On Aug. 28, 2023, at about 7:24 p.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol in the area of School Road in McKinleyville attempted a traffic stop for a vehicle code violation. The vehicle failed to yield, and a pursuit ensued.

The deputy pursued the vehicle onto Highway 101 for approximately three miles, with the pursuit coming to an end at a business on the 5000 block of Valley West Boulevard in Arcata. The driver of the vehicle, 52-year-old Nathan Rhodes Russell, was taken into custody without further incident.

Officers with the Arcata Police Department arrived to assist and conducted a DUI investigation. Officers determined Russell to be over the legal Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) limit.

Russell was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of flight from a traffic officer (VC 2800.1(a)), driving without a license (VC 12500(a)), driving with expired registration (VC 4000(a)(1)), driving under the influence of alcohol (VC 23152(a) & (b)). 

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Arcata Police Department for their assistance with this investigation.

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.

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Nathan Rhodes Russell Booking Photo | Humboldt County Correctional Facility