By Ruth Schneider
Times-Standard, Eureka, Calif.
LOLETA, Calif. — On Friday afternoon, the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office released video of the fatal shooting of Nicholas Anderson in Loleta, who initially was in need of medical attention, was later accused of trespassing, and finally rushed officers armed with a knife.
The video outlines the events that began after 2 p.m. on June 5 .
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“Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center received a call for service at the Bear River Recreation Center,” Humboldt County Sheriff William Honsal says in the video. “… Dispatch was advised that a male had entered the recreation center with a bandaged bloody arm and was dripping blood inside the building.”
A video of the call to 911 is briefly played.
“Hi, I work for Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria,” the caller states. “I got a guy up here in our rec center. He showed up with a big old bloody bandage on his arm, and now he’s in the shower and I asked him if he needs medical attention. He said, yes, he does. … he’s dripping blood everywhere.”
Medical first response was sent to the scene to address the wound to the suspect’s left arm.
Early interactions with Anderson were met with some hostility in the body-worn video footage shared Friday. Anderson initially misidentified himself. And despite the urging of paramedics, would not go to the hospital for further treatment.
Anderson was later found in his vehicle and told to leave the property.
“The Bear River tribe wanted Anderson to be removed from the property,” Honsal stated in the video.
“All this could have been avoided if you would have just gone to the hospital or given your real name,” one of the officers is heard telling Anderson.
“This contact was not adversarial, and it ended with Anderson agreeing to walk away and leave the property,” Honsal explained. “A short time later, corporals Brown and Anderson parked near the north end of Keisner Road, still on Bear River Rancheria property, Nicholas Anderson drove past them, turned around and stopped at the end of the roadway.”
At that point, the officers got out of their vehicles to talk to Anderson again.
“Anderson exited his vehicle, reached into his pocket, pulled out a folding knife, opened it, held it above his head in a threatening manner,” Honsal stated. “The corporals immediately gave repeated commands for him to drop the knife as they moved backwards.”
Video of the incident shows Anderson with both hands above his head. He was walking around the vehicles toward the officers. At one point, he starts to rush one of the officers. From what appears to be 10-15 feet distance, one officer fires three shots. Two struck Anderson in the chest. He fell to the ground. Both corporals wrestled with the groaning man to handcuff him. Then they went to get a medical kit and medical assistance was requested.
Anderson was taken to Redwood Memorial Hospital, where he was declared dead. He was 29.
The deputy identified as the shooter was Corp. Bradford Anderson.
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