Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On 04-16-12 at approximately 0109 hrs, Officers from the Eureka Police Department responded to the 200 block of Del Norte Street on a report of a vehicle burglary in progress. A citizen reported seeing a subject dressed all in black trying car door handles as he walked along Del Norte Street. The suspect located an unlocked vehicle and entered the vehicle and began rummaging around inside. The citizen reported seeing the subject looking through the interior of the vehicle with a flashlight.

Officers arrived on scene within two minutes of being dispatched to the call. The first officer on scene noticed a subject dressed all in black walking eastbound on Del Norte and turn north onto “C” Street. The officer shined his spotlight at the subject and exited his patrol vehicle. The subject immediately fled on foot. Officers gave chase and observed the subject turn into a long, dead end driveway. One officer witnessed the subject remove an item from his waistband. The subject threw the item over a fence and against a residence on the south side of the driveway. The subject then turned and complied with the officer’s commands and was taken into custody without further incident.

Officers discovered the item the subject threw was a 9mm, semi-automatic handgun, which was loaded. The suspect was identified as James Leon DAVIS, 43, from Eureka.

The investigation revealed DAVIS entered a vehicle and removed several items which he carried away in a black bag that he had also stolen from the same vehicle. The bag and stolen items were located, near where the officer first observed DAVIS, lying in the roadway. The items were released back to the owner.

DAVIS was found to be on active parole and to have a felony warrant for his arrest. DAVIS was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked on the warrant and for a parole violation. DAVIS was also arrested and booked for being a felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, carrying a concealed firearm, and petty theft with prior convictions. DAVIS is being held on a parole hold.

The Eureka Police Department would like to thank the citizens who helped with this investigation and provided valuable information which lead to the arrest of DAVIS and another gun taken off the streets. We would also like to ask citizens to be diligent in removing any items from inside their vehicle, which seen from the outside may create a situation where you become a victim of opportunity.