Wanted Yreka felon who fled from, then fought with deputies arrested
YREKA, Calif., — A wanted felon who first fled from and then fought with law enforcement officials was arrested after a violent and prolonged struggle Saturday evening, Jan. 1.
The suspect, Joseph Garibay, 42, of Yreka, has a lengthy criminal history with arrests throughout the North State and southern California regions, including a 2019 incident involving an animal cruelty investigation related arrest and a 2020 arrest in southern California, when he and a Yreka woman were arrested at a Riverside County park after they were found to be in possession of a loaded shotgun, narcotics and drug paraphernalia.
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Saturday night’s incident began shortly before 9 p.m. when a Siskiyou County sheriff’s deputy observed a white, 2005 Honda CRV with no license plates pull into the central Chevron gas station in Yreka and conducted a traffic enforcement stop.
When the vehicle came to a stop the driver, later identified as Garibay, got out of the driver seat and began to walk away from the traffic stop, Siskiyou County Sheriff’s officials have since reported.
Although the deputy quickly caught up with Garibay and told him the reason for the traffic stop, Garibay would not cooperate or provide the deputy with his name or his identification and was not complying with any of the deputy’s requests.
Joseph Garibay, 42, of Yreka was arrested after trying to flee from deputies and then resisting arrest during a traffic stop that uncovered a rifle, ammunition, and narcotics. SCSO photo (first image), Riverside County 2020 booking photo (second image).
When the deputy went to detain Garibay and place him into handcuffs, the wanted man broke free from the deputies grasp and began running westbound according to SCSO officials who said, “While he was fleeing, Garibay tripped and the deputy was able to catch up to Garibay, who continued to resist.”
“Multiple units from the Sheriff’s Office, the Yreka Police Department, and CHP – Yreka responded to assist the deputy in taking Garibay into custody,” SCSO continued. “After Garibay was placed in handcuffs, it was discovered Garibay had two felony warrants out of Siskiyou County, and one felony warrant out of Riverside County.”
SCNS has since confirmed that the Riverside County warrant was related to Garibay’s 2020 arrest at the southern California park where he and another Yreka resident were found in possession of a shotgun and narcotics.
During a subsequent search of Garibay’s vehicle, deputies located and seized a loaded AK-style rifle with two loaded magazines. Deputies also discovered several hypodermic syringes, including one that was filled with what deputies believed was methamphetamine, as well as several methamphetamine smoking pipes and approximately 1.5 lbs. of marijuana.
Based on their investigation and findings, Garibay was booked into the Siskiyou County Jail on suspicion of being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a felon in possession of ammunition, resisting arrest, possession of more than an ounce of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and his multiple felony arrest warrants.
Online jail records indicate he remains in custody in lieu of $75,000 bail or bond.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 50, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).
Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg, breaking his back, and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries in an off-duty accident. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s accident.)
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations; including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center, and Lake Elsinore Station; along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.