Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Sheriff’s Office Investigating Two Incidents in Alderpoint
(UPDATED)
Skippy Massey
Humboldt Sentinel
The Sheriff’s Office has been busy: a homicide
investigation and large marijuana busts involving three
individuals taking place in Alderpoint over the past two days.
Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Dave Morey said detectives do not know yet if the suspected homicide of a 57-year old man found Thursday on the 3700 block of Rancho Sequoia Road in Southern Humboldt is related to the marijuana search warrants served at two nearby properties on the 4000 and 4500 block of Rancho Sequoia Road on Wednesday.
“It could be, it might not be. We will see,” Morey said.
The area of Alderpoint– the Rancho Sequoia subdivision– has fondly become known by locals as ‘Murder Mountain’ for good reason.
We have the two Murder Mountain reports– whether or not they’re related is yet to be determined– for you here.
Here’s the HCSO homicide report issued Thursday, June 27:
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Detectives from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office are currently investigating a death that has been determined to be suspicious and suspected to be a homicide. The location of occurrence is the 3700 block of Rancho Sequoia Drive in Alderpoint, CA.
The reporting party called the Sheriff’s Office at 8:50 am stating that she had not heard from her step-father for the last four days and drove to his residence in the 3700 block of Rancho Sequoia Drive.
When she arrived, she discovered her 57-year old step-father was deceased.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Deputies and detectives were dispatched to the residence and ruled the death suspicious. They are investigating the death as a homicide.
Detectives are looking for a black 2000 Jeep Cherokee, CA license #5HNG536.
The Jeep Cherokee may be driven by Anthony Ray Lane, a white male adult, 37-years old, height 5 foot 10, weighing 185 pounds and with red and brown hair. His date of birth is 09-18-1975.
Lane is a person of interest in this investigation and he’s being sought for questioning by the Sheriff’s Office.
Persons should not approach Lane, but if located or spotted, they are asked
to call the Sheriff’s Office.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
The lead investigator is Detective Franco at (707) 268-3644 or (707) 445-7251.
The motive for this suspected homicide is not known at this time. Detectives are just now arriving at the time of this release.
The name of the victim is not being released until additional family members can be notified. Due to the infancy of this investigation, the suspected cause of death won’t be released until the Coroner can arrange for an autopsy.
UPDATE– Murder Suspect Anthony Lane Apprehended:
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.On Thursday June 27, 2013 at about 11:30 pm, Officers from the Willits Police Department located the black Jeep Cherokee that was believed to be operated by suspect Anthony Lane.
The Willits Police Officers had received a “be on the lookout” broadcast issued by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office for this homicide investigation. The vehicle was found in the parking lot of a motel in the Willits area.
On June 28, 2013 at about 12:30 am, officers of the Willits Police Department, with the assistance of deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, located Lane in one of the rooms of the hotel.
Mr. Lane was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Humboldt County Line, where deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office took custody of him. Lane was booked into the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office for suspicion of murder and possession of a stolen vehicle– the black Jeep Cherokee.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.At this time the motive for the crime is being investigated. There does not appear to be a connection with the homicide to an earlier marijuana cultivation investigation although the arrests took place in the same area. This homicide does not appear to be a home invasion, marijuana related, or in association with the Garret Rodriguez missing person investigation.
The Humboldt County Coroner’s Office is still in the process of notification of family members of the victim of this suspected homicide.
* * * * * * * *
And here’s the second HCSO report– also issued on Thursday, June 27:
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
On 06-26-2013, at 11:15 am, Humboldt County Drug Task Force Agents, assisted by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol, arrested Matthew Walker, 33, from Alderpoint after he attempted to trade marijuana for a travel trailer.
Approximately two weeks ago Humboldt County Drug Task Force Agents were alerted by a citizen who was selling a travel trailer on Craigslist that a person was trying trade the citizen “herb” for his travel trailer.
A Humboldt County Drug Task Force Agent took over negotiations posing as the seller and began contacting the suspect on line. The suspect offered to trade four pounds of high grade marijuana and hashish for the trailer. The Drug Task Force Agent agreed to meet the suspect at Tooby Park in Garberville on the same day at 11:00 am to make the trade.
When the suspect, identified as Matthew Walker, and another male showed up at Tooby Park, both were detained.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.Agents searched the vehicle they were driving and located four pounds of marijuana bud and one pound of hashish.
Mr. Walker was arrested on outstanding felony arrest warrants for cultivation and sales of marijuana issued out of Mendocino County Superior Court and traffic offenses. The other male was interviewed and released at the scene.
Agents and deputies then drove to Walker’s residence in the 4500 block of Rancho Sequoia Road inAlderpoint where they served a Humboldt County Superior Court search warrant.
At the residence they located 304 growing marijuana plants ranging from 8” to 2’ in height. The plants were being grown in greenhouses and outside on the property. Agents also located another approximate half pound of hashish in the residence, along with a rifle.
Walker was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked on his arrest warrants and new charges of cultivation and possession for sale of marijuana. His bail was set at $55,000.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.While at Walker’s property, the Drug Task Force Agents and deputies obtained information about marijuana cultivation on another nearby parcel– in the 4000 block of Rancho Sequoia Road.
They contacted the Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office and spoke with an Investigator who obtained a search warrant for that parcel.
When the agents and deputies served the search warrant, they located 1,572 marijuana plants ranging in size from 2’ to 4’ being grown in six green houses.
They also located a sawed-off shotgun and a AR-15 Assault weapon with high capacity magazines in the residence.
Two men were located at the scene and determined to be associated with the marijuana cultivation. They were identified as Travis Land, 36 years old, from Redway and Juan Hernandez, from Alderpoint.
Both Land and Hernandez were arrested for cultivation and possession for sale of marijuana. Agents also learned Travis also had an outstanding felony arrest warrant for cultivation of marijuana.
They were transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where Mr. Land’s bail was set at $55,000 and Mr. Hernandez’s bail at $25,000.
* * * * * * * *
Whether or not these two incidents– involving murder and marijuana on Murder Mountain– are intertwined isn’t clear.
One thing is clear, however: Humboldt County’s marijuana gold rush and the problems following in its wake have turned this County onto its proverbial ear.
Mr. Gallegos, we think you’re gonna need more prosecutors.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Please spread the word. Share this– and all of our posts– with others, and friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. We appreciate and thank you for reading, and for giving us a little push in the right direction.