From the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On 10-28-2012, approximately 4:30 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office was notified by a citizen who is a contractor for a Wireless Company. The citizen told the dispatcher when he drove up to the Pratt Mountain wireless radio tower site, Garberville, he saw two male juveniles with dogs running away from the site. The juvenile males were carrying bolt cutters in their hands. The citizen told the dispatcher the males had two dogs with them and they were still in the area. A deputy responded to the site and checked the area. After looking at site the deputy and citizen saw every building at the site had been broken into and/or damaged. The citizen estimated the damage to the site being at least $15,000 to $20,000.00. Other wireless providers had their buildings damaged by the vandals too.

While conducting his investigation at the site, the deputy saw two dogs about twenty yards away. Both dogs were picked up by the deputy who saw one of the dogs had a tag with a phone number. The deputy called the phone number and drove to the residence where the dog lived to return the dog. While speaking with an adult at the residence the deputy learned he was the father of a fourteen year old male juvenile who matched the description of the suspects. The deputy also leaned the 14 year old male juvenile had a friend who was fourteen who matched the description of the other male juvenile who was seen fleeing the scene. Both male juveniles and their parents met with the deputy who ultimately issued the juvenile males citations for felony vandalism.

Anyone with information for the Sheriffs Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriffs Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriffs Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.