Humboldt County Drug Task Force press release:

On November 5th , 2019, at approximately 9:00 p.m., special agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF), with the assistance of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, conducted a traffic stop on Highway 299 near the Glendale exit, Blue Lake.

During their multi-week investigation, agents received information that one of the occupants of the vehicle, Aaron Anthony Nelson (age 56), is distributing heroin throughout Humboldt County. Through their investigation, HCDTF agents were able to secure a search warrant for Nelson and his vehicle. During the traffic stop, agents detained Nelson without incident. Also present inside the vehicle was Kathlene Crystal Mellon (age 38) and Paul Kenneth McElroy (age 57). Agents searched Nelson’s vehicle pursuant to the search warrant and located nearly one pound of suspected heroin packaged for sales. Agents also located digital scales, packaging material, and other drug paraphernalia.

Mellon and McElroy (previous booking photographs above) were cited and released on their own recognizance for various narcotics offenses. Nelson was subsequently placed under arrest and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked for possession and transportation of controlled substances for sales and probation violation.

Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes are encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976 or the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Tip Line at 707-268-2539.