Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Jan. 23, 2021, at about 3:15 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the area of Shoemaker Road and Telescope Peak Road, near Hoopa, conducted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation.

While contacting the driver, 29-year-old Kayce Marie Salas of Eureka, deputies observed a firearm in plain view inside the vehicle. Deputies recovered the firearm and found it to be loaded. Upon further investigation, Salas was found to be on active probation. During a search of Salas, deputies located approximately 0.65 grams of methamphetamine.

Salas was taken into custody and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of unlawfully possessing a firearm (PC 25850(C)(4)), carrying a loaded firearm without being the registered owner (PC 25850(C)(6)), carrying a loaded firearm in a public place (PC 25850(A)), possession of a controlled substance (HS 11377(A)) and violation of probation (PC 1203.2(A)(2)).

Two other occupants of the vehicle were released at the scene.

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.