts of attempted
murder (PC 664/187) and child endangerment (PC 273a).
The
Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the following
agencies for their coordination and assistance with this pursuit:
California Highway Patrol, State Parks, Bureau of Land Management,
Eureka Police Department and Cal Poly Humboldt University Police
Department.
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.
# # #
Here’s some footage, sent in by Outpost reader Arturo Muñoz, showing a bit of the high-speed chase shortly before it came to an end:
The suspect in yesterday’s double homicide, Russell Albers, was the driver of the truck and has been booked into the county correctional facility. See post here.
# # #
Original post:
Photo: Jacob Pounds.
We’re not yet 100 percent certain about what it’s all about, but there was a crazy police chase on Highway 101 north from McKinleyville to somewhere near Big Lagoon this afternoon.
The last thing to come over the scanner is that the California Highway Patrol had one person at gunpoint near Kane Road, and that person is now in custody. The Sheriff’s Office has requested a major crimes unit to respond to their location. Traffic on 101 is impaired at the moment.
As should be evident in the picture above, it was a crazy pursuit. Friend of the LoCO Bob Pagliuco said he came across it as it was near Patrick’s Point. He saw a cop do a U-turn and attempt to block the highway just as the suspect neared. The suspect — still in the wrong lanes of traffic — instead veered around them and continued north.
With the suspect in yesterday’s double murder in the Pine Hill neighborhood still at large, St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka has limited public access “out of an abundance of caution,” spokesperson Christian Hill said in an email.
Albers
Forty-one-year-old Russell Martin Albers remains on the loose after he allegedly shot and killed the parents of a 4-year-old shortly after midnight Tuesday. Albers allegedly injured two others, including a female gunshot victim who he subsequently dropped off at the hospital where she underwent surgery, according to a press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.
The child, whose screams could be heard in the background of a 911 call, was uninjured and has been turned over to Child Welfare Services.
In light of the shooting, access to St. Joseph Hospital has been limited to “select entrances,” Hill’s email says.
“We are actively monitoring the situation and are in direct communication with law enforcement,” the statement continues. “Our caregivers’ and patients’ safety and peace of mind is our highest priority. We have safety measures in place that ensure our caregivers can deliver, and patients can receive, safe, high-quality care. Visitors are allowed per our current visitation policy.”
The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office has asked any members of the public who spot Albers to call 911. Anyone with information about the case is encouraged to call the office at (707) 445-7251 or their crime tip line at (707) 268-2539.
The boil water advisory for Rio Dell has been lifted as of 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 28. Residents in the city’s water district are advised that they may safely drink city water at this point.
“If your water pressure is low, please clean the screens on your faucets,” says Randy Jensen, Rio Dell water superintendent. “Everybody should have water except red tagged houses. If your water is turbid, flush it through an exterior hose bib until it’s clear. If you have no water, check your water shut off on the street as many volunteers turned off waters to homes immediately after the earthquake.”
Jensen added that addressing water leaks on city streets are a priority at this time and that if anyone notices this issue they should call Rio Dell City Hall at 707-764-3532.
Rio Dell City Manager Kyle Knopp adds that the city would like to hear from anyone in the city who is having trouble getting in touch with their landlords regarding repairs to rented dwellings.
A local assistance center is tentatively scheduled for this Friday, Dec. 30 and Saturday, Dec. 31 at Monument Middle School. The center will include resources to help residents who have been displaced by the earthquake. As of Dec. 28, 25 homes have been red tagged as uninhabitable and 69 have been yellow-tagged, meaning they need minor repairs. Knopp encourages residents to stay tuned to information from the California and Humboldt County Offices of Emergency Services.
The Rio Dell Chamber of Commerce and Rio Dell Community Resource Center have offered to step in to facilitate donation and distribution of resources later this week from their location at 406 Wildwood Avenue. The city is asking at this time that anyone interested in donating items please refer to the Pay It Forward Humboldt Facebook page, which has a current list of requested items. Please do not bring items that are not requested to the donation center, as this can create a secondary emergency of sorting through donations and disposing of them.
The city is also asking anyone who volunteered during the emergency, whether their service was small or large, to please fill out an ICS-214 form documenting their volunteer time. This documentation will help the city as it works with state agencies for disaster assistance funding. Forms are available at the Rio Dell Volunteer Fire Department and at Rio Dell City Hall, or online at the City’s Website cityofriodell.ca.gov.
“Rio Dell and other members of the greater community stepped up out of a love of community with no anticipation of reward,” says City Manager Kyle Knopp. “Nevertheless it is essential that we record and document all volunteer hours spent in the community. We ask everyone to do this as another act of service to the community.”
“The city would like to thank the many organizations, individuals and agencies who selflessly stepped to offer help and services,” says Mayor Debra Garnes. “Rio Dell is a community of neighbors who help neighbors, but we are also part of a wider community that takes care of one another in times of great need. In many ways we are still learning the full extent of this disaster’s impact on our small town, and we know that there is much more work to be done.”
A Go Fund Me campaign to assist families affected by the Dec. 20 earthquake has been established by the Rio Dell Volunteer Fire Department. More information is available at https://gofund.me/3036e4ec. The Humboldt Area Foundation is also awarding grants to agencies aiding in relief efforts and accepting donations to their Disaster Response and Resilience Fund. More information is available at https://www.hafoundation.org/Giving/DisasterFund.
A “Rio Dell Alert” just dropped in our email inbox:
Boil Water Notice is now lifted. Water is safe to consume. Please clean faucet screens.
# # #
Original post:
Press release from the Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services:
Emergency sheltering and supply distribution continues for those impacted by the Dec. 20 earthquake.
RED CROSS OVERNIGHT SHELTER
The Red Cross Overnight Shelter located at the Fortuna Firemen’s Pavilion, 9 Park Street, Fortuna, CA, is open to community members displaced from the earthquake. Services provided include temporary overnight sheltering, cots and blankets, hygiene kits, snacks and full meals for overnight guests, water, charging stations and small animal sheltering.
Additionally, the Red Cross is available to connect community members impacted by the earthquake with a variety of other services to aid in the recovery process. To learn more, contact 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800- 733-2767).
RIO DELL SUPPLY DISTRIBUTION CENTER
Water can be picked up at Monument Middle School, 95 Center Street, Rio Dell, CA. This distribution site will be open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. through Wednesday, Dec. 28. at which time the need for further operation will be assessed. Hot meals will be provided to community members impacted by the earthquake at this site from noon to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28.
The distribution of non-perishable food items has been moved to the Rio Dell Community Resource Center, located at 406 Wildwood Avenue, Rio Dell, CA. This distribution location will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 28.
Portable showers will be available on Wednesday, Dec. 28 at the Rio Dell Fire Hall, 50 Center Street, Rio Dell, CA, from noon to 4 p.m.
CLEANUP ASSISTANCE
The American Red Cross has distributed 198 clean up kits to the impacted communities.
Rio Dell residents may utilize the two dumpsters located outside of Rio Dell City Hall, at 675 Wildwood Avenue, to dispose of earthquake debris. Please do not dispose of hazardous waste in these receptacles. Hazardous items not fit for disposal in these receptacles include leftover household products that can catch fire, react, or explode under certain circumstances, or that are corrosive or toxic as household hazardous waste. Products, such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides can contain hazardous ingredients and require special care when you dispose of them. More information regarding hazardous waste disposal can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/hw/household-hazardous-waste-hhw.
Residents outside of Rio Dell with remaining excess earthquake-related debris should contact their local sanitation provider.
Local businesses impacted by the earthquake are asked to complete a Business Recovery Survey created by the County’s Economic Development Department, GoHumCo. This survey will be used to track, monitor and quantify business losses in Humboldt County following the earthquake.Losses will be totaled and shared with federal and state agencies as we seek outside support for our community. The survey may be accessed here: humboldtgov.org/recoverySurvey For more business support resources visit: https://www.gohumco.com/379/Economic-Earthquake-Recovery-Response.
DONATIONS
Financial donations to assist with the response can be made directly to the following:
Rio Dell Fire Department- Venmo: @RioDellFire-Department, GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/3036e4ec, or mailed to 50 W Center St. Rio Dell, CA 95562
Pay it Forward Humboldt: 707-616-9191, payitforwardhumboldt@gmail.com
American Red Cross: 1-800-435-7669, redcross.org
STAY INFORMED
The most important thing you can do while the community recovers is to keep informed.
For updated information regarding the Humboldt County earthquake response, please go to humboldtsheriff.org/emergency and visit @HumCoOES on Facebook and Twitter.
