— The environmental groups fighting Caltrans’ Richardson Grove Improvement Project today brought some serious firepower to the fight. In a motion filed in federal court, the groups submitted a declaration by UC Berkeley Forestry Professor Joe McBride, who conducted a tree-by-tree study of the project and concluded that the project would have a “substantial, irreparable” impact on several trees near the highway realignment project. In light of the study, the groups are now asking the court for an injunction against Caltrans, which would prevent the agency from moving forward with the project.
Documents: Press release from the Environmental Protection Information Center, legal motion for injunction, McBride’s declaration.
— The Oysterssance is nigh! On KHUM’s “Coastal Currents” show today, Mike Dronkers spoke with Humboldt Bay Commissioner Mike Wilson about the expansion of local oyster farming. The Headwaters Fund is promising to kick in $200,000 to smooth the permitting of new oyster beds in the north end of the bay.
— The all-time great mugshots above belong to one Casey Bushell of Eureka, who stands accused of being the tagger known as “Sentry.” Bushell was taken into custody by Eureka’s Problem-Oriented Policing Unit yesterday, and the happiness inspired by his smile-for-the-camera routine is completely shot by the fact that our dude is said to have resisted arrest.
EPD press release follows:
Since at least December 2011, various property owners and businesses in the City of Eureka have suffered numerous, on-going acts of graffiti vandalism, also known as “tagging,” by suspect(s) (“taggers”) using the moniker “SENTRY.” It is estimated the individual acts of vandalism committed by “SENTRY” during this period number in excess of 100 resulting in dozens of victims and a combined thousands of dollars in damages.
Over the past two weeks, the Eureka Police Department’s Problem Oriented Policing Unit (POP) began an investigation targeting the vandal or vandals responsible for this graffiti. On the morning of 5/24/11, POP detectives served a search warrant at an apartment building on the 2300 block of Union Street. The warrant was based in part on information POP received from a concerned “tipster,” along with other evidence developed during the investigation.
Upon entering the apartment, detectives encountered three residents, including Casey James Bushell (23 of Eureka). Bushell was initially uncooperative and resisted detectives’ attempts to detain him. He was handcuffed and taken into custody after a short struggle.
During a subsequent search of the apartment and a related vehicle, detectives located evidence linking Bushell and possibly others to the SENTRY graffiti vandalisms. A fourth suspect named in the warrant was later contacted and interviewed outside a residence on Cousins Street.
The investigation is still continuing and additional arrests may follow. Anyone with information concerning this case is encouraged to call the Eureka Police Department’s POP Unit at (707) 441-4373, or the Department’s front counter at 441-4060.
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