Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office release:

On May 4, 2025, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies executed search warrants at residences located in the 2800 block of Park Street and the 2100 block of 13th Street in Eureka. The warrants were issued following an extensive Problem Oriented Policing investigation targeting suspected illegal firearms trafficking by two previously convicted felons, Stephen Wayne Owens Jr., (age 45), and Gordon Dale Briggs Jr., (age 45).

Deputies successfully located both suspects without incident. During the execution of the search warrants, authorities seized an un-serialized firearm, commonly known as a “ghost gun,” along with ammunition, suspected methamphetamine, digital scales, and drug-related paraphernalia.

Gordon Dale Briggs Jr. was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges including PC 29800(a)(1) (felon in possession of a firearm), PC 30305(a)(1) (felon in possession of ammunition), PC 24610 (possession of an un-serialized firearm), HS 11370.1(a) (possession of a controlled substance with a firearm), and PC 32310 (possession of a large-capacity magazine).

Stephen Wayne Owens Jr. was also arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges including PC 29800 (felon in possession of a firearm), PC 24610 (possession of an un-serialized firearm), PC 30305(a)(1) (felon in possession of ammunition), PC 32310(a) (possession of a large-capacity magazine), PC 1203.2 (violation of probation), and HS 11395(b) (possession of drug paraphernalia).

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office encourages anyone with information related to this case or other criminal activity to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Crime Tip Line at (707) 268-2539.