Press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office:

On November 13, 2025, detectives from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Division, and officers from the Hoopa Valley Tribal Police, assisted the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in executing a federal search warrant in the Big Hill Road area of Hoopa, California.

At approximately 3:00 p.m., FBI agents conducted a traffic stop of the target subject on State Route 96, just south of Big Hill Road. The adult male subject was detained without incident. FBI agents subsequently searched the subject’s person, vehicle, and residence. The subject was later released at the scene.

The execution of the search warrant marked the culmination of an extensive suspected child pornography investigation led by the FBI. Due to the nature of the evidence collected and the substantial time required for its processing, no physical arrest was made at the time of the warrant service. The investigation remains active, with the FBI serving as the lead agency.

Any inquiries regarding the investigation should be referred to the FBI at media.sf@fbi.gov.