From the Eureka Police Department:

On 7-03-13 at about 2:00 pm, on off-duty Eureka Police officer was traveling westbound on Henderson Street, when he observed a gray Nissan Sentra traveling northbound on Fairfield Street. The officer recognized the driver of the vehicle as Paul Lester Bareilles (29 Years old of Eureka). The officer was familiar with Bareilles from prior police contacts and also knows him to have prior arrests for vehicle theft related crimes. The officer followed the Nissan and obtained its license plate number. The officer contacted the Eureka Police Department dispatch center and was advised that the Nissan had not been reported stolen. The Nissan accelerated and the officer lost sight of it.

During briefing that evening, the officer was informed that a stolen vehicle report had been taken on the Nissan at about 3:15 pm that afternoon. The Nissan was stolen from a location a few blocks from where the officer had seen Bareilles driving it.

A county wide attempt to locate and arrest was issued for Bareilles on a charge of vehicle theft.

On 7-06-13 at about 3:50 am, an officer was patrolling the Henderson Center area of Eureka, due to recent burglaries in that area, and located Bareilles walking at the 3300 block of E Street. Bareilles was taken into custody. A search incident to arrest of Bareilles’ person and a satchel he was wearing was conducted. Tools and items commonly used in vehicle theft were located and seized as evidence. 

Bareilles was transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. He soon posted bail and was released with a court date.

This is an open investigation and anyone with information regarding this crime is urged to call Eureka Police Officer Jon Omey at 707-441-4060.