McKinleyville gas station attendant escapes stabbing attack allegedly committed by local business 86’d

Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office press release:

Photo released by HCSO

On November 22 at approximately 7:30 a.m., Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Chevron gas station on Central Ave. in McKinleyville on a report of a disturbance involving a man who refused to leave and threatened a cashier with a knife.

Deputies arrived on scene as a man was leaving the Chevron station. The subject surrendered the knife and was detained for questioning. The employee reported that the suspect, later identified as Eric Robert Thompson, 59, of McKinleyville, had previously been asked not to return to the store due to his erratic behavior. When Thompson returned to the store, an employee told him he had to leave and he was not welcome in the store. Thompson threatened to kill the employee and then threw a knife at the clerk. The salesman had to step aside to avoid being stabbed.

Surveillance footage from the business corroborated the officer’s testimony and Thompson was arrested without further incident.

Thompson was subsequently transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for:

Assault with a deadly weapon – PC245(a)(1)

Threatening to commit a crime with intent to terrorize – PC 422(a)

This case is still under investigation. If anyone has any information about this case or related criminal activity, you are encouraged to contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.