Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

Mugshot released by HCSO

On Nov. 22 at about 7:30 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Chevron gas station on Central Ave. in McKinleyville for the report of a disturbance involving a male subject refusing to leave and threatening the cashier with a knife.

Deputies arrived on scene as a male subject was exiting the Chevron station. The subject surrendered the knife and was subsequently detained for questioning. The employee reported that the suspect, later identified as Eric Robert Thompson, age 59, of McKinleyville, had previously been asked not to return to the store due to his erratic behavior.  When Thompson came back to the store, the employee told him he had to leave, and he was not welcome in the store. Thompson threatened to kill the employee, and he threw a knife at the clerk. The clerk had to move out of the way in order to avoid being struck by the knife.

Security footage from the business provided evidence corroborated the clerk’s statement, and Thompson was arrested without further incident.  

Thompson was then transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for:

• Assault with a Deadly Weapon—PC245(a)(1) 
• Threatening a Crime with Intent to Terrorize—PC 422(a)

This case is still under investigation. If anyone has any 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.