NCJ Daily Online

Eureka Officer Shoots Suspect in Chaotic Scene

The suspect shot by a Eureka police officer during a pursuit on Dec. 30 has been identified as Little Eagle Moon, 29, of Hoopa, according to a press release, which ads that Moon sustained “serious but non-life-threatening injuries.”

An officer also received “minor injuries” during the incident, the press release states.

A multi-agency team was working to arrest Moon, who was wanted on suspicion of attempted robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, revocation of parole, burglary and reckless evasion, per the press release.

“During the apprehension near Third and T streets in Eureka, Moon was in the driver’s seat of a vehicle and began ramming law enforcement vehicles and driving toward officers,” the release states. “Due to the threat, one Eureka police officer fired his duty weapon, striking Moon.”

Moon then allegedly fled in the vehicle and caused a crash at Fifth and V streets before fleeing on foot into a greenbelt, where he was ultimately taken into custody after officers set up a perimeter and brought in a canine unit. According to the press release, “minor injuries were reported by civilians” involved in the crash.

Moon was transported to a local hospital for treatment and once medically cleared will be booked into the jail on suspicion of attempted murder, according to the release.

The officer who shot Moon has been placed on paid administrative leave during the investigation. EPD declined to identify him Jan. 3 or disclose how many times he fired his gun. The press release says video footage of the incident was captured on body worn cameras and the department will release it according to state law, which requires it be made public as soon as doing so won’t jeopardize the investigation and not later than 45 days after the shooting, absent extraordinary circumstances.

EPD has also yet to comment on the status of two people who were detained near the scene of the shooting.

The shooting occurred amid a period of transition for the department, as Capt. Brian Stephens was serving as acting chief last week but Interim Police Chief Todd Jarvis stepped into the post Jan. 3.

— Thadeus Greenson

POSTED 01.03.22 Officers form a perimeter along Fifth Street in Eureka after a suspect fled into a green belt during a Dec. 30 pursuit. Photo by Mark McKenna

Officers walk Little Eagle Moon, 29, of Hoopa, to a waiting ambulance after taking him into custody during a hectic pursuit that saw an officer open fire and multiple car

crashes on Dec. 30. Photo by Mark McKenna

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Missing at Sea: The search continued as the Journal went to press Jan. 4 for Hunter Nathaniel Lewis, 21, of Blue Lake, who went missing after entering the ocean in his canoe at Trinidad Harbor on Dec. 30. Pieces of the 15-foot green fiberglass canoe have been recovered north of Elk Head and groups of community members have taken up the search after an official effort was called off by the U.S. Coast Guard, which searched more than 1,000 nautical miles by helicopter and

boat. POSTED 01.02.22

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Jarvis on the Job: As the Journal went to press Jan. 4, the Eureka City Council was slated to approve the city manager’s appointment of Todd Jarvis as interim police chief. Jarvis, who stepped into the position a day earlier, retired as executive assistant chief of the San Diego Police Department in November of 2019 with 35 years of experience. He takes over for Steve Watson, who retired at the end of November after more than four years on the

job. POSTED 12.29.22

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Goodbye, Chief: With the end of 2021 came the end of an era for the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department, which bid Chief Lon Winburn goodbye after 37 years of service to the department. Winburn, who stepped in as chief in 2005, was treated to a pizza party on his final day, with members of the public invited to stop by to wish him a happy retirement. “We can’t thank him enough for all his years of service to the department,” a Facebook post from the department reads. POSTED 12.30.22

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Digitally Speaking

Humboldt County’s seven-day test-positivity rate from Dec. 29 through Jan. 4, far outpacing those of the state (20.4 percent) and nation (23

They Said It

“We hope to know more by the end of the week but this is likely the beginning of a surge.”

— Humboldt County Health Officer Ian Hoffman after the county confirmed 588 new COVID-19 cases — or more than 5 percent of the county’s cumulative case tally to date — over a five-day period ending Jan. 4.

Comment of the Week

“We already flooded here in King Salmon.”

— Kelsey McMahan on the Journal’s Facebook page commenting on Jan. 3, shortly after a post went up about a local flood watch warning. McMahan added a picture of someone canoeing up her street. POSTED 01.03.22