Fortuna Police Dept. Press Release:

FORTUNA, CA – On July 22, 2012 at about 1:39 pm, Fortuna Police received numerous emergency calls reporting a woman in a Toyota pick-up had just run down a male subject in the Safeway parking lot.

Upon the arrival of officers, it was discovered through several witnesses and involved parties statements that 20 year old Jessica Riley of Cutten, had been involved in an argument with her boyfriend moments earlier at a nearby gas station. After her boyfriend refused to discuss the situation any further with her, he left the area on foot with a male friend of his. Riley, who was reportedly still upset over the argument, followed the two males in her Toyota pick-up and as the males were walking across the Safeway parking lot, she drove into the parking lot and drove directly for them at approx. 15 mph.

Her boyfriend, whose name was not released, jumped out of the path of Riley’s vehicle and was not struck, but his friend, 20 year old Fortuna resident Marco Alvarez was struck by the vehicle and knocked to the ground. Alvarez was transported to Redwood Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released for moderate injuries. It was further discovered that during the incident, Riley’s 1 ½ year old daughter was in the Toyota pick-up but was unharmed. The child was later released to a responsible adult.

Riley was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Jail on the following charges:

PC 245(a)(1) – Assault with a deadly weapon
PC 664/245(a)(1) – Attempted assault with a deadly weapon
PC 273A(b) – Child endangerment