Standoff ends safely; suspect arrested

◼ Hours-long standoff ends safely; suspect arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon
Shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday, Eureka Police Department officers spotted Michael Gene Wilson, who was wanted both for parole violations and on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and domestic violence, driving on Broadway, according to Sgt. Steve Watson.

Watson said Wilson was wanted in relation to an incident that occurred Tuesday, when he allegedly assaulted a woman with a vehicle, prompting a countywide alert.

The parole officers attempted to initiate a traffic stop, Watson said, but Wilson allegedly fled and a low-speed pursuit ensued. Eventually, Wilson's Red Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck “became disabled” in the area near Ocean View Cemetery, according to a Humboldt County Sheriff's Office press release. Wilson then fled on foot through the cemetery, Watson said.

EPD officers set up a perimeter and called in a K-9 unit, which eventually tracked Wilson to the vicinity of the 4100 block of Wieler Road, Watson said. Patrol officers and officers from the Problem Oriented Policing unit then canvassed the area, Watson said, adding that they developed information that the suspect was hiding in an inhabited residence on the block.

At that point, Watson said, officers contacted the residence's primary resident,and removed him from the house, set up a perimeter and called the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office for assistance. Watson said officers also attempted to talk the suspect into surrendering for a couple of hours before the SWAT team arrived.

No luck yet searching for his priors Michael Wilson is a common name and, for Humboldt at least, returns mostly results for an unrelated Harbor Commissioner.