UPDATE, FRIDAY MORNING: Lt. Ken Swithenback of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office confirms that the people depicted in the photos that originally appeared below have gotten in touch with deputies, and that law enforcement will not be pursuing criminal charges against them.

Yesterday, the Outpost met with two of the people the Sheriff’s Office had been looking for when they released the photos. They told us that the incident in question was prompted by the theft of one of their trucks about a year and a half ago. On the day in question, one of them happened to see a different truck drive by them in downtown Garberville that clearly carried parts that had been cannibalized from the stolen vehicle. He followed the truck, and — according to the people we spoke to — the driver confessed to the theft and returned the parts. 

Swithenbank confirmed that a sheriff deputy showed up to the scene while this transaction took place, on the 23rd. However, no “victim” could be located and the matter was dropped, at the time. The person who possessed the stolen parts complained to the Sheriff’s Office after the fact. The matter is still being sorted out, Swithenbank said — though, again, he confirmed that the office is not pursuing charges against the people originally pictured in the photos, which the Outpost is removing.

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Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release: 

 

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a possible theft and assault that occurred on Thursday, February 23, 2017 in the Garberville area. The Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the subjects possibly involved in this investigation. Please see the photos below.      

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.