Eureka Police Department press release: 

On April 27, 2022, an officer with the Eureka Police Department conducted a traffic stop on 14th Street at Union Street. The driver of the vehicle was identified as Jimmy Johnson, 48-year-old of Eureka. During the traffic stop, the officer determined that Johnson’s driver’s license was suspended, he had a felony bench warrant for transporting narcotics in a jail, and he was on formal county probation for transportation of narcotics. A term of his probation is that he is required to submit to a search by law enforcement.

Johnson was detained and the officer conducted a search of the vehicle. During the search, the officer located a fanny pack containing .380 auto pistol ammunition in the engine compartment of the vehicle. A further search of the engine compartment revealed a loaded .380 auto pistol in the air cleaner compartment. Johnson is a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.

This particular officer attended a three-day course last month which specialized in highway/ street interdiction for firearms and narcotics. One of the focuses of the training was to look for different types of compartments inside vehicles in which criminals hide illegal items.

Johnson was placed under arrest for felon in possession of a loaded firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, driving while suspended and probation violation. He was also arrested for his felony bench warrant. Johnson was booked into the Humboldt County Jail for the above listed charges.