Press release from the Eureka Police Department:

On April 05, 2025 at approximately 2:22 p.m., officers with the Eureka Police Department responded to the 800 block of 5th Street for a physical altercation occurring at the “Hands Off” demonstration being held at this location. Upon arrival, officers located a vehicle parked in the roadway and numerous individuals attempting to separate subjects that were on the ground.

Officers worked to quickly separate all involved in the incident, get the truck’s occupants back in the vehicle, and clear the roadway. Once the truck was removed from the scene, officers got participants from the rally to clear the roadway so that traffic could safely move through the area. While on scene, one of the organizers was contacted and given a business card so those with any information about the incident could report it to EPD. Officers then cleared the scene.

EPD’s Detective Sergeant had instructed the driver of the truck involved in the incident to respond to EPD Headquarters. He responded to that location and conducted an interview and obtained all the necessary information regarding the occupants of the vehicle.

Additionally, a video was received from a bystander at the event and added to the investigation. While we have videos from witnesses and media outlets, none of these videos have shown the precipitating event that lead to the altercation. We believe that some sort of exchange occurred between the driver of the truck and one or more individuals attending the demonstration, which lead to the physical altercation in the street.

Additionally, just prior to this incident, EPD’s Communication Center received a call from an individual attending the demonstration reporting a driver of a vehicle passing through the area made threats of a serious nature to return and cause harm to those attending the demonstration. The reporting party was able to provide us with a description of the vehicle as well as the license plate. This information was quickly shared with officers in the vicinity of the demonstration. This threat has been assigned to an officer for further investigation.

Both of these incidents are being actively investigated. EPD is asking if anyone has any further information on either one of these incidents to please contact our Criminal Investigations Unit at 707-441-4300.