UPDATE, 7:18 p.m.: EPD Chief Steve Watson, who says he’s having trouble posting hot-take-correcting information in the comments as he usually does, texts:

Regarding the EPD arrest today where the guy was cited for a gun: He was cited and released based on the jail’s COVID-related booking rules, not EPD’s. The officer/ranger had no choice. I think we could have explained this better in our press release.

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Eureka Police Department press release: 

On September 23, 2020, at about 12:54 p.m., the Eureka Police Department’s Park and Waterfront Ranger was patrolling the 1600 block of Waterfront Drive when he contacted three people in a parking lot. One was identified as 20-year-old Donavyn Craig Johnson. Johnson was found to be on felony probation with a search and seizure clause.

Additional officers responded to the scene and assisted with a search. Johnson was found to be in possession of a concealed firearm, which is in violation of his probation terms. The firearm had the serial number removed.

Due to current Covid-19 restrictions, Johnson was cited and released for felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of a concealed firearm, removing a serial number from a firearm, and probation violation. The other two contacted were detained and released at the scene.

The Parks and Waterfront Ranger position is fully funded by Measure Z.