Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On March 4 around 11:20 a.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy was on patrol near Brennan Mountain Rd. in Willow Creek where a vehicle investigation was initiated. The deputy identified the driver as Russell Taylor, 35, of Blue Lake, and confirmed Taylor to be on two counts of formal probation. Pursuant to the probation terms, the deputy conducted a search of the vehicle and located a fully operational firearm with no serial number and its barrel cut short. 

Taylor was placed under arrest and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for the following charges:

• Convicted felon in possession of a firearm—PC 29800(a)(1)
• Manufactured weapon: short-barreled rifle/shotgun—PC 33215
• Rearrest/revoke probation—PC 1203.2(a)

Once inside the Humboldt County Correctional Facility, Taylor was found in possession of 0.69g of methamphetamine. Taylor was subsequently charged with possession of a controlled substance in a California jail or state prison (PC 4573.6(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.