Eureka police arrest two after disturbance involving BB gun and gang claims

A confrontation near W. Henderson Street and Albee Street turned a neighborhood disturbance into two arrests after Eureka police say one of the suspects implied he had a firearm, then officers recovered a BB gun nearby.

The Eureka Police Department said officers were called around 7 p.m. on April 22 after reporting parties said they had been confronted by two males they did not know. During the encounter, police said one suspect grabbed his waistband and made statements indicating he had a firearm. An additional officer located both suspects nearby and detained them.

Police later determined the weapon was a BB gun, but the case did not end there. Freddy Alvarez, 18, of Eureka, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a crime and participation in criminal street gang activity. He was taken to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.

A 17-year-old male was also arrested and booked into Humboldt County Juvenile Hall on charges that included conspiracy to commit a crime, participation in criminal street gang activity, brandishing a BB gun and violating probation terms. Police said the juvenile had the BB gun in his possession.

The arrests reflect how Eureka police are treating imitation weapons as serious threats when they are used to intimidate people. In the moment, victims and witnesses often cannot tell whether a gun is real, and a waistband gesture paired with statements about being armed can trigger the same fear and police response as an actual firearm.

The incident also fits a broader recent pattern in Eureka. On March 19, police said a reported drive-by shooting near Eureka High School involved a possible BB gun, injured a juvenile and struck an occupied vehicle. In another recent case, police said a suspect was booked for attempted robbery, brandishing a replica firearm, conspiracy and criminal threats.

Together, the cases show a continued law-enforcement focus on replica weapons, youth involvement and gang-related allegations in Humboldt County. Police encouraged anyone with information about the W. Henderson and Albee incident to contact Detective Bailey with the Criminal Investigations Unit at (707) 441-4300.