Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On Sept. 20, 2023, at about 6:55 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies served a search warrant at a residence on the 400 block of Liscom Hill Road in Blue Lake to investigate community complaints of ongoing drug-related activity.

Ernest Michael Smither Jr.

While there, deputies contacted 46-year-old Ernest Michael Smither Jr. and a 70-year-old male. During a search of Smither Jr. and the residence, deputies located a total of five firearms, four of which were loaded, approximately 1.6 grams of methamphetamine and various ammunition.

Smither Jr. was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1)), person prohibited in possession of ammunition (PC 30305(a)), possession of a controlled substance while armed (HS 11370.1(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. To report suspected drug activity, ongoing trespassing or similar issues, file a report online at humboldtsheriff.org/report.