Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On July 18, 2020, at about 9 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to Tooby Memorial Park in Garberville for the report of a domestic disturbance with a small child present.

 

Deputies arrived on scene and learned that 33-year-old Lauren Pedicini had arrived at the park driving at a high rate of speed with the child inside the vehicle. Pedicini dropped the child off for a scheduled activity and began a verbal altercation with an adult on scene. Pedicini then reportedly fled the area in her vehicle at a high rate of speed. The reporting party requested deputies contact Pedicini and conduct a welfare check.

Deputies made contact with Pedicini at a campground in the Benbow area. Pedicini refused to comply with deputies’ attempts to speak with her about the incident and began to remove all of her clothing for unknown reasons. Pedicini then ran into the roadway blocking traffic. Pedicini continued to evade deputies and was eventually taken into custody.

While a Sheriff’s deputy was transporting Pedicini to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility, Pedicini became physically violent, vandalizing the inside of the patrol vehicle. In the area of Highway 101 and Fernbridge, Pedicini was able to forcibly open the door of the patrol car and fled down the middle of the highway. As the deputy attempted to place Pedicini back into custody, Pedicini physically assaulted the deputy. Emergency Medical Services responded to the scene to transport Pedicini to a local hospital and evaluate the deputy for injuries.

Pedicini was later booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of child endangerment, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct under the influence and vandalism. Her bail is set at $55,000.

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.