Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Oct. 21, 2021, at about 2:32 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the area of Central Avenue and Margo Lane, in McKinleyville, conducted a traffic stop on a truck towing another vehicle.

Deputies contacted two individuals associated with the vehicles, one of which, 35-year-old Austin Grant Barnett, initially provided deputies with a false name. Upon being positively identified, Barnett was found to have multiple outstanding warrants for his arrest in addition to being on formal probation. Barnett was taken into custody for his warrants. During a search of his vehicle incident to arrest, deputies located approximately 80 Perc-30 pills and ammunition.

Due to the circumstances surrounding Barnett’s illegal possession of the pills, deputies conducted a probation check at Barnett’s residence on the 2300 block of Central Avenue. Inside the residence, deputies located 35-year-old Megan Pond, who was also known to have several outstanding warrants. Pond was taken into custody for her warrants. During a search of the residence, deputies located additional Perc-30 pills.

Barnett was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a controlled substance for sales (HS 11351), prohibited person in possession of ammunition (PC 30305(a)), false identification to a peace officer (PC 148.9(a)) and violation of probation (PC 1203.2(a)).

Pond was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a controlled substance (HS 11350) and violation of probation (PC 1203.2(a)), in addition to warrant charges of prohibited person in possession of ammunition (PC 30305(a)), possession of drugs where prisoners are held (PC 4573.6) and violation of probation (PC 1203.2(a)).

This case is still under investigation.

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.