Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Dec. 21, 2019, at about 10:50 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the 22000 block of State Highway 96 in Weitchpec observed a male and a female occupying a 4-wheeler, the male subject openly carrying a firearm on his chest.

When deputies contacted the subjects, the male provided deputies with a false name but was later identified as 56-year-old Gary Dean Lewis.

Upon further investigation, deputies learned that the firearm was loaded and was reported stolen out of Shasta County. Additionally, deputies learned that Lewis was a convicted felon on probation and prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.

Lewis was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a loaded, stolen firearm (PC 25850(c)(2)), carrying a loaded firearm in a public place (PC 25850(a)), felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1)), false identification to a peace officer (PC 148.9(a)) and violation of probation (PC 1203.2(a)(2)).

The female was released at the scene.

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