From the Eureka Police Department:

Early Tuesday morning, 8-6-13, at 0313 hours, a male subject called the Eureka Police Department’s 911 dispatcher and stated the following: (Excerpts for the dispatch log)

  • MALE RP PHONED 911 STATING, “I’M THE GUY W/THE GUN” 03:13:30
  • *RP NOW STATES HE HAS THE GUN TO CHEST AND IS UPSET 03:14:17
  • WITH HIMSELF OVER STEALING MONEY. 03:14:17
  • *RP FURTHER STATES HE IS UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF HEROIN 03:15:26
  • AND WILL SPEAK W/OFFICERS IF HE IS GIVEN MORE HEROIN 03:15:26
  • RP IS AT THE ENTRANCE TO ARTIC CIRCLE AND CHRISTIE MOTEL
  • *RP STATES THE FIREARM IS A 25 CA HAND GUN AND IS INSIDE HIS
  • SWEATSHIRT RP DESC WMA 44 YO LSW BLU SWEATSHIRT AND BLK
  • JEANS 03:17:59
  • *RP NOW STATES HE CUT HIS ARM W/A RAZOR BLADE 03:17:17
  • OPEN LINE, RP HEARD STATING HE HAS A GUN ON HIS PERSON 03:20:35 

EPD officer’s located 44 year old Forrest Vandorn at the old Artic Circle parking lot. Vandorn held a cell phone in his left hand and had his right hand under his armpit. He was bleeding from one of his hands. The first officer on scene asked Vandorn if he needed some help and Vandorn said he did not want the “cops”. Vandorn was asked if he had any weapons and he answered by exposing his right hand and showing he was holding a small .25 caliber firearm. Vandorn disregarded demands to disarm, turned his back on the officers and walked away. As officers walked with him in an attempt to contain his movements, one officer saw Vandorn held the firearm under his chin.

Vandorn walked himself to a wall and turned around with the firearm still pointed towards his chin. This action froze the scene and allowed officers to negotiate with Vandorn. Vandorn was covered by the officer’s firearms during these tense moments.

At a crucial moment, Vandorn lowered the firearm from his chin to his side, briefly pointing the firearm at the officers. Vandorn eventually dropped the weapon and he was taken into custody.

On scene officers were asked about the crucial moment when they were “flagged,” (firearm pointed towards the officers), by the suspect’s gun. The involved officers said they “read” Vandorn’s body language and felt he was submitting to the authority of the officers.

Vandorn, a Eureka resident, was arrested for felon in possession of a firearm, PC 29000(a). The self inflicted injuries to his wrist did not require hospital services. The firearm was found to be loaded during the entirety of this incident.