From the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office: 

On 12-27-2012 12-26-2012, approximately 5:00 p.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a 45 year old female who told them she had just been attacked by a male with a hammer. A deputy and a California Highway Patrol Officer (C.H.P.) were dispatched to the Willow Creek Motel, in Willow Creek.

When the officers arrived the victim told them Gary Joseph Trievel, 44 years old, had struck her in the arm four to five times with a hammer. The victim said Trievel was outside his hotel room intoxicated, holding a yellow carpenters hammer and screaming profanities. The victim exited her room armed with pepper spray and asked Trievel to be quiet. Trievel refused, approached the victim and struck her four or five times on the right arm with the hammer. The victim sprayed Trievel with pepper spray and he retreated to his hotel room

The investigating deputy contacted Trievel in his hotel room. He told the deputy the victim struck him first with a flashlight in the arm and then pepper sprayed him during an argument they were having.

The deputy located several hotel guests who disputed Trievel’s account as to what happened and saw Trievel strike the victim with the hammer. Trievel was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon, violation of probation and a misdemeanor warrant for his arrest. He was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where his bail was set at $50,000.00.

The victim refused medical treatment. A hammer was recovered by the deputy at the scene.