McKinleyville Man Arrested After Jumping on Girlfriend's Car, Kicking Windshield

Robert Willis Slavens, 50, was arrested Wednesday afternoon after climbing onto the hood of his girlfriend's vehicle and kicking the windshield as she attempted to drive away from their home on the 1600 block of Sutter Road in McKinleyville.

Humboldt County Sheriff's deputies were called to the address at approximately 4:09 p.m. on April 9 following a 911 call. A 44-year-old woman told deputies that Slavens had jumped onto her car to block her exit and then kicked through the windshield, causing damage. He fell from the hood before deputies made contact and was taken into custody at the scene.

The Sheriff's Office identified Slavens as a state parolee, a detail that adds a separate layer of legal exposure to the case. Parole revocation proceedings can run parallel to new criminal charges, state parole agents are typically notified upon a parolee's arrest, and parole status often factors into bail recommendations presented to a judge.

The incident unfolded in the moment the woman tried to leave, a point that domestic violence cases frequently center on; research consistently shows victims face heightened danger precisely when attempting to exit a dangerous situation. Vehicle-based assaults also produce a particular evidentiary trail: documented damage to the car itself, scene photographs and deputy reports, and any doorbell or traffic-camera footage from the surrounding Sutter Road neighborhood.

Formal charges will be determined by the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office. Whether state parole authorities pursue independent administrative action against Slavens has not yet been confirmed.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office tip line.