Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On March 6, 2022, at about 6:12 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle in the area of the Samoa Bridges. The vehicle initially failed to yield and later came to a stop in the Woodley Island area. Upon stopping, a male passenger, 42-year-old Gordon Dale Briggs Jr., fled from the vehicle.

Deputies observed Briggs Jr. discard a firearm into nearby brush as he fled. The firearm was later recovered and found to be loaded. Briggs Jr. was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit. During a search of Briggs Jr. incident to arrest, deputies located drug paraphernalia.

Deputies also contacted two individuals who remained inside the vehicle during the traffic stop. Through their investigation, deputies learned that Briggs Jr. had reportedly threatened to kill the driver and passenger of the vehicle, forcing the driver to evade deputies. The two occupants were not injured during this incident and were released at the scene.

Briggs Jr. was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of convicted felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)), person prohibited in possession of ammunition (PC 30305(a)), resisting a peace officer (PC 148(a)), kidnapping (PC 207(a)), criminal threats (PC 422) and tampering with ID marks on a firearm (PC 23900), in addition to warrant charges of Post Release Community Supervision revocation (PC 3455(a)), person prohibited in possession of ammunition (PC 30305(a)) 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.