Hoopa Resident Phillip Donahue Wanted for Jan. 28 Garden-Tool Assault

A county-wide arrest bulletin seeks 45-year-old Phillip Donahue of Hoopa after deputies say he struck a 40-year-old man with a garden tool at the Campbell Field Housing Complex, a release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office says. The incident has raised safety concerns among neighbors and residents of the housing complex while the sheriff’s office continues to seek information.

"On Jan. 28, 2026, at approximately 12:17 a.m., the Humboldt County Emergency Communications Center received a report of a physical assault that occurred at a residence located in the Campbell Field Housing Complex in Hoopa," the sheriff’s posting states. The reporting party advised that 45-year-old Phillip Donahue of Hoopa struck an individual in the head with a garden tool.

While deputies were en route they were advised that emergency medical personnel were on scene with the victim. Upon arrival, responding deputies met with the 40-year-old victim and obtained his statement. "The victim reported he was helping a friend retrieve some belongings from Donahue’s residence when Donahue approached him from behind and struck him on the side of the head with the garden tool," the release says.

Deputies say they used witness statements and physical evidence during the investigation and developed probable cause to arrest Donahue. A county-wide bulletin was issued charging him with PC 245(a)(1) - Assault with a Deadly Weapon. The sheriff’s release does not state whether Donahue has been located, arrested, or booked; that status remains unspecified in the posted notice.

The sheriff’s office posting lays out immediate steps taken by first responders and investigators and highlights the procedural threshold reached by deputies in developing probable cause. For residents of Hoopa and the surrounding areas, the incident underscores concerns about violent encounters in small, tightly knit communities and the strain such events place on emergency responders and community services.

Neighbors and people with knowledge of the incident are urged to contact law enforcement. "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."

What happens next will hinge on whether Donahue is located and whether prosecutors file formal charges under PC 245(a)(1). For Campbell Field residents, the immediate priorities will be ensuring safety, confirming the status of the investigation, and supporting any victims. The sheriff’s office has opened the case to public tips; local eyes and information could be key to resolving the bulletin and restoring a sense of security in the neighborhood.