Eureka man arrested after stabbing at West 3rd Street encampment

Officers from the Eureka Police Department patrol unit and the Community Safety Engagement Team responded to the 0 block of West 3rd Street at about 10:15 a.m. on Jan. 11 after a report of a stabbing at an encampment. Responding officers found an adult male with multiple stab wounds to his leg and a dog suffering a stab wound to the chest. Both the human victim and the dog were taken for treatment; the dog was transported to a local veterinary hospital.

Investigators identified 24-year-old Tyler Smith as the primary suspect. Smith had reportedly fled the scene before officers arrived but was later located while being pursued by another man, identified as Mitchell Byrd. Byrd was armed with a hatchet when officers detained both men without further incident.

The subsequent investigation included witness interviews and review of surveillance footage from a nearby business. That review indicated Smith and Byrd were involved in an initial physical altercation in which Smith allegedly brandished a knife, prompting Byrd to withdraw. While still at the encampment, Smith is reported to have become involved in a second confrontation with another individual associated with Byrd; during that encounter the other individual and the dog were stabbed.

Smith was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of attempted homicide and animal cruelty. Byrd was booked on charges of assault with a deadly weapon. The investigation is ongoing; authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the Criminal Investigations Unit at 707-441-4300.

Beyond the immediate criminal case, the incident raises questions about public safety at encampments, the role of outreach and law enforcement teams in crisis response, and animal welfare in transient settings. The involvement of the Community Safety Engagement Team underscores the department’s strategy of pairing patrol response with teams focused on ongoing community issues, but the episode highlights the complex interplay between enforcement, outreach, and emergency medical needs when violent incidents occur in improvised living areas.

For residents, the practical implications are clear: violent confrontations in public encampments can involve bystanders, pets and first responders, and they often trigger criminal proceedings that move into the county correctional system. City and county leaders face choices about resources for safe shelter, behavioral health services, and targeted outreach that could reduce the likelihood of similar incidents.

Our two cents? Keep an eye on follow-up from law enforcement and elected officials, and if you saw anything that morning or have relevant footage, call the Criminal Investigations Unit at 707-441-4300. Civic engagement—showing up at council meetings or contacting supervisors—helps shape the local public-safety and housing responses that affect everyone on West 3rd and beyond.