Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Aug. 16, 2021, at about 6:27 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a parking lot on the 7300 block of Tompkins Hill Road for the report of a vandalism and brandishing that had just occurred.

Deputies contacted a 41-year-old male victim who was uninjured. The victim told deputies that he had driven to the Fields Landing Boat Ramp to meet with a female acquaintance, 42-year-old Melissa Marie Ryan. Upon his arrival, the victim was confronted by Ryan and 50-year-old Gabino Antonio Rivera. According to the victim, Rivera brandished a knife at the victim, began threatening him, then stabbed a tire and the victim’s vehicle.

The victim fled in his vehicle to the Tompkins Hill location. The suspects followed the victim to the location. Rivera then reportedly exited his vehicle and brandished a crossbow at the victim before fleeing the area.

Gabino Rivera

Deputies contacted Rivera and Ryan outside a residence on the 1800 block of Buhne Drive in King Salmon. Following further investigation, Rivera was taken into custody and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of attempted assault with a deadly weapon likely to cause great bodily injury (PC 664/245(a)(1)), exhibiting a deadly weapon other than a firearm (PC 417(a)(1)), criminal threats (PC 422), vandalism (PC 594(b)(1)), conspiracy to commit a crime (PC 182(a)(1)) and violation of probation (PC 1203.2(a)(1)).

Ryan was cited and released on charges of conspiracy to commit a crime (PC 182(a)(1)).

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.