Drug Task Force, POP Conduct Undercover Street Buy Sweeps in Old Town and SoHum

« Garberville Traffic Stop Results in Arrest, Confiscation of Mobile Drug Emporium, Sheriff’s Office Says

Struggling Businesses and Starving Artists! If You’re in Eureka and the Pandemic Has Thumped You Hard, You Might Want to Apply For One of These City Grants »

LoCO Staff / Friday, Feb. 4, 2022 @ 9:28 a.m. / Crime

Drug Task Force, POP Conduct Undercover Street Buy Sweeps in Old Town and SoHum

From the Humboldt County Drug Task Force:

The Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) receives multiple community complaints of people gathering in front of local businesses and being involved in drug sales, drug use, and other activity that negatively affects the businesses and their customers.
On Wednesday February 2nd, 2022, the HCDTF and Eureka Problem Orienting Policing Team (POP) teamed up and ran a street buy operation in front of businesses in Old Town Eureka. An undercover agent from the HCDTF contacted multiple groups that were loitering in front of businesses.

Kane.
The agent was advised that a male in front of a business at 3rd and B St. was the person people were getting their methamphetamine from. The agent contacted Timothy Kane (55 years old from Eureka) and was able to successfully purchase methamphetamine. Agents placed Kane under arrest. Kane was found to have approx. ½ ounce of methamphetamine in his possession. Kane was booked at the Humboldt County Jail for methamphetamine sales.

Tzanetopoulos.
Agents were advised that a female in “Opera Alley” was selling methamphetamine at the back of a business. The agent contacted Teresa Tzanetopoulos (42 years old from Eureka). The agent was able to successfully purchase methamphetamine from Tzanetopoulos. Agents placed Tzanetopoulos under arrest. She was found to have approx. ¼ ounce of methamphetamine in her possession. Tzanetopoulos was booked at the Humboldt County Jail for methamphetamine sales.
###

Whiting, Vera, Pemberton. Photos: HCDTF.
On Thursday February 3rd, 2022, HCDTF agents conducted the same type of operation in Southern Humboldt.
An undercover agent contacted a male in the Garberville Town Square that was advertising that he could get methamphetamine for people. The male, Brian Pemberton (54 years old from Garberville), advised the agent that they had to walk to a local hotel to get the methamphetamine. Pemberton and the agent walked to a hotel in the 900 block of Redwood Dr. in Garberville. Pemberton met with the maid cleaning rooms at the hotel. The maid gave Pemberton the methamphetamine and he then sold it to the undercover agent. Agents placed Pemberton and the hotel employee, Catherine Vera (65 years old from Garberville), under arrest for methamphetamine sales. Vera was found to have approx. 2 ounces of methamphetamine in her possession. Both Vera and Pemberton were issued felony citations and a court date to appear for their violations.
Agents responded to Redway next and observed a male in front of a business in the 3400 block of Redwood Dr. meeting customers. The undercover agent contacted Brian Whiting (37 years old from Redway) and successfully purchased methamphetamine from him. Agents placed Whiting under arrest for methamphetamine sales. Agents located approx. ½ ounce of methamphetamine and a small amount of heroin in Whiting’s possession. Whiting was issued a felony citation and court date to appear for the violation.
Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes are encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.