Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Mountain Lion Prowls Old Arcata Road

Advice: "Look large, wave your arms and yell"

Humboldt Sentinel
News 9/16/08
By Sentinel Staff

ARCATA -- Monday morning marked the return of children to school, students to the university -- and a mountain lion to the eastern reaches of Arcata.

According to official reports, at about 10:20 a.m., Arcata Police Department officers were dispatched to the 1700 block of Old Arcata Road after receiving reports from residents who had spotted a mountain lion. Witnesses say they saw the cat walking east on Spring Hill Road into the wooded area just east of Old Arcata Road.

However, officers were unable to locate the mountain lion on foot, and subsequently notified the state Department of Fish and Game. While administrators at nearby Jacoby Creek School were contacted along with local residents, no evacuations took place and the school day continued normally.

APD issued their standard advice in dealing with a mountain lion in yesterday's press release: "Look large; raise your arms and yell. throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without bending down. Do not crouch. Keep pets and children close to you. Don't run. Running may stimulate the lion's instinct to chase. Fight back if attacked. Remain standing and face the animal. Most mountain lions do their best to avoid an encounter with humans. Give the cat a way out and don't ever approach a mountain lion."

Residents are urged to notify APD of any further mountain lion sightings.

Monday, September 15, 2008

Paraphernalia Pusher Popped On Plaza

Benjamin Crowder arrested on several outstanding warrants

Humboldt Sentinel
News 9/15/08
By Sentinel Staff

ARCATA -- The continuing campaign by Arcata Police and Plaza business owners to cut down on illegal drug trafficking in the central business district nabbed another arrest earlier today.

At about 11:30 a.m. APD officers on foot patrol acted on a tip from a nearby business owner concerning a group of people blocking a doorway on 9th Street.

Upon contacting the group, officers discovered that one of them, 27-year-old Benjamin Crowder of Maryland, had several local warrants for his arrest. While his associates were released without further incident, Crowder was arrested on the spot.

In a search of his backpack, officers discovered several hypodermic syringes and other drug injection paraphernalia, as well as over an ounce of marijuana bud and a quantity of concentrated marijuana (hash).

Crowder was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for the warrants and the new charges produced by the search.