Suspect of multiple Arcata-area burglaries arrested in Blue Lake

On Aug. 23, 2021, at about 12:18 p.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies on patrol in the Blue Lake area conducted a suspicious vehicle investigation at a gas station on the 200 block of Blue Lake Boulevard.

Deputies approached the vehicle and observed the driver, 35-year-old Matthew Loren Wells, asleep inside. Wells was found to have an outstanding warrant for his arrest and was taken into custody. The vehicle was not registered to Wells and a search was conducted. During a search of the vehicle, deputies located burglary tools, drug paraphernalia, ID cards belonging to multiple Humboldt State University students, two laundry-machine coin storage containers filled with coins, and other suspected stolen items.

Through further investigation, deputies learned that the vehicle in Well’s possession had been stolen from a student sometime over the weekend and was in the process of being reported as stolen to the Humboldt State University Police Department. Additionally, deputies learned that the Arcata Police Department was investigating a burglary involving an apartment laundry facility.

Due to all evidence gathered during this investigation, it is believed Wells is responsible for the burglaries occurring at Humboldt State University and the apartment laundry facility, in addition to an attempted burglary of a laundromat in Blue Lake.

Wells was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of burglary (PC459/461(b)),vehicle theft (VC 10851(a)), possession of stolen property (PC 496(a)), possession of burglary tools (PC 466), possession of a stolen vehicle (PC 496d(a)), possession of a controlled substance paraphernalia (HS 11364(a)) and shoplifting (PC 459.5), in addition to warrant charges of vehicle theft (VC 10851(a)), felon in possession of a firearm (PC 29800(a)(1)), possession of a narcotic controlled substance (HS 11350(a)) and driving on a suspended/revoked license (VC 14601.1(a)).”