On Oct. 19, 2021, at about 7:50 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence on the 300 block of Higgins Street, in the county’s jurisdiction of Eureka, for the report of a domestic disturbance between a man and a woman.

Deputies arrived on scene and contacted a female at the residence. While speaking with the female near the open front door of the residence, a male suspect, identified as 54-year-old Gerald Fay Barnhart, rushed toward deputies from inside the residence, attempting to close the door. While attempting to close the door on the deputies, Barnhart grabbed hold of one deputy and forcefully pushed the deputy, causing visible injury.

A second deputy deployed a department-issued taser, striking Barnhart and successfully gaining compliance without further incident. Barnhart did not sustain injuries from the taser deployment.

Barnhart was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of obstructing a peace officer by means of violence (PC 69) and obstructing/resisting a peace officer (PC 148(a)(1)).

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Gerald Fay Barnhart Booking Photo | Humboldt County Correctional Facility