Sheriff's Deputies Serve Redway Search Warrant, Seize Fentanyl, Arrest Two

Deputies executing a month-long investigation into fentanyl distribution served a search warrant at a residence in Redway and located one ounce of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia and items consistent with drug sales. The operation led to the arrests and booking of 33-year-old William Branscomb and 36-year-old Eva Markowitz at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said the operation on January 28, 2026, involved the Sheriff’s Office Problem Oriented Policing (POP) team, the Sheriff’s Office Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) and the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF). At the conclusion of the investigation, Branscomb and Markowitz were booked on charges listed in the press release as HS 11366.5 - “Knowingly owning property for drug manufacture, storage, or distribution” and HS 11351 - “Possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of sales.”

The Sheriff’s Office press-release language reiterated standard legal caution: “This is a press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office. The information has not been proven in a court of law and any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.” The release also stated the agency’s enforcement goals: “The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to addressing narcotic related crimes and improving public safety through proactive enforcement and community partnerships.”

Humboldt residents are likely to view the seizure and arrests through two lenses: public-safety and community trust. One ounce of fentanyl, together with “items consistent with drug sales,” is the kind of quantity and context law enforcement links to alleged distribution rather than simple personal use. That raises public-safety concerns in smaller communities such as Redway, where an influx of potent synthetic opioids can increase overdose risk and strain local services.

Social media postings and comment threads have echoed the Sheriff’s Office account. An Instagram fragment circulated online suggested a SWAT element in the operation; the Sheriff’s Office has not confirmed any SWAT involvement and that detail remains unverified. The Sheriff’s Office provided evidence photographs as part of its release.

For residents with information, the Sheriff’s Office asks the community to come forward: “Anyone with information related to this investigation or other drug related activity or problems areas related to criminal activity are encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Tip line at (707) 268-2539.” Prosecutors and the courts will determine how the case proceeds from arrest to any formal charges or hearings.

What happens next will include case screening by the district attorney and potential court dates; community members concerned about drug activity in their neighborhoods should report tips to the numbers above so investigators can build cases and local officials can target prevention and outreach.