Category Archives: Crime

Pelican Bay Inmate Who Escaped Minimum-Security Facility Is Back In Custody

Thumbnail photo: Jamie R. Watson | Courtesy of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

A 40-year-old Pelican Bay State Prison inmate is back in custody after he was reported missing from the minimum security facility at about 11:50 p.m. Friday.

Sheriff’s deputies arrested 40-year-old Jamie R. Watson at about 7:12 a.m. Saturday, Del Norte County Sheriff Garrett Scott told Redwood Voice Community News. According to the sheriff, Watson was spotted on Mud Hen Road near Lower Lake Road. The sheriff’s office arrested Watson and took him to the Del Norte County Jail before turning him back over to Pelican Bay authorities, Scott said.

“It sounded like the guy had an injured ankle so he couldn’t get away easily,” the sheriff said. “He was apprehended and the sheriff’s office took him back to Pelican Bay.”

Continue reading Pelican Bay Inmate Who Escaped Minimum-Security Facility Is Back In Custody

Curry County Woman Sues Gold Beach, Says Officer Used Excessive Force After Shooting Her Twice During A Traffic Stop

Thumbnail image courtesy of the Gold Beach Police Department

A Curry County woman is suing the City of Gold Beach and one of its police officers, alleging that the officer, Kenneth Moore, exercised excessive force when he shot her twice during a traffic stop on Jan. 23, 2024.

Sharon Johnston-Corson sustained two bullet wounds in her shoulder, according to the complaint filed on her behalf in the United States District Court in Medford on Wednesday. One of those shots caused a pulmonary contusion and resulted in bullet fragments being lodged inside her left lung. 

The complaint also states that after shooting her, Moore pulled Johnston-Corson out of her Subaru and forced her face-down on the ground to handcuff her in violation of Gold Beach Police Department policy stating that “individuals subject to force ‘should not be placed on their stomachs for an extended period of time as this could impair their ability to breathe.’” 

Continue reading Curry County Woman Sues Gold Beach, Says Officer Used Excessive Force After Shooting Her Twice During A Traffic Stop

DNSO Releases Name Of Subject Killed In Friday’s Officer-Involved Shooting

Thumbnail photo by Heather Polen

The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of the male subject who was shot by a California Highway Patrol officer near the Crescent City Harbor and pronounced dead at Sutter Coast Hospital on Friday.

The deceased is 44-year-old Patrick George Selvage, Del Norte County Sheriff Garrett Scott told Redwood Voice Community News on Tuesday.

A Del Norte County Sheriff’s deputy and two California Highway Patrol officers were dispatched to Anchor Way west of U.S. 101 for a report of a male subject covered in blood at about 10:55 a.m.

Continue reading DNSO Releases Name Of Subject Killed In Friday’s Officer-Involved Shooting

Unidentified Man Fatally Shot By Law Enforcement; Incident Originated As A Medical Aid Call, Del Norte Sheriff Says

Thumbnail photo: Law enforcement continue an investigation into an officer-involved-shooting that took place near Anchor Way and U.S. 101 on Friday. | Heather Polen

Updated at 11:16 a.m. Saturday:

From the California Highway Patrol:

On June 27, 2025, at approximately 10:55 A.M., California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers assigned to the CHP Crescent City Area responded to a 911 report of a male subject covered in blood, on Anchor Way west of US-101. 

Emergency medical personnel also responded to the scene. The male subject was carrying a knife and aggressively approached medical personnel. Medical personnel backed away from the male subject.

One Del Norte Sheriff’s Office (DNSO) deputy and two CHP officers arrived on the scene and ordered the subject to drop the knife.  The male subject was non-responsive to verbal commands.

The subject aggressively approached the deputy and officers. The DNSO deputy deployed his electronic control device, which proved to be ineffective. The subject continued to aggressively charge at the officers with a knife, and out of fear for his safety and the safety of others, a CHP officer involved shooting occurred.

The subject was arrested at the scene, and emergency medical aid was rendered. The male subject was transported to Sutter Coast Hospital and succumbed to his injuries.  

No injuries were sustained by CHP officers or Allied Agencies. 

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A criminal and an internal affairs investigation is underway in connection with an officer-involved-shooting that claimed the life of an unidentified man, and took place at the intersection of Anchor Way and U.S. 101 on Friday.

The incident started as a medical aid call, Del Norte County Sheriff Garrett Scott told Redwood Voice Community News. Shortly after arriving at the scene — the grassy area near the Crescent City Harbor entrance — personnel from Crescent Fire and Del Norte Ambulance requested help from law enforcement, saying the patient was attacking them with a box cutter.

A Del Norte County sheriff’s deputy and a California Highway Patrol officer arrived on scene at about the same time, Scott said. The suspect was shot and later pronounced dead at Sutter Coast Hospital, the sheriff said, though the details surrounding shots being fired are still under investigation.

Continue reading Unidentified Man Fatally Shot By Law Enforcement; Incident Originated As A Medical Aid Call, Del Norte Sheriff Says

CCPD Investigating Human Remains Found Near Cooper Hill To Rule Out Homicide

An investigation is underway to rule out homicide after human remains were found near Cooper Avenue and J Street in Crescent City on Wednesday.

Crescent City Police Chief Richard Griffin said the body of a male subject was found about 200 feet into the brush toward the cemetery. The subject had been wearing a hospital bracelet, Griffin said. Officers are working with the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office Coroner to identify the individual, Griffin told Redwood Voice Community News.

There was also evidence that animals had disturbed the body, Griffin said.

Continue reading CCPD Investigating Human Remains Found Near Cooper Hill To Rule Out Homicide

Suspects In Safeway Shopping Center Shooting Arrested in Citrus Heights

Thumbnail photo: Russell Walters Jr. and Russell Walters Sr. were arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide in connection with a May 28 shooting near Safeway. | Photo courtesy of CCPD.

The 17-year-old suspect in last week’s shooting at Jedediah Smith Shopping Center, along with his father, are in custody in Citrus Heights, Crescent City Police Chief Richard Griffin told Redwood Voice Community News on Sunday.

Citrus Heights police arrested Russell Walters Jr. and Russell Walters Sr. after serving a search warrant at a home just before 5 p.m. Sunday, Griffin said. The two attempted to flee out a backdoor, but were taken into custody. 

Officers also identified a female subject who drove them to the Sacramento area and will likely ask for accessory charges to be filed against her, Griffin said. 

Continue reading Suspects In Safeway Shopping Center Shooting Arrested in Citrus Heights

CCPD Still Searching For Shooting Suspects, Arrest A Third

Russell Walters Jr. (left) and Russell Walters Sr. (right) | Courtesy CCPD

Crescent City police are still searching for 17-year-old Russell Walters Jr. and his father Russell Walter Sr., 65, in connection with last week’s shooting at the Jedediah Smith Shopping Center.

Police have also arrested a third person, 32-year-old Joshua Roberts, who they say helped the two suspects evade police, Crescent City Police Chief Richard Griffin told Redwood Voice Community News on Monday. 

“We have evidence of him picking [Walters Jr. and Sr.] up after the shooting and driving away from the house,” Griffin said. “He’s on parole and a search was done and that’s where the firearms, an AR-15 and semiautomatic handgun were located with ammo and he was arrested [on suspicion of] aiding and abetting.”

Continue reading CCPD Still Searching For Shooting Suspects, Arrest A Third

CCPD Investigating Shooting At Safeway Parking Lot; One Victim Hospitalized

Updated at 10:18 p.m. to correct the suspects name.

Update May 29 at 1:00PM

CCPD has arrested Joshua Roberts in connection with the investigation regarding the shooting Wednesday evening. Officers gathered evidence that Roberts picked up the two individuals CCPD is searching for and drove them out of Crescent City. Officers contacted Roberts,
who was on parole, and conducted a search of his vehicle. During the search an AR15, semi-automatic shotgun, and several hundred rounds of ammunition were located.

Roberts is currently being held at the Del Norte County Jail, and there are active arrest warrants for Russell Walters, Sr. and Russell Walters, Jr. in connection with the shooting Wednesday evening.

Del Norte Unified School District Director of Communications Michael Hawkins stated that there is an increased police presence surrounding Del Norte schools at this time, including patrols. Del Norte High School has elected to undergo further precautions including entrance monitoring and locking its classroom doors. As of 11:50 AM there have been no apparent threats made to Del Norte County schools, Hawkins told Redwood Voice Community News.

Update at 10:13 p.m.

Crescent City police are seeking the public’s help in finding Russell Walters Jr., the suspect involved in a shooting that took place at Safeway earlier this evening.

Walters will be charged with attempted homicide, Crescent City Police Chief Richard Griffin said. CCPD is working with the Del Norte County District Attorney to obtain an arrest warrant in case the suspect leaves the area, Griffin said.

According to the police chief, Walters was seen leaving the area as a passenger in a black Chevrolet Traverse. The vehicle has a disabled license plate, number EP007. Griffin said his department is actively working with the DA’s office and the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office.

Continue reading CCPD Investigating Shooting At Safeway Parking Lot; One Victim Hospitalized

Del Norte County’s Assistant CAO Arrested On DUI, Hit & Run Charges

(Updated at 4:08 p.m. Monday to clarify the location of the collision.)

Del Norte County’s assistant county administrative officer has been charged with felony hit and run and with driving under the influence in connection with a two-vehicle collision that took place Saturday evening.

Randy Hooper, 44, was booked into the Del Norte County Jail and released on $225,000 bond, according to the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Portal. According to the California Highway Patrol’s public information officer, Pete Gonzalez, the collision took place on Sand Mine Road just east of U.S. 101 near Sand Mine Road and U.S. 101 at about 10 p.m. Saturday.

The other party in the incident sustained possible minor injuries, Gonzalez told Redwood Voice Community News on Monday. Though the report on the incident is not yet complete, Gonzalez said it didn’t appear that either party had passengers in their vehicles. 

Gonzalez was unable to say how far from the scene of the accident officers detained Hooper. According to the DNSO’s Public Information Portal, the sheriff’s office was the arresting agency.

DNSO Seeks Person Of Interest Connected With Suspected Arson

Thumbnail photo courtesy of the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office. Above: The DNSO is asking residents in the vicinity of the 1400 block of West Macken for assistance in seeking a person-of-interest connected with a suspected arson.

The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office is seeking a person-of-interest connected with a suspected arson that took place at a home on the 1400 block of West Macken Avenue in Crescent City at about noon Wednesday.

The fire has rendered the home uninhabitable, Undersheriff Devon Perry told Redwood Voice Community News on Thursday. The DNSO is currently building a case and is seeking information about an individual who was wearing dark colored clothing and was seen on video surveillance leaving the area, though Perry said he was unable to release further details about the subject.

“A neighbor saw smoke coming out from underneath the residence, contacted the tenant of that residence and discovered there was a fire going on underneath,” Perry said. “The fire department was contacted and upon arrival requested deputy assistance for suspected arson.”

Continue reading DNSO Seeks Person Of Interest Connected With Suspected Arson