On Jan. 12 at about 2:15 p.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy on patrol in the Samoa area attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle that failed to yield at a stop sign and had expired registration. 

The deputy activated his emergency lighting while behind the vehicle near New Navy Base Rd. and Cookhouse Rd.; the driver, later identified as Marcus Wade Smith, 34, of Fortuna, accelerated through the intersection, failing to yield at another posted stop sign. Smith continued northbound on Highway 255 with speeds varying from 60-85 mph in the 55 mph zone. 

The deputy kept lights and siren activated throughout the pursuit of Smith, which ended after 3.8 miles when Smith yielded at the Mad River Slough Bridge. Smith was detained without further incident. The Emergency Communications Dispatch Center confirmed that Smith had a felony warrant and was on felony probation.

During a search of Smith incident to arrest, deputies located multiple credit cards and identification cards belonging to multiple other people.

Smith was then booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for the following charges:

• Flight from traffic officer—VC 2800.1(a)
• 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.

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