Arcata Man After Vehicle Assault and Hatchet Attack

According to a press release issued by the  Eureka Police Department (EPD),  on the evening of January 4, 2025, an officer with the epd witnessed a large pickup truck repeatedly ramming a small blue Subaru sedan while driving eastbound on 5th Street. The collision caused the Subaru to swerve across multiple lanes for several blocks before crashing into the Red Lion Pub parking lot.

The Subaru’s driver, who suffered facial and head injuries, exited his vehicle and told officers that the suspect had been following him for several miles and appeared intent on killing him.

The suspect was taken into custody at the scene. During a search of the suspect’s vehicle, officers discovered what appeared to be a hatchet or tomahawk on the rear floorboard. Both the vehicle and the weapon matched descriptions provided from an earlier assault incident reported on January 3, 2025.

In that prior incident, a man was attacked in front of a business in the 600 block of W. Harris Street. The victim reported being struck multiple times in the head and upper body with a hatchet before managing to escape into a nearby parking lot. The suspect briefly chased the victim before retreating. The injured man sought help at a nearby residence and was later transported by ambulance to St. Joseph Hospital. Witnesses told officers they saw the suspect drive past the residence while honking and shouting and provided identifying details about the vehicle.

The suspect in both incidents was identified as Carl Stover, 42, of Arcata. Stover was arrested and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of Attempted Homicide, Reckless Driving, and Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

The investigation is ongoing.