Humboldt County Man Arrested after Allegedly Physically Attacking Family Member
Above: Nathan Ray Rankin booking photo | Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office
A Humboldt County man was arrested after an alleged domestic violence incident involving a family member.
In a press release, the Sheriff’s Office identified 43-year-old Nathan Ray Rankin as the suspect in an alleged incident earlier this week in which he is accused of attacking a cohabitant following a dispute.
Deputies responded on the afternoon of December 11 to the Laurel Street residence in Eureka, which Rankin shared with the victim but had fled prior to deputies arriving.
The victim — identified as an elderly male — met with deputies, visibly suffering symptoms of pepper spray exposure, and alleged that Rankin had assaulted him, attacked him with pepper spray, and at one point physically restrained him to keep him from leaving.
The media release also stated that the victim and Rankin are related, but did not specify further.
Later that afternoon, deputies responded to the residence a second time after learning Rankin had returned. This time he was contacted and taken into custody without incident.
Rankin was booked at the Humboldt County jail on suspicion of false imprisonment, battery, use of tear gas, and elder abuse.
