Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Oct. 26, 2021, at about 8:14 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the area of Greenwood Heights Drive near Freshwater for the report of a suspicious male passed out inside of an idling vehicle parked along the roadway.

Deputies arrived on scene and observed the male, 32-year-old Donavan Nathaniel Baltzley, to be in possession of a firearm on his lap. Deputies conducted a felony traffic stop on the vehicle and detained Baltzley without incident. The firearm was recovered and found to be loaded. Upon further investigation, deputies learned that the firearm had been reported lost out of the Myrtletown area on October 19.

During a search of Baltzley’s vehicle, deputies located over 12 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 1.8 grams of heroin and three counterfeit $100 bills. Additionally, deputies located a large amount of cash believed to be associated with the sale of controlled substances. The Humboldt County Drug Task Force responded to the scene and seized the cash pursuant to asset forfeiture proceedings.

Baltzley was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a controlled substance (HS 11377(a)), possession of a narcotic controlled substance (HS 11350(a)), possession of a controlled substance for sales (HS 11351), prohibited person in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1)), prohibited person in possession of ammunition (PC 30305(a)), possession of counterfeit money (PC 476), theft of lost property (PC 485), possession of a controlled substance while armed (HS 11370.1(a)) and violation of probation (PC 1203.2(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.