Humboldt County Office of the District Attorney release:
Today, jury selection in the matter of People v. Ryan Tanner (34) was interrupted when Tanner, through his
attorneys Russell Clanton and Zack Curtis, sought to enter a guilty plea for the February 2020 killing of Jason Todd
Garrett (age 32) of Garberville, CA along with guilty pleas for additional crimes.
At the preliminary hearing, witness Christopher Champagne stated that Garrett was kidnapped by Tanner as
Garrett worked on a van along a rural road near Tanner’s property in China Creek, CA.
Champagne said that
Tanner then lit the van on fire and took Garrett back to his home, where he interrogated Garrett about possibly
being a thief. Champagne testified that at one point, Tanner used a knife to cut Garrett’s throat and then used
duct tape to cover his wound. Later, Tanner used a rifle to shoot Garrett in the head at close range. Tanner then
burnt down the cabin where the homicide occurred.
During the investigation of the case, Champagne had informed Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department
investigators that Tanner had threatened to kill him if he did not assist with the murder and subsequent burial of
Garrett’s body. It was Champagne who led investigators to Garrett’s body, located in a hidden grave on Tanner’s
property.
Champagne’s testimony during the preliminary hearing complicated the case, because it included the false claim
that Tanner also murdered six law enforcement officers in the days after Garrett’s murder. However, DNA
evidence linked Tanner to Garrett’s murder: investigators found a cigarette butt with Tanner’s DNA close to
Garrett’s grave. Additionally, a criminalist from the California Department of Justice found DNA linking Garrett,
Champagne and Tanner to the roll of duct tape used on Garrett’s neck.
Around the time of Garrett’s murder, citizens of the Briceland, Ettersberg, and Redway communities had become
increasingly concerned with Tanner’s behavior. A few days prior to the murder, Tanner used a rifle to threaten his
neighbors and, on another occasion, stole a car from them while armed with a firearm. Also, in the weeks prior to
the murder, Tanner assaulted his girlfriend with a firearm.
Earlier this week, Judge Cockrum ruled that prosecutors would be allowed to present evidence of a prior
kidnapping a year before the murder, as well as recordings of Tanner during a phone call wherein he claimed that
he was the “guardian of the mountain” and if thieves came on his property, they “might end up dead.”
Including his guilty plea to manslaughter with use of a firearm for the killing of Garrett, Tanner pled to a total of
eleven counts (each one is classified as a “strike”) against seven different victims. On April 11, 2022, Tanner will
be sentenced to 39 years in prison and will waive credit for the more than two years he has already served in jail.
Prior to accepting the plea family members and victims were notified.
Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm prosecuted the case with assistance from District Attorney Investigator
Marvin Kirkpatrick; Deputy District Attorneys Luke Bernthal and Jessica Acosta; and District Attorney Victim
Witness Advocate Velda Gooden.
Preparing for liftoff. Photos/video: Civil Air Patrol.
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Press release from the United State Air Force’s Civil Air Patrol:
At 11:00 AM, Wednesday, March 23, 2022, the National Weather Service activated a test of the Civil Air Patrol airborne
public address system (APAS) as part of their Tsunami Warning Communications Test. The Civil Air Patrol launched their
aircraft and provided a message to be broadcast “This is a test of the Civil Air Patrol public address system”.
Civil Air Patrol dispatched aircraft and crews from Concord and Sacramento to fly the Del Norte and the Humboldt
counties coastline with the aerial messaging system. A second aircraft launched to act as a command-and-control
platform for radio relays between the one broadcasting aircraft and the virtual mission base.
The purpose of this test was to educate residents and visitors along the coast to one of the many ways they may receive
warning of an impending tsunami. According to Mr. Ryan Aylward of the National Weather Service “A tsunami could occur
along the California coast caused by a large earthquake anywhere in the Pacific Ocean. A tsunami occurring in Japan
would give approximately 11 hours of advance warning or five hours from Alaska or Hawaii, however an earthquake just
off the California coast would provide only minutes of warning until the first wave arrives.”
The APAS was designed to provide messages directing the public to take action who might not otherwise receive
emergency alerts. In addition to the airborne system counties have telephone notification systems and would utilize law-enforcement and other emergency services personnel to notify residents to get away from the coast and get to higher
ground.
Aircrews from NorCal Group 5 and San Francisco Bay Group 2 have been diligently training on the APAS for the past
week in preparation for the exercise on March 23. Five flights were conducted, and ten personnel were trained on the
APAS.
Civil Air Patrol Lt. Col. Noel Luneau, the incident commander stated, “that it is important to exercise this system regularly
so both the crews and the public react quickly and appropriately when a real-world emergency occurs.”
Maj. Randy Pesce briefs the weather in Del Norte and Humboldt counties prior to take-off from Concord. Photo by 2d. Lt. David McCrossan.
Lt. Col. Chris Suter inspects the Airborne Public Address System prior to take-off from Concord. Photo by 2d. Lt. David McCrossan.
Beechwood Drive, in Ridgewood. Photos: Humboldt Bay Fire.
Press releases from Humboldt Bay Fire:
At 4:11a.m. on Friday, March 25, 2022 Humboldt Bay Fire was dispatched to report of a house on fire on the
6100 block of Beechwood Drive.
Four engines and one Battalion Chief responded and made their way down the long, narrow drive to find
flames stretching up through the roof of a single-story home.
The home was already 50% involved with fire when crews arrived and began fire attack. Thankfully, both
occupants of the home had already made it out with one of their dogs. Unfortunately, the other dog did not
make it out of the home and ultimately perished in the fire.
After all was said and done, crews spent about two and a half hours on scene extinguishing the fire and there
were no civilian or firefighter injuries. Our hearts go out to the family who lost their dog.
The home was a total loss with an estimated $350,000 in damage. American Red Cross services were offered
to the family to help with temporary housing.
After an investigation, the cause of the fire was determined to be accidental due to smoking materials left too
close to combustible materials.
Humboldt Bay Fire would like to thank PG&E, City Ambulance of Eureka, and Humboldt County Sheriff’s
Office for their assistance on scene. We would also like to remind the public that, if you have a fire in your
home, no matter how small, call 9-1-1 right away- don’t delay.
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Skyline Drive, on Humboldt Hill.
At 9:31a.m. on Friday, March 25, 2022 Humboldt Bay Fire was dispatched to report of large amounts of smoke
flowing from an attached garage with no answer from anyone inside.
Humboldt Bay Fire responded with three engines, one ladder truck, and two Chief Officers and declared a
working fire. The first crew in entered the home to search for residents and to contain the fire to the garage.
Next, crews used a K-12 Rescue Saw to make entry into the garage through the electric garage door which
wasn’t operational due to fire damage occurring inside. Once inside, crews were able to extinguisher the fire
before it spread to the interior of the home.
There were no injuries to civilians or firefighters as a result of this fire, and fire damage to the garage as well as
smoke damage to the home is estimated at $25,000.
An investigation of the fire determined that it started in the garage as a result of fireplace ashes which were not
completely cooled stored in a paper bag near combustibles.
Humboldt Bay Fire would like to thank HBF Fire Support for traffic control on scene.
Humboldt Bay Fire would also like to remind the public to soak ashes in water in metal containers outside and
away from combustibles for several days until they are completely cool to the touch before disposing of them.
This big bald son of a bitch plays an important role in our local ecosystem. He has a truly remarkable sense of smell for a bird, and he uses that superpower to sniff out animals that have died out in the forest or wherever. And when he does, he swoops down and eats them up! Yum yum!
Turkey vultures are really weird birds, even apart from their questionable diet. They like to chill out with their buddies. They swoop up high in the air and can glide around on thermals for, like, forever, hanging out up in the sky sniff-sniff-sniffing for carrion. They never make a sound.
This week on KHUM-FM’s regular “Humboldt Baywatch” feature, DJ Midge Martin and Carol Vandermeer of Friends of the Dunes talked about their mutual appreciation of this frankly disgusting yet totally amazing airborne neighbor. Let’s listen in and learn lots more about the topic!
Listen to how Midge segues into John Mayer’s song “Vultures” as this segment ends. Like Midge? Like John Mayer? Well, tune into KHUM-FM at 104.7/104.3 FM on your radio dial any morning … or click right here to stream it online! Midge is playing Beck as of this writing.
Press release from the Humboldt County Drug Task Force:
On March 24th,
2022 special agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF),
with the assistance of the Arcata Police Department (APD), and the
Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) conducted an undercover buy
operation in the area of the Arcata Plaza. This operation was in
response to multiple community complaints of drug dealing on and
around the plaza area.
Cempa.
Blinn.
During
the operation an undercover agent contacted a male on the plaza who
directed him to a motel room a few blocks away to purchase the
methamphetamine. The agent successfully purchased methamphetamine in
the motel parking lot from two individuals, Ezrah
Cempa (22 years old from
Arcata) and Joshua Blinn
(42 years old from Arcata).
Cempa
and Blinn were placed under arrest and transported to the Humboldt
County Jail where they were booked for the following charges:
182
PC Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine
11378
H&S Possession of methamphetamine for sale
Adams.
Wellington.
Agents
went back to the plaza and contacted a male about purchasing
psilocybin mushrooms. This individual put the undercover agent in
phone contact with a male that he described as selling all the
“shrooms” around the plaza. The undercover agent contacted the
individual on the phone and he agreed to meet the agent on South G
St. in Arcata.
The
undercover agent met Marshall Adams (40 years old from Arcata) and
Victor Wellington (43 years old from Arcata) on South G St. Adams and
Wellington sold the agent psilocybin mushrooms.
Adams
and Wellington were placed under arrest and transported to the
Humboldt County Jail where they were booked for the following
charges:
182
PC Conspiracy to distribute psilocybin mushrooms
11378
H&S Possession of psilocybin mushrooms for sale
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.
The Camp Fire burns near Paradise. Photo: Calfire.
As record-breaking drought fuels another potentially dangerous wildfire season, the state auditor reported yesterday that state officials are failing to hold California’s electric utilities accountable for preventing fires caused by their equipment.
The report to the California Legislature found that the new Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety approved utility companies’ wildfire prevention plans even when they were “seriously deficient.” Included were plans by Pacific Gas & Electric, California’s largest utility, which was held responsible for sparking the state’s deadliest wildfire, the Camp Fire that killed 85 people in 2018.
While power companies are working to make their equipment more fire-resistant, neither the energy office nor the Public Utilities Commission has done enough to ensure that the companies prioritized upgrades where they are most needed — in high fire-risk areas, according to the 91-page report.
Since 2015, power lines have caused six of California’s 20 most-destructive wildfires, according to the report.Uninsulated lines and older transformers and other equipment are dangerous during high winds, when falling trees or flying debris can strike them and spark flames.
The PUC “does not use its authority to penalize utilities when its audits uncover violations.” — State Auditor’s Office report
The energy office, which was part of the PUC until it was moved last summer to the Natural Resources Agency, has a broad charge to monitor the risk of utility-caused fires and issue safety certificates to power companies. The report cited instances when the office approved plans that it knew to be inadequate or vague.
“Given the nightmarish wildfires that have become part of normal life in recent years, California taxpayers would be right to ask if they’re paying for utility watchdogs or lap dogs at the CPUC,” said Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, an environmental research advocacy organization that tracks wildfire issues.
Representatives of PG&E did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The State Auditor’s Office criticized the PUC for not conducting thorough audits of work that companies said they performed. The PUC “does not use its authority to penalize utilities when its audits uncover violations,” the report said. Among its range of duties, the commission regulates privately-owned utilities and is supposed to ensure the safe operation of the state’s electric grid.
PUC officials said they agreed with most of the report’s recommendations. The commission will “establish a plan and timelines toward implementing the recommendations identified in the California State Auditor’s report,” according to a statement by spokeswoman Terrie Prosper.
In a letter accompanying the report, Acting State Auditor Michael S. Tilden raised concerns about the increasing numbers of so-called public safety power shutoffs, when companies cut power during times of high fire risk. Tilden noted that between 2013 through 2021, the state’s largest utilities shut off power to more than 3.6 million customers during 67 power curtailments. There were some 600 unplanned power outages in 2020 alone, the report said.
Authorities are not doing enough to ensure that the companies prioritize equipment upgrades in high-risk areas, the report found. In 2020, utilities reported they had replaced or upgraded equipment on 1,540 miles of lines.
But as of last summer, there were 40,000 miles of bare power lines in high fire-risk areas, the report found.
“Even if all of the improvements they completed in 2020 consisted of replacing bare power lines in high fire-threat areas with covered or underground lines, they would have addressed only 4 percent of such lines,” Tilden wrote.
State law requires utilities to begin identifying sections of line that are regularly affected by power shutoffs. The report suggested the Legislature could strengthen this law by requiring utilities to identify what is necessary to prevent future power shutoffs.
In recent years, consumer and ratepayer groups have regularly criticized efforts by the state’s largest investor-owned utilities — PG&E, San Diego Gas and Electric and Southern California Edison — to upgrade their equipment, and complained that the state’s utility regulator is not a vigorous monitor of the industry.
In written responses included in the report, the agencies in some instances challenged factual assertions and in others noted that many of the suggested changes require legislative action.
The audit carries no authority other than to inform the Legislature. The process does include a status update, beginning in 60 days, to record responses and note any actions taken regarding the auditor’s recommendations.
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CALmatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.
Congressman Jared Huffman in front of the Burre Dental Center in Eureka | Photos: Stephanie McGeary
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If you’ve tried to make a dentist appointment in Humboldt lately, you’re probably aware that it can take months and, especially for low-income folks, it can be difficult to find a local dentist office that can see you at all. Soon it may be just a little bit easier to find a place that can fix your teeth, with the Burre Dental Center — a branch of Open Door Community Health Services — planning an expansion that could increase capacity by up to 8,000 visits per year.
The expansion will be funded by $1 million from the Consolidated Appropriations Act – an omnibus spending bill signed by the president last week, more than $11.5 million of which Congressman Jared Huffman secured to fund community projects in Northern California, including several in Humboldt County. On Thursday morning Huffman joined representatives from Open Door Community Health Services to tour the Burre Dental Center and learn more about the expansion plans.
The $1 million will be used to add six additional stations to the facility, as well as an additional lab, a new call center and administrative offices. Cheyenne Spetzler, senior vice president of development for Open Door Community Health, said that Open Door acquired the additional space next to the current Burre Center several years ago, and she is grateful that the center will finally be able to expand there.
In addition to adding the new space and equipment, Open Door plans to
put the funding toward recruitment efforts and hopes to hire two
additional dentists and multiple dental assistants. Five thousand dollars will be invested in the in-house training and certification of someone who wants to become a dental assistant, Sarah Ross, vice president of operations for Open Door, said during the tour. Ross added that the dental center has seen a major decrease in staff since the pandemic.
“We noticed that during COVID we had a real drought in dental assistants in particular,” Ross said during the tour. “We went down by about one third, and are still recovering to come back out of that.”
Samantha Hani, administrative site director for the Burre Dental Center, added that the center is still short about six employees. Most days there is that is enough staff to operate the center, but if someone calls in sick there is no cushion. With the center operating with a skeleton crew, wait times for patients increase, and sometimes days the center has to call patients to reschedule because there is just not enough staff on to accommodate everyone, Hani said.
The new expansion should not only take some of the strain off of the current staff and patients, but will also allow the center to accept new patients. Hani said that the center expects to increase capacity by between 5,600 and 8,000 visits per year. Hani could not say yet exactly how or when new patients might sign up, and said there will be more information about that as the expansion moves forward.
The expanded capacity will be largely focused on children’s dentistry and preventative care, although the center will take patients of all ages, the staff said. The age makeup of new patients will largely depend on what dentists the center can recruit, and whether or not they are able to hire specialists in children’s dentistry.
Exactly how long it will take for the new plans to become reality is still uncertain, but it will likely be a few months before the building expansion can begin. With the conceptual design in place, Speltzer said, the next steps will be to take the plans to an architect for a design. The design will then need to be taken to the City of Eureka for permitting approval.
When asked by Huffman if the $1 million would be enough to cover the full expansion, Spetzler said that it should be. But if the project does go over, Open Door will be able to make up the rest of the funding.
Following the tour, Huffman told the press how impressed he was with the Burre Dental Center’s expansion proposal, adding that he was very happy to help secure the funding for this project.
“We tried to look for projects that have the most bang for the buck and this is one of them,” Huffmann told the press outside of the Burre Dental Center. “For a million dollars to provide this additional capacity to a facility that meets such a critical community need is really a great example of how these dollars can make an impact.”
