UPDATE 3:33 p.m.: Nichols has been taken into custody:
Suspect Gordon Paul Nichols was arrested by Rio Dell Police Department at approximately 12:00 noon today. He was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked on one count of assault with a deadly weapon. His bail is set at $50,000.00.
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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
On 07-15-2013, approximately 3:00 a.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call regarding an assault with a deadly weapon which just occurred. Deputies responded to the 200 block of Meyers Avenue, Myers Flat. When the deputies arrived they located a 39 year old male victim in the driveway, bleeding from his ear. The victim declined medical attention. The victim told the deputy he was in his trailer on his property with his pregnant wife when a neighbor, known to him as Gordon Nichols, came into his trailer about 2:45 a.m. this morning. The male victim told the investigating deputy that Nichols was intoxicated. He and his wife told Nichols to leave their trailer immediately. Nichols got angry and shoved the male victim’s wife to the ground and then struck the male victim with a piece of firewood in the head. The male victim was knocked to the ground and was dazed from the blow which caused a laceration to his ear. The wife was not injured. When the male victim got up he saw Nichols running away on foot.
Deputies checked the area for Nichols and could not find him. A be-on-the-lookout has been placed for Nichols to arrest him for assault with a deadly weapon.
Gordon Paul Nichols is described as 48 years old, white male, 6’ 2” tall, 190 lbs, brown hair and blue eyes. Nichols is known to be in the Meyers Flat and Rio Dell areas.
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.