Driver flees, passenger arrested at traffic stop

William Lee Nicholson of Eureka sought for parole violations, new charges

Humboldt Sentinel staff
6/23/09

Eureka

At about 5:30 p.m. Friday, June 19, an Eureka police officer stopped a white Buick sedan near the intersection of Hawthorne and A streets for a traffic violation. The driver, William Lee Nicholson, 29, of Eureka, gave a fake name and seemed nervous. Hearing the officer ask for backup, Nicholson suddenly fled through the passenger door.

The officer chased Nicholson but lost sight of him when he ran into an alley about a block away. The officer returned to his patrol car just in time to see Nicholson’s passenger, Katrina Marie Gerace, 23, drive away eastbound on Hawthorne.

Gerace was stopped a short time later near Carson and G streets, where she was busted for not obeying an officer. Searching the Buick, officers found several Vicodin and methadone pills, some marijuana and a stolen digital camera.

Gerace was taken to the Humboldt County jail and booked for felony possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and failure to obey a traffic officer.

Officers were unable to find Nicholson, who is on parole for drug violations. A warrant for his arrest is being sought for possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, driving on a suspended license and providing a false identity to a peace officer.

Anyone who knows Nicholson’s location is asked to call the Eureka Police Department at 441-4044 or 441-4060.