Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Jan. 10, 2023, at about 11:17 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the Willow Creek area conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by two people.

When deputies contacted the occupants, the passenger, later identified as 26-year-old Matthew Dewayne Clyde Richards, provided deputies with a false name. During their investigation, deputies found Richards to be in possession of over 3 grams of suspected fentanyl and drug paraphernalia. Richards was also found to have an outstanding felony warrant for his arrest.

Richards was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of a narcotic controlled substance (HS 11350(a)), possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia (HS 11364) and false identification to a peace officer (PC 148.9(a)), in addition to warrant charges of felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1))

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.