Humboldt County Man Arrested Amid Investigation into Alleged Firearm, Narcotics Sales on Social Media
Above: Items confiscated during search
(All photos courtesy of Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office)
Austin Beattie
A Humboldt County man was recently arrested for allegedly selling narcotics and firearms through social media.
According to a press release by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, 19-year-old Austin Beattie of Eureka was arrested after allegedly selling four grams of MDMA and 60 grams of psilocybin mushrooms to an undercover Drug Task Force agent.
The undercover agent had contacted Beattie as part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged advertising of narcotics and weapons on social media platforms, the Sheriff’s Office said.
On March 12, Beattie allegedly sold a half-ounce of cocaine to the undercover agent during a “follow-up encounter.” This time, after the transaction, Drug Task Force agents detained Beattie, who was also allegedly found to be in possession of a 9mm semi-automatic firearm.
Authorities also discovered that a juvenile had accompanied Beattie to this meeting.
Partially printed Polymer-80 lower
The Task Force soon thereafter served a search warrant at Beattie’s home in Samoa, where they reportedly discovered a 3D printer believed to be used for manufacturing firearms; the lower component of a Polymer-80 was in the process of printing during the search.
Authorities also seized digital scales, packaging materials, and about two ounces of psilocybin mushrooms.
Beattie was ultimately booked at the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance while armed, possession of a controlled substance for sales, transportation of a controlled substance for sales, child endangerment, and using a 3D printer to manufacture firearms.
