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On Monday, June 11 at approximately 2:20 a.m., a Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputy was driving in a marked patrol car on Walnut Drive, Eureka when he spotted a dark colored Toyota pickup truck turning right on Walnut Drive from Home Drive, Eureka, without its headlights on. The deputy attempted to stop the Toyota for the traffic violation and the Toyota drove away at a high rate of speed, south on Walnut Drive towards Ridgewood Drive.

The deputy initiated a pursuit of the vehicle as it traveled from Ridgewood Drive onto Elk River Road, Eureka. The deputy followed the vehicle, which reached speeds in excess of 80 mph on Elk River Road before it turned onto Pine Hill Road. The vehicle eventually ended up in a cul-de-sac at which point the driver jumped out of the moving Toyota, which crashed through a fence and into thick brush.

As the driver got out of the moving vehicle and fell towards the ground the pursuing deputy saw he had a silver revolver on his person with a wooden grip. The weapon fell away from the suspect striking the ground about three feet away from him. The driver stood up and ran towards the weapon and grabbed it, despite the deputy’s commands not to.

The suspect then ran from the pursuing deputy who gave chase. The suspect ran to the side yard of a nearby residence where he jumped over a fence. The deputy continued chasing the suspect to the rear of the residence and up onto a deck. The suspect attempted to enter the residence through the sliding glass door, but it was locked.

It should be noted the deputies determined the suspect knew the owner of the residence he attempted to enter. The suspect jumped off the deck and into another neighboring back yard. Deputies and California Highway Patrol officers searched the area for the suspect, but were unable to locate him. The pursuing deputy was able to identify the suspect as Matthew Robert Williams, 20 years old of Eureka. A “Be-on-the-Lookout” was placed with local law enforcement.

On Monday, June 11 at approximately 7 p.m., deputies went to a residence in the 5800 block of Walnut Drive looking for Williams. When deputies arrived at the home, Williams fled out the back door, jumping over fences again.

He was seen wearing shorts, an orange shirt and only had one sock on. He may have minor injuries from the brush and falls while evading law enforcement. The weapon has not been recovered and is still outstanding.

Matthew Robert Williams is described as 20 years old, 5’11”, 160 lbs, with strawberry blond hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information for the Sheriff’s Office regarding this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Sheriffs Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office crime tip line at (707) 268-2539.