“These law enforcement officers embarked upon a dangerous search for a possibly armed individual who is suspected of taking someone’s life. Their brave actions to protect residents and attempt to locate a murder suspect is very much appreciated.” – CSLEA President Alan Barcelona
HUMBOLDT COUNTY – On July 4, 2023, California State Parks rangers assisted the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), along with other law enforcement agencies, in the search for the suspect of a July 3rd homicide in McKinleyville.
Jasen Dwain Coley, 26, is suspected of fatally shooting an adult male victim outside of a home on Silverbrook Court. Law enforcement officers located the vehicle believed to be associated with Coley parked and unoccupied on Trinidad Frontage Road near the Strawberry Rock Trailhead.
Ground and air crews searched the Strawberry Rock area for any signs of Coley. Resources utilized during the search included tracking K9s, HCSO and CAL FIRE unmanned aerial systems (UAS), California Highway Patrol air resources, and rangers with California State Parks and the National Park Service. Despite an extensive search, Coley was not located.
On July 5th, at about 5:35 p.m., a citizen came upon a man lying in the brush along the trail system between Trinidad State Beach and College Cove, Trinidad. The man was reported to have a shotgun next to him. The citizen left the area and alerted law enforcement. Based on the physical description of the man provided by the citizen, the man was believed to be Coley. HCSO deputies and California State Parks rangers responded to the area described and located a male subject matching the description given.
The subject identified himself as Jasen Coley and was taken into custody without incident. A 12 gauge, Remington 870, shotgun was located with Coley’s belongings on scene. The shotgun was found to be loaded with one (1) Fiocchi Brand, 7/8 oz slug. The shotgun recovered is believed to be the firearm used in the Silverbrook Court homicide on July 3rd. A registration check of the shotgun’s serial number returned with no owner record on file.
Coley was transported to the Major Crimes Division of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office where he was interviewed by investigators from the HCSO and Humboldt County District Attorney’s Office. Coley was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on the charge of PC 187(a): Murder and is being held without bail pending arraignment.
Coley and the victim, Kenneth “Michael” Davis, 25 of McKinleyville, were known to each other. The motive for this crime is still under investigation. The case is being submitted to the Humboldt County DA’s Office for prosecution.
