Press release from the Humboldt County Drug Task Force:
Oppen.
On November 7th, 2023, Humboldt County Drug Task Force Agents served a search warrant at the residence of Lander Oppen (Age 33) located in 300 block of Quail Valley Rd. in Eureka. After a multi-week investigation, the HCDTF believed Oppen was in possession of large quantities of Cocaine and Ketamine for the purpose of sales.
Upon arrival at the residence, agents located Oppen on the property where he was detained without incident. Agents also located and detained William Robert Briggs (Age 46), inside of the main residence.
Once the scene was secure, agents began searching Oppen’s residence. In the garage area, agents located approximately 1.2 pounds of Ketamine, 8.8 ounces of MDMA (Methylenedioxy-Methamphetamine), 2.5 ounces of MDA (Methylendioxy-Amphetamine), ½ ounce of cocaine, 6 vials of LSD (Lysergic Acid Diethylamide), 3 pounds of dried psilocybin mushrooms, 7.5 ounces of Psilocybin gummies, 38 Psilocybin capsules, 61 tablets of Diazepam, over $27,000 in US Currency, packaging materials, and digital scales.
Briggs.
Agents also searched a bedroom that Briggs was believed to be residing in. During the search, agents located a Polymer 80, 9mm handgun. The 9mm handgun was non-serialized and equipped with a threaded barrel.
Oppen was transported to the Humboldt County Jail where he was booked for the following charges:
11378 HS Possession of a controlled substance for sales
11366 HS Operating/maintaining a drug house
11351(A) HS Possession of narcotics for sales
Briggs was transported the Humboldt County Jail where he was booked on the following charges:
30605 PC Possession of an assault weapon
32000 PC Illegal manufacturing of a firearm
Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes are encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.
Press release from Humboldt Bay Fire and the Eureka Police Department:
Humboldt Bay Fire and Eureka Police Department would like to address the recent traffic
collisions on Henderson Street. We have seen a total of five traffic collisions since the
morning of November 7th. Three of those traffic accidents occurred on Henderson Street
with one resulting in a fatality.
Humboldt Bay Fire and Eureka Police Department would like to remind everyone to
please slow down in residential areas and be aware on one-way streets. It is important to
obey all traffic laws such as coming to a full stop at all stop signs and traffic lights. As
well as slowing down for construction zones and amber signals.
According to the National Safety Council speeding was a factor in 29% of fatality
accidents in 2022. It is important to stay vigilant of the speed limit as well as other
drivers. Henderson Street has a speed limit of 30 miles per hour unless in a school zone.
Distracted driving was a factor in 8.2% of fatal traffic accidents according to the
California Office of Traffic Safety. This includes the use of handheld devices; distracted
driving is a primary cause of major injury crashes involving teens.
This is a great opportunity for the community as a whole to commit to safe driving
practices including following the speed limit and keeping those cell phones away while
behind the wheel. Safety is our highest priority and our condolences go out to the family
of yesterday’s victim.
Approximately 20 protesters gathered outside U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman’s field office in Old Town Eureka on Wednesday afternoon, holding handmade signs and waving a Palestinian flag as they chanted slogans demanding a “free Palestine” and decrying American support for Israel.
Billed as a “Ceasefire NOW” demonstration, the protest began on Third Street, and organizers said they planned to march from there to the Humboldt County Courthouse.
Protesters elsewhere in Huffman’s district have also gathered to demand a ceasefire in Gaza, and last week, Huffman apologized for voting against a House resolution that condemned the support of Hamas and Hezbollah on university campuses.
Huffman is currently in Washington, D.C., and the door to his Eureka office was closed and locked during the protest.
Press release from the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office:
Applications for
awards from the Asset Forfeiture Special Funds are still being
accepted now through December 31, 2023,
at 5 p.m.
Any local programs
designed to combat drug abuse and divert gang activity among
elementary though high school aged
students in Humboldt County have an opportunity to apply for funds
granted from efforts of the
Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF).
With over 70
investigations per year that often involve large scale, complex and
illicit narcotics traffickers and
organizations, HCDTF efforts lead to removal of illegal profits from
those engaged in drug sales, manufacturing, and distribution. 15% of
funds lawfully removed from the hands of drug traffickers are set
aside to fund continuation or development of positive intervention
community programs.
A panel consisting
of the Humboldt County District Attorney, a local police Chief, the
Humboldt County Sheriff, and the Chief Probation Officer will be
reviewing applications and awarding funding to those who meet
requirements.
On behalf of all
members of the Humboldt County Drug Task Force Executive Board,
District Attorney Stacey Eads invites those interested in developing
or continuing a community program combatting drug abuse amongst youth
in our community to please visit the Humboldt County District
Attorney’s Office Programs and Outreach website page at this link to learn more and
apply.
On November 07, 2023, at about 2:04 p.m., officers from the Eureka Police Department (EPD)
as well as personnel from Humboldt Bay Fire (HBF) responded to the report of a two-vehicle
traffic collision at the intersection of Henderson and Union Streets in Eureka. It was reported
that one vehicle, a Ford SUV, had overturned and the occupant was still trapped inside.
HBF was able to remove the driver from the overturned vehicle who was then transported to a
local hospital by City Ambulance for moderate to serious injuries.
The second vehicle, a silver Honda Sedan, had come to rest atop a brick fence in the yard on
the southwest corner of the intersection. The driver and passenger of this vehicle were both
15 years old and able to self-extricate from the vehicle. Both suffered moderate to serious
injuries and were transported by City Ambulance to a local hospital for treatment. At this time,
Intoxication does not appear to be a factor in this collision.
This is an active investigation and EPD is asking if anyone witnessed the collision to please
contact Sergeant Jonathan Eckert at 707-441-4081. EPD is specifically wanting to speak to the
driver of a white vehicle that was stopped at the stop sign on Union Street at Henderson at the
time of the collision.
The Eureka Police Department want to thank our community for its patience yesterday as we
investigated these traffic collisions and for those that have provided us valuable information.
Press release from U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin:
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will no longer vote to authorize issuing a subpoena to Robin Arkley II at this time as it relates to the Committee’s Supreme Court ethics investigation after he provided the Committee with information that he had been withholding. The Committee will move forward with a vote to authorize issuing subpoenas to Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo.
“Months ago, I, along with my Democratic colleagues on the Committee, sent letters to Harlan Crow, Robin Arkley, and Leonard Leo, among others, seeking details about what exactly has been provided to Supreme Court justices. Our goal has been to understand how specific individuals and groups with business before the Court have used undisclosed gifts to gain private access to the justices—access not afforded to others.
“Leonard Leo has refused to cooperate in any way. Harlan Crow claimed he was willing to cooperate, but ultimately made only a limited and insufficient offer. Only now, under threat of subpoena, has Mr. Arkley provided information responsive to the Committee’s requests. Given his cooperation, I’ve decided that voting to authorize a subpoena to Mr. Arkley is not necessary at this time.
“I do not request authorization to issue subpoenas lightly. Over the past several months, story after story has emerged about lavish gifts and luxury trips that Supreme Court justices have accepted and failed to disclose. The Senate and the American people deserve to know the full extent of how billionaires and activists with interests before the Court use their immense wealth to buy private access to the justices. That is why, tomorrow, the Judiciary Committee will vote to authorize subpoenas to Harlan Crow and Leonard Leo. The highest court in the land cannot have the lowest ethical standards.”
Last week, Durbin and Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chair of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal Rights, announced that the Senate Judiciary Committee will vote to authorize issuing subpoenas to Harlan Crow, Leonard Leo, and Robin Arkley II as it relates to the Committee’s Supreme Court ethics investigation.
In July, the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency (SCERT) Act to the full Senate. The bill would require Supreme Court justices to adopt a code of conduct, create a mechanism to investigate alleged violations of the code of conduct and other laws, improve disclosure and transparency when a justice has a connection to a party or amicus before the Court, and require justices to explain their recusal decisions to the public.
Durbin has been calling on the Supreme Court to adopt an enforceable code of conduct for more than a decade. He first sent a letter to the Chief Justice on this issue more than 11 years ago.
We knew the end was near. She was never meant to be long for this world. Still, it is with some sadness that we bid farewell to Eureka’s Second Street Whale, the roadway mural painted last month during Friday Night Market. Take some joy in the fact that, due to the weather, she actually stayed with us a few weeks longer than originally scheduled — 19 days we dwelled in her wake.
