Arcata Police Department Press Release:

suspect

On Wednesday July 24th 2013, at approximately 6:15 pm, officers from the Arcata Police Department responded to the La Chiquita Taqueria in the 700 Blk of 10th Street for the report of an attempted robbery.

Upon the officers arrival they spoke to the owner who reported an unknown man had just attempted to rob him at gun point. The owner had been in the back when he heard someone tap on the front counter requesting service. When he came to the counter the suspect grabbed him by the hair and pushed a small pistol to his neck and demanded money. The owner was able to retrieve a large kitchen knife from behind the counter and fend off the suspect. The owner then chased the suspect from the business and down the street.

The suspect was described as a white male adult, 5‘5” tall, dark hair, wearing a red hoodie with white writing and a white hat.

Over the past two weeks investigators developed information that Sean Butler-Smith, 26 of Arcata, was responsible for the attempted robbery. 

On August 6th 2013, detectives located Butler-Smith in the 900 Blk of Scenic Dr in Trindad and he was taken into custody without incident.   

Butler-Smith was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional facility on charges of 211 PC, robbery, 11350 H&S, possession of a controlled substance, 11377 H&S, possession of a controlled substance, 1203.2 probation violation and for three outstanding arrest warrants.

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