Officers Arrest Two in Fortuna in Possession of AK-47 With High-Capacity Magazine, Freshly Cut Marijuana, After Tracking Down Vehicle From Disnmore Weed Heist
Gregory Esskew (left), Kurtis Mann (right). Guns and weed seized from the vehicle (middle) Photos provided by HCSO.
Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release:
On Saturday, September 23, 2017 at about 8:09 a.m. Humboldt
County Sheriff Deputies spoke with a resident in Dinsmore who reported the
theft of numerous marijuana plants. The victim noticed a vehicle parked in the
area during the time of the theft and was able to record the license plate.
Based on additional investigative leads, deputies responded
to a residence on Thelma Avenue in Fortuna where they located the vehicle in
question. With the assistance of
officers from the Fortuna Police Department and Fish &Wildlife, two
subjects were detained on scene. A
search of the vehicle revealed numerous freshly cut marijuana plants believed
to be that of the victims’. Deputies
also located a camouflaged Benelli 12 gauge shotgun, Savage Arms 7mm Rifle, and
an AK-47 with a high capacity magazine in the trunk.
Gregory Esskew was arrested for PC 487- Grand Theft, PC 182(a)(1)- Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, PC
12022(a)(1) – Armed while in commission of a Felony, PC 30605- Possession of an Assault Rifle,
andPC 32310- Possession of a large capacity magazine.
Kurtis Mann was arrested for PC 487- Grand Theft, PC
182(a)(1)- Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, and PC 12022(a)(1)- Armed while in
Commission of a Felony.
Both Esskew and Mann were transported to the Humboldt County
Correctional Facility where their bail has been set at $85,000.
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. William Honsal,
Sheriff