Eureka Police Department press release: 

On 10-2-2019 at about 9:40 am, officers of the Eureka Police Department (EPD) responded to the 2100 block of Broadway for the report of a fight with weapons. A City of Eureka Code Enforcement officer had witnessed an altercation between two subjects. The aggressor/suspect in the altercation was armed with a machete.

As officers responded to the scene, the subjects separated and the suspect rode off on a bicycle. The Code Enforcement Officer continued to monitor the suspect’s location.

Upon officer’s arrival, the Code Enforcement Officer directed EPD officers to the suspect and the suspect was detained without further incident. The suspect, identified as Brian Ray Mello (41 years old of Eureka), was still in possession of the machete at the time he was detained.

As a result of the investigation and interview of the victim, it was determined that prior to the witnessed altercation, Mello had approached the victim at the 1500 block of Broadway, where he threatened the victim with the machete and robbed him of his bicycle. Soon after the robbery, the victim located Mello at the 2100 block of Broadway and attempt to take back his bicycle. However, Mello maintained the bicycle and struck the victim with the machete. This assault was the incident witnessed by the Code Enforcement Officer. The victim sustained no injuries during the altercation.

Mello was taken into custody on charges of robbery and assault with a deadly weapon. He was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and is being held on $55,000 bail.

This is an ongoing investigation and further details will be released if appropriate.