###

Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Feb. 14, 2022, at about 8:50 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the Willow Creek area observed a disabled vehicle and two individuals possibly in need of assistance parked at a turnout along Highway 299.

Deputies contacted the individuals, 36-year-old Melvin Louis Coffer and 29-year-old Rosamarie Ellen Louise Tello, and during the interaction observed evidence indicating the vehicle had possibly been stolen. Additionally, deputies found that Coffer had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Coffer was taken into custody on his warrant. During a search of Coffer incident to arrest, deputies located approximately .38 grams of methamphetamine.

Upon further investigation into the status of the vehicle, deputies learned that the vehicle had false plates and was reported stolen out of the McKinleyville area. During a search of Tello and her belongings incident to arrest, deputies located drug paraphernalia.

Tello was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia (HS 11364(a)) and possession of a stolen vehicle (PC 496d(a)).

Coffer was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on fresh charges of possession of a controlled substance (HS 11377(a)), in addition to warrant charges of carrying a concealed dirk or dagger (PC 21310) and possession of a controlled substance (HS 11377(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.