Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release below. Also note the suspect’s previous appearances on LoCO in the links below: 

On 01-25-2015 at about 6:30 am, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Deputies were dispatched to an in progress burglary at a residence located in the 300 block of Echo Road, Loleta, that had been interrupted by neighbors. When the deputies arrived on scene they learned that the suspect(s) fled in dark sedan, prior to their arrival. When deputies spoke to a witness on scene they learned that the witness had fired a round from his shotgun into the tree line to scare the suspect(s) away from the neighbor’s residence. The witness was watching the neighbor’s residence while they were out of the area.

When deputies checked the neighbor’s residence, deputies noticed that the residence back sliding door and garage door had been forced open. When deputies entered the residence looking for any possible suspects inside they noticed that it had been ransacked inside and numerous items had been gathered near the rear back door. No suspects were located inside.   

During their investigation deputies checked the surrounding area for the possible suspect vehicle and located it on Brenard Street, which is about one mile away from the burglary. The vehicle was a 2007, black Ford Expedition. When deputies ran the vehicle through dispatch they learned it was reported stolen from Ray’s used car lot in Fortuna on 01-17-2015.

Inside of the vehicle, deputies located stolen property from the residence on Echo Lane. Deputies located items in the vehicle that belonged to the suspect who stole the vehicle; burglary tools, a black ski mask, hypodermic needles, 11.6 grams of marijuana, and 3.1 grams of methamphetamine and 3.8 grams of heroin.

During this time a Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant located a second vehicle in the area associated with the black Expedition and conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Daniel Ray Fidler age 41 from Fortuna.  Fidler had a felony warrant for his arrest for a parole violation. When Fidler was searched a key fob to a Ford vehicle was located on his person. A deputy responded to the sergeant’s location and took the key fob back to the stolen Expedition. The key fob opened the door to the Expedition and started the vehicle.

When the vehicle that Fidler was driving was searched a loaded firearm was located in the area where Fidler was sitting.

Fidler was arrested for the felony warrant along with fresh charges for, possession of stolen property, burglary, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, convicted felon in possession of ammunition, possession of burglary tools, carrying a loaded firearm, possession of heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana. Fidler was transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and is currently being held with no bail, because of his felony parole warrant.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriff’s Office at 707-445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at 707-268-2539.

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