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• Humboldt Special Olympics Seeks Community Support After New Year’s Day Break-In at Storage Facility

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Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On January 3, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) responded to a report of theft from a Eureka storage unit containing equipment for the local Special Olympics organization.

The victim reported that among the items stolen were the Special Olympics Torch, first aid kits, multiple pop-up tents, travel bags, swimming equipment, and baseball equipment. An HCSO Community Service Officer obtained security footage of a suspect, a masked male wearing all black, using bolt cutters to break the lock and proceeding to removing items from the storage unit. The security footage also showed the suspect entering a silver Mercedes SUV.

On Jan. 5, a deputy located a silver Mercedes SUV, matching the description of the vehicle involved in this burglary, at the Herrick Park and Ride in Eureka. The vehicle’s registration was determined to be expired, confirmed by the Emergency Communications Center, and was in connection to a subject named Ronald Owen, 43.

On Jan. 9, around 9.a.m., a deputy met up with a Eureka Police Department (EPD) Community Safety Engagement Team (CSET) officer to contact Owen at a camp on the Hikshari Trail and observed a new 10x10 pop-up tent erected in front of his personal tent as well as a 10x10 tent in a black carrying bag nearby. Owen consented to a search an additional tarp-covered structure that he identified as his storage area, and the EPD officer discovered a backpack labeled “Special Olympics” and approximately 15 gym bags.

A deputy placed Owen under arrest without incident and booked him at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for possession of stolen property (PC 496(a)).

The torch was located and returned to law enforcement by a citizen along the Hikshari Trail in Eureka, and more than 50 golf balls were turned in to the Sheriff’s Office by a concerned citizen who found them at Herrick Park and Ride in Eureka. We would like to thank the citizens who returned the found items to the Sheriff’s Office. The items have been returned to their rightful owner.

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.