On Feb. 8, 2023, at about 12:24 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the Trinidad area conducted an investigation into an occupied vehicle parked in a no parking zone at Houda Point.

Upon deputy contact, the driver, 48-year-old Tsewenaldin Allen Vanpelt, reversed his vehicle colliding with the patrol car, then fled at a high rate of speed. Deputies pursued the vehicle through Trinidad, onto Highway 101 and eventually onto Highway 299. During this pursuit, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) was requested to assist. The pursuit lasted approximately 85 minutes, with Vanpelt’s vehicle reaching speeds in excess of 120 miles per hour. During the pursuit, Vanpelt brandished a firearm from the vehicle multiple times.

Vanpelt yielded the vehicle to law enforcement at a CHP road block in the area of Bair Road, Mile Marker 14.5, where he was taken into custody. No one was injured as a result of this incident.

Vanpelt was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility by the CHP on charges of evading a peace officer (VC 2800.2), exhibiting a firearm in the presence of law enforcement (PC 417(c)), carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle (PC 25400(a)(1)), carrying a loaded firearm in a public place (PC 25850(a)), driving under the influence of alcohol (VC 23152(a) &  23152(b)) and resisting a peace officer (PC 148(a)). 

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

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Tsewenaldin Allen Vanpelt Booking Photo | Humboldt County Correctional Facility