Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:
On Oct. 4, 2021, at about 7:32 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the area of Hiller Avenue and Central Avenue observed an individual who closely matched the description of a suspect from recent vehicle burglaries in McKinleyville and Eureka.
Deputies stopped to speak with the individual, who identified himself as 39-year-old John Wayne Merrell. Merrell was found to have two warrants for his arrest. Merrell was taken into custody for his warrants and searched incident to arrest. During a search of Merrell’s person and property, deputies located multiple stolen items associated with recent burglaries, including stolen bank cards.
Merrell was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of stolen property (PC 496(a)), in addition to warrant charges for possession of stolen property (PC 496(a)), possession of burglary tools (PC 466), felon in possession of tear gas (PC 22810(a)), possession of a controlled substance (HS 11377(a)) and driving without a license (VC 12500(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.
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