Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Dec. 10, 2022, at about 10:33 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Clam Beach area for the report of an interrupted vehicle burglary.

Deputies arrived and contacted an adult male victim. The victim told deputies that he was returning to his vehicle after recreating at the beach when he observed the suspect, later identified as 36-year-old Michael Elbert Ryan Martin, attempting to remove the vehicle’s license plate. Martin fled upon being confronted by the victim.

Deputies searched the area and located Martin walking along Clam Beach Drive. He was taken into custody without incident and was found to be in possession of approximately 1.6 grams of methamphetamine.

Martin was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of tampering with a vehicle (VC 10852), possession of a controlled substance (HS 11377(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.