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PREVIOUSLY: 

• Suspect Allegedly Fired AK-47 at Officers During Last Night’s Pursuit in Eureka; Local Man Arrested for Attempted Murder, Sheriff’s Office Says
• Cops Exchange Fire With Suspect Vehicle During High-Speed Pursuit Through Greater Eureka
  
• Buhne and Harrison Fully Blocked Following High-Speed Chase, Reportedly With Shots Fired
• “Scanner Traffic Indicates”

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This morning, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office released video from a July 20 police shooting on the streets of Eureka, which occurred during a car chase around the city and its outskirts.

A passenger in the suspect vehicle had opened fire with an AK-47-style rifle prior to a deputy returning fire. The chase came to an end when the suspects crashed into a civilian vehicle and the intersection of Buhne and Harrison.

In the video, Sheriff William Honsal lays out the series of events that day with the help of a map-based overlay, before cutting to the footage of the two officers who were in a patrol car chasing the suspects. A regular deputy who was serving as a training officer was driving the car; in the passenger’s seat was a trainee.

These deputies are not identified in the video, but Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Samantha Karges tells the Outpost that the driver of the patrol car was Deputy Jordan Walstrom, who has since left the department and has taken a job in Willits, while the trainee was Deputy Zackariah Dickson.

The body cam footage released today begins mid-chase — after the suspect had first fired on deputies, according to Honsal — as officers relay to dispatch that the passenger in the suspect vehicle was carrying a black AK-47.  Walstrom, still driving his patrol car, asks Dickson to hand him a rifle and clear away a computer and other material, and to “stay low.” He propped the rifle on the dashboard of his vehicle and continued to drive with his left hand, holding the trigger of the rifle with his right.

According to Honsal’s overview of the incident, when the chase reached the Highland Park area the passenger in the suspect car leaned out the window and pointed the weapon at the officers. In the body cam footage, Walstrom can be seen firing four rounds through his windshield at the fleeing vehicle. The footage then fast-forwards to the traffic collision that ended the chase at Buhne and Harrison, and which point a tense standoff ensues and the occupants of the suspect car are taken into custody.

Two Eureka men were arrested at the scene — Darrike Miles McKeown, the driver of the car, and Jared Eli Aubrey, the passenger who allegedly fired on the deputies.

Asked about Walstrom’s unusual use of force — firing a rifle at suspects through his own windshield while continuing to drive — Karges told the Outpost that an administrative review panel determined that the deputy broke no internal policy in doing so, but that the incident will inspire new training scenarios in the department.

“We don’t train on that and it is unusual, however it is not outside of policy,” Karges said. “It’s not a recommended style of firing a weapon, however it is not restricted.”

Karges added that the fact that Dickson was still a trainee likely contributed to Walstrom’s decision-making in the moment.

The county’s Critical Incident Response Team — the interagency task force that reviews all police use-of-deadly-force incidents in the county — is still reviewing the case, Honsal says in the conclusion of the video.

The Outpost still has a pending public records request with the County of Humboldt that asks for the names of all officers involved in the incident, as well as the complete body cam footage from that day. Karges told us that this material should be released sometime early next month.

The full video of the video released by the Sheriff’s Office this morning can be found below:

PREVIOUSLY: (PHOTOS) Sara Bareilles at Home

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Even with the chorus of “Brave” still ringing in our ears, at this point it feels safe to say that Sara Bareilles’ triumphant homecoming has to rank as one of Eureka’s all-time swell days. From the celebration of a local kid done good, to the the post-pandemic reminder that people of all different stripes can get together and be community, to the collective realization that, oh, Halvorsen Park is actually pretty wonderful, the gathering was the kind of experience that thousands of locals will smugly boast about having attended for years to come. The weather was shockingly good, too. More of that, Eureka.  

In the midst of the whirlwind, a handful of local media were herded into the Adorni Center with the promise of face time with the day’s guest of honor. Ultimately, about a half an hour before Bareilles would take the stage, your Lost Coast Outpost and the North Coast Journal’s Iridian Casarez were ushered into a finely furnished, snack-filled side room only to be joined moments later by Sara and her entourage. A li’l chat ensued, which you can read below.  

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LoCO: So this show is a big deal for your little hometown of Eureka. What was stirring inside you that made you want to do this now?

SB: Well, I have to give credit to Mayor Seaman, who reached out about three years ago now — this was before the pandemic — and her idea was that there would be an invitation to engage with the city council in some way. Maybe I could call into a Zoom meeting or just have some kind of interaction. And then the pandemic hit, and then we all are aware of what happened. Everything slowed to a stop. Then recently, I started working with an organization called Good Tidings. And what they do is they work on spaces for kids — be it athletic spaces, music spaces, education spaces — they make safe spaces for kids to be empowered and become their best selves. So we are working on the Boys and Girls Club, and we’re revealing that tomorrow. So in tandem with that timing, it felt like this is a perfect time. We’re going to do that sort of outreach and then let’s have a concert! Let’s come home and make a show about it. And it’s just an idea that originally was kind of small, that has snowballed into what you see here, which is a massive, massive event. But it’s been the most incredible collaboration — just all the resources that the city has offered, and everyone has been so amenable and excited to sort of dream this up into what it is today. 

I just wanted to come home and say thank you. I know it’s been hard. This city struggles. It’s part of what I love about coming home. I keep saying this, [Eureka] is just a stubborn little town, and I love that about it. Part of why I’m a stubborn person and why I’ve done the things I’ve done is because I’m scrappy, because of where I came from. And so I feel like I wanted to say ‘Thank you’ and ‘We’re getting through, guys. We’re not there yet, but let’s keep going and have a community event to just look each other in the face and feel some joy.’ 

NCJ: About the Boys and Girls Club project: Why do you think it’s important for Humboldt County kids to have access to creative spaces? 

SB: I was so lucky to have access to the arts through school at Eureka High and also especially in the theater community here. That’s a huge reason why I became a performer at all is because I love being on stage so much — Shocker! I’m a ham and I like people looking at me and listening to me. It’s such a remote community here and I think sometimes we forget that we also have access to our big imaginations and what is possible. I don’t think small town has to equal small minds. And so I think [this project] is just a great way to remind kids to just dream big. There is so much beauty up here to use and to metabolize and to make art from, and I just think people have a lot to say, and it’s a way to give them a way to say it. 

LoCO: This event has been framed as a homecoming. So I was hoping we could just nerd out on Eureka a little bit and just talk about some of your memories of growing up here. Like, where in Eureka did High School Sara hang out? 

SB: Downtown a lot. Los Bagels is a local haunt for me. That’s one of the places that I always make sure I go to when I come home. And there’s just something about that Slug Slime. I have jars and jars and jars of it.

LoCO: They’re very much going to appreciate you saying that. 

SB: Right? I mean, I wish I could plug all of the wonderful places, but that’s one of them. I tend to think that our downtown district is so special and just has so much to offer. And I love coming home and seeing what little things have changed, what’s new, who’s opened, who’s moved. We were talking about it with the officer that was driving us here: Restaurants move around here a lot. It’s not that they close, it’s that you have to find out where they’ve gone. Like, this is the scrappiness that I love about coming home! And Mazzotti’s — that was a real local haunt for me. 

LoCO: Did you see shows at Mazzotti’s?

SB: I played my first hometown show at Mazzotti’s in Arcata. I played the Van Duzer Theater, the Arkley Center. Oh no. I think maybe my first show was actually at the Eureka Theater — the movie theater — which was a bit of a shit show, I’m not going to lie. But it was so fun to figure out how to come home and play. And now this feels like building on that. It’s an evolution. 

LoCO: What was the biggest show that you ever saw here in Humboldt growing up? 

SB: Probably Manhattan Transfer at the Van Duzer Theater. I think so. I didn’t see a lot of shows here and I didn’t do a lot of the underage clubs and stuff. Then I went to UCLA so I didn’t do a lot of concert going. And I was way more of a theater nerd at that time. So I was seeing a lot of shows at Ferndale Rep. 

LoCO: Was Manhattan Transfer good?

SB: They’re the best! I still listen to that record!

NCJ: I have a question about your collaboration with the Humboldt Literacy Project and your demand that they include antiracist and LGBTQ+ books. I just wanted to ask why you felt that was important to include for that collection of books.

SB: Yeah, I think for me, it is essential. This is just trying to make sure that the information is diversified and inclusive and equitable. To me that’s just like a no brainer. This is the information that is out there in the world, and we should trust our readers to be discerning and make choices for themselves. For me it’s not an option to be erasing or limiting what you have access to. I think that’s small minded, which we all know I’m not into. I feel like we can trust people to make choices for themselves, and I think it’s essential. It’s just truth telling as far as I’m concerned. 

NCJ: You’ve been working on this concert for such a long time. Now that you’re finally here, how are you feeling? 

SB: Overwhelmed. Nervous. Like, my hands are a little bit shaky. I want to enjoy it. I want to feel each moment as it’s happening. Sometimes what you end up with with a lot of preparation — it’s so anticipatory. It’s easy to get lost in the future. It’s like, ‘I’ll be so glad when this is over.’ I don’t want that feeling at all. I want to be in every moment, in every song and just enjoying the fact that I get to sing for my hometown. It’s a very proud moment for me, for my family. I mean, my dad is so excited. My mom is so excited and that makes me so happy. 

LoCO: You got sunshine. But other than that, how will you gauge the success of this day?

SB: That’s a really good question. I think if I can have fun, they’ll have fun. I always tell that to people who ask about being on stage. I’m like, if you have fun, they’ll have fun. That’s all you can do. I have an incredible band brought together. They’re some of my favorite people, my best friends. So I’m just going to go make music with my friends and do what I do. It may or may not be for everybody here, but this is what I do and I love doing it. That’s what I can offer.

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So now that it’s all sung and done, how does Bareilles feel about what she was able to offer her hometown? Well, after the event she took to social media to reflect on the day’s happenings. (Watch her full reaction in the clip below.)

“That was so overwhelming and so beautiful and so special to be here,” an emotional Bareilles said. “It was perfect.”

[The interview above was edited slightly for clarity.]

The Eureka City Council will convene for yet another jam-packed meeting this week. Granted, most of the items on Tuesday’s agenda are likely to play out in long, drawn-out discussions surrounding municipal code and whatnot, but these are important discussions nonetheless! 

I’m sure LoCO can find an item or two that will interest you. Let’s take a peek at that agenda, shall we?

EaRTH Center Agreement

The California State University Board of Trustees has tentatively agreed to chip in up to $5 million in funding to cover development costs for the forthcoming Eureka Regional Transit & Housing Center, or EaRTH Center.

In February, the Eureka City Council gave staff the green light to move forward with the ambitious transit and housing development on two city-owned parking lots on Third Street between G and H streets, behind Lost Coast Brewery. Over the past few months, Servitas, the student housing development firm that led the design of the facility, has been working with Cal Poly Humboldt and the CSU Board of Trustees to finalize a pre-development agreement for the project. 

“The CSU Trustees have tentatively agreed to provide up to $5 million in development costs and enter into a master lease agreement guaranteeing 95% occupancy of the 96 student housing beds over the term,” the staff report states. “Over the term of the master lease agreement the revenue from the student housing will contribute 80% of the total operating revenue necessary to fund the project.”

Most of the project’s funding will come from a tax-exempt bond that will be repaid through the operating revenue from the project. All excess revenue – aside from operational and debt costs – will go back to the city. The money will be used to subsidize the project’s affordable housing and fund the shuttle service that will serve to project to make up for the loss of two downtown parking lots. After about ten years, the project’s revenue is expected to increase and exceed the funding necessary to subsidize affordable housing and shuttle service.

The council will consider staff’s recommendation to authorize the city manager to negotiate an agreement with the CSU Board of Trustees surrounding revenue sharing during Tuesday’s meeting. 

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Changes to EPD’s Command Structure

The council will also consider a change to the Eureka Police Department’s command structure aimed at improving operations and efficiency in the department “by adding increased capacity for administrative oversight and decision making” to provide more direct support for staff.

Currently, EPD’s command structure consists of one police chief and two police captains who oversee patrol operations and administrative functions. The proposed reorganization would establish two new classifications to replace the captain positions: police commander and assistant police chief. The modified structure would provide more direct administrative support and operational oversight to the chief of police, according to the staff report.

“This stratification of operational and managerial oversight will allow for a more responsive and streamlined administrative functionality at the executive level, while increasing managerial capacity and oversight capability for department personnel,” the staff report states. “Additionally, the City sees this restructuring as an opportunity to provide more stratification within the administrative/support classifications in the department, thereby creating more opportunity for advancement, and incentive for retention.”

If approved, the organizational realignment would deallocate two vacant police sergeant positions and one vacant police captain position, and reclassify the second captain position – which is currently filled by Brian Stephens – to assistant police chief.

The staff report notes that the reorganization “was designed to be cost-neutral.” The police commander’s salary will range between $97,267 and $118,229 annually. The assistant police chief will bring in between $112,407 and $136,631 annually.

The matter appears on the council’s consent calendar and will likely be approved in a single motion unless it is pulled by a council member for further discussion.

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The council will also endure a final public hearing to amend municipal code to prohibit new digital signs in the coastal zone, a second review session for the update to the city’s Coastal Use Plan and consider an amendment to the 2019-2027 Housing Element.

​​The Eureka City Council meets on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 6 p.m. at Eureka City Hall — 531 K Street. The agenda can be found here.

Elsie Anne McManus, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away on October 6, 2022, in Eureka at the age of 85. She was born on November 19, 1936 to Joseph and Evelyn Brazil in Ferndale. Elsie, along with her sister Lucille and brother Rich, grew up on the family’s dairy farm in Grizzly Bluff where she acquired a deep love of animals that remained throughout her life. She had many beloved pets including dogs, cats, birds and fish. Elsie attended Grizzly Bluff School and graduated from Ferndale Union High School in 1954.

Elsie married Jack McManus in 1955 and they started their family in Eureka. In the 1960s, the family moved to Ferndale, acquiring their own small farm on California Street. As primary caretaker of the farm, Elsie worked tirelessly to raise our own chickens, beef, and produce along with instructing her children on the hard work of keeping up a small farm and home. Along with all her other efforts, Elsie was a wonderful cook. Each day her children returned home, Elsie had prepared homemade baked goods along with dinner; her fried chicken, pies, and cinnamon rolls were the best. She was an avid gardener and loved growing flowers throughout her life. Elsie had a knack for gift giving and delighted her kids and grandkids with her whimsical and unique gifts on birthdays and Christmas.

Elsie will always be remembered for her tenacity and self-sufficiency. While she never drove a car, she didn’t let that stop her from doing what needed to be done for her family and herself. She went back to school after raising her family and worked two jobs: at Capital Business Machines during the day, and the Sheriff’s Department in the evenings. Elsie had a deep empathy for those less fortunate than herself. Without fear or judgement, and despite the concerns of her children, she always had a dollar, smile and a kind word for those she met along the way on the streets of Eureka. She gave whatever support she could to her large family, especially when someone was going through a hard time.

Her children will be forever indebted to her for instilling her ethics of hard work, honesty, and caring for others. While Elsie enjoyed and loved her children, her most cherished role in our family was that of grandmother and according to her grandchildren she was the best. Even though she had 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren, she always acknowledged their birthdays and special occasions. There are no words to describe the loss of this dear woman to her family, as she was our rock and the glue that binds us together.

Elsie was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Evelyn Brazil, her brother Richard Brazil, the father of her children Jack McManus, her infant son Patrick McManus, and her beloved son John McManus.

Elsie is survived by her sister Lucille Uldrick; sisters-in-law Mary Brazil and Marah McManus, daughters Ellie and husband Bill Bustin, Maureen Lichtenwalter, Cindy and husband Ken Dunn; son Joe McManus; and step daughter Kathleen Meredith; grandchildren Kenneth, Leslie, Geoff, Daniel, Nicole, David, Sarah, Erin, Christopher, Jacob, and Johnny; her 14 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Eureka Rehabilitation and Wellness and Hospice of Humboldt for their care of Mom during the last six months. Elsie’s life will be celebrated in a private ceremony in November, with burial at Oceanview Cemetery. If you would like to make a donation in her memory please consider a local homeless shelter or Miranda’s Animal Rescue.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Elsie McManus’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

Gregory Roland Haga was born on July 10, 1961, and passed away on September 27, 2022 in Eureka.

Greg grew up on a dairy farm in Ferndale, where he worked with his father Jim. He was an avid football player and absolutely loved the sport! He went on to play on the All County Team for the Wildcats! He loved it! He also loved fishing, hunting, camping, and pretty much anything that involved the great outdoors. He was a wonderful uncle to his many nephews and nieces.

He held many jobs throughout the county, starting out with the Eel River sawmill, pulling planer chain right after graduating high school. He worked for Wycoff‘s Plumbing and then McNaughton‘s Plumbing. He was also appreciated for his handyman skills at many dairies in Ferndale. Eventually he took a job at the Bayside Golf Course, where he worked until his recent passing.

Greg is survived by his brother Gary Haga, sister-in-law Ladonna Haga, their daughter Nicole and her husband Orliff Snell, his brother Earl Haga, his sister Jennifer Haga, his brother Randy and Lisa Griffith, his uncle Mark and aunt Michelle Roland, and numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Greg was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Julieann Haga, his nephew Gary “Bub“ Haga Jr., and great niece Annabelle June Snell.

“MAY YOU ALL REST IN PEACE”

There will be a celebration of life for all of his many friends and family members on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at 1 p.m. Please join us at “The Barn by Fernbridge“ 26 Goble Ln. Ferndale. It will be a potluck so please bring a nice dish or dessert to contribute to the celebration.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Greg Haga’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.

It is with great sadness that I announce that Cindy Rae Whelihan passed away on Sept. 14, 2022 at the age of 62.

Cindy was a lifelong native of Eureka and a graduate of Eureka High School in 1978.

Cindy had many jobs over the years. She worked at the Times-Standard as an inserter, Bayshore Mall as a security guard, as a runner for Humboldt Central Laboratory and her last job was as a lab technician with St. Joseph’s Hospital. Cindy loved working for St. Joe’s. It was definitely a second home to her over the years. Cindy made many friends at the hospital over the years.

Cindy was known for her quick wit and sense of humor. She had many friends and people were drawn to her.

Cindy was preceded in death by her father Patrick Whelihan, mother Kathleen Whelihan, sister Patricia Minton and her ex-husband Larry Duncan. Cindy is survived by her sister Laura Knight, numerous nieces and cousins.

Cindy will be dearly missed by many, but she is now back in our mother’s loving arms.

My sincere thank you to Mad River Community Hospital for their heroic efforts in trying to save her.

At Cindy’s request there will be no service.

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Patricia Ann Sears (Keisner) peacefully passed on October 7, 2022.

Patricia was born July 3, 1952 to George Keisner Sr and Madilene Emma Keisner Bowie in Eureka. Patricia grew up and was raised in Los Angeles with her auntie Faye Affleck and Marvin Bowie. Patricia was born into a family of 10. As many knew her as “Patty,” she had worked at Luke’s for many years in the kitchen department, doing many different tasks. She had also worked at the Eureka Fisheries for many years packing fish.

Some of the hobbies Patty had and enjoyed doing was crocheting blankets, candleholders, potholders and many different cool things for her family and loved ones. She also loved going to the fair, the races, the casino and always enjoyed the shopping time she would spend with her sisters. She also enjoyed playing bingo with her grandchildren and her sisters.

Patty was a proud tribal member of Bear River Band of Rohnerville Rancheria.

Patty is survived by her children Jimmy Stueckle, David and John Hanley, her Daughter Krissey Hanley, her Sister Gail Keisner, her Brothers Ronnie and Glenn Keisner, her Nephews Eugene Hatfield, Alan and Edward John, grandchildren Brittany, Carole, and Little John Hanley; Shawn,Billy, Grace and Treasure Robinson; Alisha, Leah, Alan-David, Jamie, Jesse and Kayla John; and her great-grandchildren Emmett and Calliope Robinson and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Madilene Emma Bowie Keisner, her father,  George Keisner Sr, her daughter Candy Ann Stueckle; her brothers George (Sunny) Keisner Jr, Henry (Hank) Keisner, Delmar Keisner and Lornie Keisner; her sisters Judith (Judy) John and Georgina Bartolli; half-sister Dorthy Cordie, her granddaughter Emma Arlys John, auntie Faye Bowie Affleck, nephews Raymond Hatfield and George John, and great-nephew Nikki Metcalf.

Patty will be truly missed, loved and never forgotten! Services was held Monday, October 17, 2022 at 1 p.m. at Sanders Funeral Home 1835 E Street, Eureka, with a celebration of life following after at Patty’s house.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Patty’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.