Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

 

On Jan. 8, 2021, at about 11:30 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the area of State Highway 96 and River Road, near Hoopa, observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed above the posted speed limit.

Deputies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle, which yielded in the area of the 11,900 block of State Highway 96. During their investigation, deputies observed cannabis in plain view in the vehicle, in excess of the legal personal-use allowance. The driver of the vehicle, later identified as 35-year-old John Elmer Stoller of Pacifica, was detained and a search of the vehicle was conducted.

During a search of the vehicle, deputies located an assault rifle, ammunition and approximately 7.8 ounces of cannabis.

Stoller was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of an assault weapon (PC 30605), felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1)) and person prohibited in possession of ammunition (PC 30305(a)).  

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.