Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Nov. 18, 2020, at about 4:50 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 3400 block of Chezem Road near Blue Lake for the report of a firearm brandishing with shots fired.

 

Deputies made contact with the 23-year-old male victim on scene, who told deputies that he was sitting in a vehicle outside of a residence on Chezem Road when he heard multiple gunshots coming from nearby. Shortly after the shots were fired, a truck reportedly pulled up near the victim’s vehicle and the driver brandished a firearm at the victim. The suspect then fled the scene.

While on scene, deputies received information that the California Highway Patrol had located the suspect’s vehicle traveling west on Highway 299. Deputies and CHP Officers conducted a felony traffic stop on the vehicle in the area of U.S. Highway 101 and Sunset Avenue. The driver, 55-year-old Berry Chiefton Buzzard, was taken into custody without incident.

During a search of the vehicle, deputies located a loaded firearm matching the description given by the victim.

Buzzard was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of exhibiting a firearm (PC 417(A)(2)), carrying a loaded firearm in a public place (PC 25850(A)), felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(A)(1) and carrying a concealed dirk or dagger (PC 21310).

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.