On Feb. 5, 2023, at about 11:27 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a grocery store on the 800 block of Redwood Drive in Garberville for the report of an injured man.

Deputies arrived in the area and located a 43-year-old man with significant head injuries in the loading dock area of the business. The man was declared deceased on scene. The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Major Crimes Division was dispatched to investigate.

Upon further investigation, including reviewing surveillance footage from the business, Sheriff’s Investigators determined the man had climbed the fence separating the loading dock from an elevated alleyway. The man was possibly attempting to vandalize the business’ security camera when he appears to have slipped from the fence, falling several feet and sustaining fatal injuries.

The decedent has been identified; however, his identity is being withheld pending next of kin notification. An autopsy is in the process of being scheduled.

Anyone with information about this case 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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