On Jan. 26, 2022, at about 6:39 p.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol in the Eureka area observed a vehicle that had been reported stolen out of McKinleyville traveling on Broadway Street.

Deputies conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and detained the driver without incident. As part of their investigation, deputies deployed HCSO K9 Yahtzee to perform a free air sniff around the stolen vehicle. During this procedure, K9 Yahtzee alerted deputies to the presence of a narcotic.

During a search of the vehicle deputies located drug paraphernalia and a key commonly used to bypass vehicle ignition locks.

The driver of the vehicle, 34-year-old John Burton Cole III, was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of possession of stolen property (PC 496(a)), possession of burglary tools (PC 466), possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia (HS 11364(a)), driving with a suspended/revoked license (VC 14601.1(a)) and violation of probation (PC 1203.2(a)(2)).

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.

John Burton Cole III Booking Photo | Humboldt County Correctional Facility