Stange story: US Forest Service employees zip-tied, held at gunpoint in California. Hostage takers wanted to talk to the FBI and were eventually arrested. No injuries. Motive not disclosed.
Where:
Siskiyou County is a large, northern California county bordering Oregon, known for its vast wilderness, outdoor recreation, and natural landmarks like Mount Shasta. Its county seat is Yreka, and the area is rich in Gold Rush history, with a strong focus on tourism, forestry, and agriculture, supported by federal and state land management agencies.
What and When:
"LATEST July 17, 2 p.m. Two U.S. Forest Service employees were zip-tied and held at gunpoint inside a trailer in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest before negotiators secured their release early Friday and officers arrested two suspects, concluding a nearly 15-hour hostage crisis that drew an FBI team from Virginia and law enforcement officers from across Northern California.
[See all resources deployed as described in the last few paragraphs.]
"…One of the suspects, Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, told authorities he had firearms and ammunition andwanted to speak with the FBI,Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue said.
"…Negotiations began around 4:20 p.m. and continued until early Friday morning, FBI Sacramento acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Tosh said. The first employee was released around 1:35 a.m., followed by the second about 15 minutes later. Both [hostages] returned home after being assessed, and officials said they had received no reports of injuries.
“Crisis situations like this don’t often result in everyone leaving the scene safely,” Tosh said.
Around 2:30 a.m.,Joseph Charles Henrichsen and his adult son, Phoenix Henrichsen, surrendered to authorities,LaRue said in a Friday afternoon news conference. Joseph Henrichsen was carrying an AR-15-style rifle and knives when he surrendered and had claimed to possess grenades, Tosh said.
U.S. Attorney Eric Grant said both men would be charged with kidnapping federal employees.
The Henrichsens surrendered approximately 40 minutes after the second hostage was freed. Authorities have not disclosed a suspected motive or explained why Joseph Henrichsen wanted to contact the FBI.
…The FBI led the operation with support from the Forest Service, the Siskiyou and Shasta county sheriff’s offices, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management, Homeland Security Investigations and officers from eight counties.
Shasta County sent 30 sworn and civilian personnel, including its SWAT team, sniper unit, hostage negotiators, bomb squad and drone operators, Sheriff Michael Johnson said.
The FBI also flew its Hostage Rescue Team from Quantico, Virginia, to Redding aboard a Boeing 757. Tosh said officials requested the national tactical team because the standoff could have escalated despite the perimeter established around the trailer.
“It’s a national asset, and this is what they’re trained to do,” Tosh said.
…moar…
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/california-lake-hostage-standoff-22349514.php