Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release: 

On Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at approximately 11:56 p.m. Humboldt County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a motel on the 1600 block of 4th Street, Eureka, in an attempt to locate a runaway juvenile. Deputies received a tip that a person of interest in finding the juvenile was staying at the motel. The person of interest is on probation with a search clause.

Deputies responded to the motel, confirmed the person of interest had rented a room there. Deputies then responded to check for the runaway juvenile at the room. Deputies knocked on the room door, announcing their identity and purpose. The door was opened by 44 year old Kip Branson, who said the person of interest had left. When questioned about the runaway juvenile, Branson declined that anyone else was inside. Pursuant to the terms of the person of interest’s probation, deputies entered the room to check for the runaway juvenile. Branson became argumentative and aggressive with deputies, so for their safety, they detained him in handcuffs while they searched the room. The search revealed approximately 52 grams of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Branson was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. During a further search at the jail, 6 grams of suspected heroin was located concealed on Branson’s person. He was booked for possession of controlled substances.

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.