From the California Highway Patrol:

On 1/13/22 at 0913 hours, Garberville CHP units received a call from Humboldt Communications Center regarding a 417 PC (brandishing a firearm) on US-101 near Dean Creek Road. The reporting party was able to provide a description of the suspect, suspect vehicle, direction of travel, and described the weapon brandished as a black pistol. 

Garberville units responded to the area and located the suspect and vehicle matching the description (black BMW 7 series) from the broadcasted information.

The suspect was located in front of his residence at the Dean Creek RV Park, standing next to the BMW that was reported earlier by the victim. The suspect was identified as a Redway resident, Kenneth Swafford. 

Upon contacting Swafford, a pistol was observed in plain view in the driver’s compartment of the BMW.  Additional firearms were observed in plain view through the open door of the residence and a stolen enclosed cargo trailer was located parked, in front of the residence.  Swafford was detained and a search warrant was obtained for the BMW and Swafford’s residence. 

Upon service of the search warrant, numerous illegal items were located. It was determined Swafford was a felon in possession of firearms (1 pistol, 2 shotguns), ammunition, controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, billy clubs, bear mace, and a high capacity magazine.  Additionally, the firearm located in the BMW was determined to be a non-serialized pistol, known as a “ghost” gun. 

The stolen cargo trailer was recovered and Swafford was booked at the Humboldt County Jail for numerous felony charges related to this investigation.