Humboldt County Sheriff Press Release:

On 03-05-2014, at approximately 10:20 a.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a report of man at Redwood Memorial Hospital, Fortuna who was being treated for an assault.

A deputy responded to the hospital emergency room and met with the 22 year old male victim from Fortuna, and his 19 year old girlfriend who witnessed the incident. The deputy could see the victim had abrasions on his forehead, a swollen left eye socket and lacerations to his mouth. The victim also received a broken hand which required surgery.

The victim reported he was driving with his girlfriend in his white 2005 Audi southbound on US 101, at about 12th street at approximately 10:10 a.m., on 03-05-2014, when they noticed a Blue Dodge or Ford truck following them. They exited U.S. 101 onto Kenmar Road, Fortuna and began to drive south on Eel River Drive. The truck drove in front of them and began forcing him by slowing down and swerving side to side, while the solo driver motioned for them to stop. They stopped at the area of the Strawberry Farm. The victim got out of his vehicle to see why the truck driver was stopping him. The driver of the truck exited his vehicle and then beat up the victim with his fists.

The girlfriend told the deputy they may have accidentally cut off the suspect, which upset the suspect.

The suspect is described as follows: White male adult, approximately 6’4”, approximately 250 lbs, brown hair, late twenties to early thirties. The suspect vehicle is described as Blue Dodge or Ford, Oregon Plates with a number “8” in the sequence.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s 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.