Eureka Police Department press release:

On 04/02/15 at about 2:15 p.m., Detectives with the Eureka Police Department’s Problem Oriented Policing Unit (POP) were handling transient related issues to the rear of the Bayshore Mall when they saw two suspicious vehicles parked in the north overflow parking lot of the mall.  

Detectives made contact with one of the drivers who was initially unable to provide identification.  He was later identified as Kevin Bruce Couturier, 56 of Eureka. A detective saw a large fixed blade knife on the passenger seat and asked him to step out of the vehicle. Couturier was uncooperative and resisted officers as they placed him in handcuffs.    

Couturier admitted to having gun in his pocket and was placed under arrest.  Detectives located a loaded .22 caliber revolver in his jacket pocket. Detectives searched his vehicle incident to arrest and located all the required elements for an operational Butane honey oil extraction lab.  Detectives located several pounds of processed marijuana, numerous cans of Butane, and bottles designed to facilitate the extraction process.  A small amount of honey oil and concentrated cannabis were also located during the search.  Detectives discovered numerous knives on Couturier’s person and in the vehicle, along with a set of Nunchucks.  

Couturier was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and booked for manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, felon in possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, probation violation, and a felony warrant for transportation of a controlled substance.  Additional charges are pending.   

Anyone with information regarding suspected drug sales in the city limits of Eureka is asked to call the POP office at (707) 441-4373.