Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

In 2019, the Eureka Police Department (EPD) approached the Humboldt County Community Corrections Partnership (HCCCP) with a proposal requesting funding to create a team to address two separate issues facing law enforcement in our county. The first is in response to the effects of realignment, AB 109, Prop 47 and Prop 57. Since these have taken effect, local law enforcement has had to bear the burden of ensuring those released on supervised probation are adhering to their terms of release. When they don’t and they abscond from probation, law enforcement is tasked with taking these individuals back into custody. It has been found that these individuals often re-offend and victimize members of our community.

Secondly, the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office has had a large load of cases which they are systematically trying to locate the alleged offenders. In a majority of these cases, warrants have been issued and the offenders need to be located, apprehended, and brought to court to have their cases adjudicated. Many of these cases involve domestic violence related investigations as well as a large number of driving under the influence cases. The suspected offenders in these types of cases, as well as others, endanger the safety of our communities and need to be held accountable for their actions.

The HCCCP granted the request for funding and the Joint Agency Fugitive Apprehension (JAFA) Team was created. With the assistance of the Humboldt County Probation Department a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was developed and signed. The MOU includes nearly all Humboldt County’s Law Enforcement agencies.

The JAFA team is designed to be a collaborative effort among the MOU agencies to provide personnel to assist in warrant sweep operations. JAFA is managed by EPD with the assistance of the Probation Department for reimbursement under the funding outline The goal is to conduct a warrant sweep operation every 1 or 2 weeks throughout Humboldt County.

The 2 nd operation was held on January 17, 2020, where the team checked nine different locations for eight identified warrant suspects. During the operation, three of the identified warrant suspects were located and arrested. Additional arrests were also made at these locations for other outstanding warrants as well as fresh charges. The following are the results of the operation:

• Jesse Hanson (39): Arrested on 2 felony warrants, one for narcotic sales and the second for Post Release Community Supervision (AB109) probation violation. He was also arrested for possession of Heroin for sale. 21 grams of heroin seized.
• Amanda Brown (32): Arrested on a misdemeanor warrant for driving on a suspended license. She was also arrested for possession of methamphetamine for sale.
• Charles Wentworth (38): Arrested on a felony warrant for narcotic sales. He was also arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Sarah Voight (42): Arrested on a misdemeanor warrant for possession of a controlled substance. She was also arrested for possession of controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
• Judith White (27): Cited and released on an infraction warrant for petty theft.

The JAFA team will be ramping up their efforts over the coming months and will be working in as much of the county as possible in search of those with outstanding warrants. This is a great opportunity if you have outstanding warrants or know of someone who does to turn yourself in to your local police department. In some instances, you may be able to receive a citation and new court date and avoid a trip to jail. Voluntary compliance, on your terms, is better than being arrested at work or possibly with your family at home.

If you believe you may have a warrant for your arrest you can check with your local law enforcement agency or with Humboldt County Superior Court, 421 I Street, Eureka, 707- 445-7256.