Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On 05-31-13 at approximately 8:10 p.m., an Officer with the Eureka Police Department was on routine patrol checking the dock/parking area at Marina Way. The officer’s patrol unit was equipped with an Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR). As the Officer passed a parked vehicle, the ALPR system alerted on the parked vehicle indicating the vehicle had been reported stolen. The Eureka Police Department Dispatch Center confirmed that the vehicle was listed as stolen out of San Diego. The officer approached the vehicle and found it to be occupied by two subjects. The Officer held the two (2) subjects at gun point until additional Officers could arrive.

Upon the responding officers arrival, a “high risk” contact was made of the occupants and they were detained without further incident. The driver, identified as TAKELE FEKADU HIKSSA (27 years old from San Diego), was soon taken into custody for vehicle theft and possession of stolen property. The passenger was found not to have been involved, nor had knowledge of the vehicle being stolen, and was released at the scene. HIKSSA was transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility (HCCF), where he was released on his own recognizance with a court date due to the HCCF’s population and matrix.