On 1/5/2024, at about 11:45 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Dollar General in McKinleyville for the report of a shoplifting.

A deputy contacted the store employee and was informed two subjects left the store with various items without paying. A short while later, a second deputy was on foot patrol of McKinleyville High School and observed two subjects running towards the school. The two subjects matched the description of the shoplifters. The deputy went to contact the two subjects, but they fled into a wooded area behind the school. Additional deputies arrived in the area and began searching for the two subjects. After a brief search, deputies located a female subject, 37-year-old Patricia Hilliard. Hilliard was detained without further incident. A male subject, 22-year-old Dominick Severns, continued to flee from deputies. Deputies pursued Severns further into a wooded area near McKinleyville High School and located him curled up in a grove of bushes. Severns surrendered to deputies after he was located. Once Hilliard and Severns were detained, deputies determined both were involved in the shoplifting at the Dollar General.

Hilliard was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for shoplifting (PC 459.5(A)) and probation violation (PC 1203.2(A)). Severns was booked for resisting arrest (PC 148(A)(1)) and probation violation (PC12013.2(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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Patricia Hilliard | Humboldt County Correctional Facility

Dominick Severns | Humboldt County Correctional Facility