Residents of Humboldt county who have had encounters with helicopters
or C.A.M.P. personnel are encouraged to call CLMP:
Civil Liberties Monitoring Project 923-4646 or www.civilliberties.org
CALLS RECORDED ABOUT HELICOPTERS
(and airplane surveillance) IN 2006
PHONE MESSAGES IN BOOK and
*NOTES FROM OFFICE DAILY LOG
(compiled by Suzelle)
JAN.1, Sunday
*RED AND WHITE HELI seen in Piercy and Benbow, posibly checking out slide but also circling over houses 2 times in each case. Rattled windows, Piercy caller said. Under 500’, could see faces. (COMPLAINT.)
*South side Confusion Hill Ridge.
* CLMP called Brenda Godsey who heard on radio it was CDF HELICOPTER. Helitac program 459-7408, Norm Brown, Aviation Management Unit in CDF. Another HELICOPTER there doing logging.
* NB called back, said HELI came from Kneeland Helitac (444-2863- Del Poisington or Mike Strandy). (Rohnerville Helitac: 725-4572.) CDF has 11 RED AND WHITE HUEYS leased through federal excess property which they get for virtually nothing plus maintenance program. Hasn’t been a serious accident. Hire pilots, CDF pays for fuel. CLMP was invited to Base south of Willits to see HELICOPTERS and hear about program. NB said they were supposed to fly above 1000 feet, he knew they were lower because he heard complaint on KMUD of HELIS flying below ridgetops.
JAN. 5, Thursday
* @ 8:34 am a BLACK & WHITE HELI was flying well under 500’ looking in caller’s windows, 8’ up from South end of Bell Springs Rd.
* CLMP called Brenda Godsey again who said she would not issue a public statement about why HELIS were out, that people should understand it’s an emergency and they’re busy. CLMP pointed out it is at such times civil liberties erode. Brenda said complaintants can call her.
* Sgt. Jimenez of Sheriff’s Office called back, said BLACK & WHITE HELICOPTER wasn’t theirs. They would have one out along highway at 4 pm.
* Lisa at local PG&E said they flew yesterday, but not today.
* CLMP sent info to press.
JAN. 10. Tuesday
@ 10 am: WHITE HELI W/ RED STRIPES was out looking for flood damage: Michael of CDF Garberville.
FEB. 7, Tuesday
@ 3:30 pm: BLUE & WHITE HELI landed on river bar in Kimtu (Sprowel Creek) near Garberville Airport with “funny insignia.”
MAY 15, Monday
* @ 12:15 pm: JET BLACK HELICOPTER working in Branscomb area of Laytonville, flying under 500’;
* Second caller asking about above.
MAY 16, Tuesday
* @ 3 pm: Annie @ K (895-2554) says caller has reported BIG BLACK HELICOPTER circling North of westport. CLMP gave her COMMET # and Laytonville Helitac #.
* Reported sightings to KMUD.
* Second caller says he has been seeing SMALL BLACK HELICOPTER for last few weeks--thinks it might be training exercises.
MAY 27, Saturday
@ 2:30 pm: 2-SEATER BLACK HELI skimming treetops over public lands
MAY 29, Monday
@ 4 pm: BIG WHITE HELI WITH RED STRIPES (Sudden Oak Death?)
MAY 30, Tuesday
@ ?: SMALL BLACK 2-SEATER HELI skimming treetops over public lands
JUNE 5, Monday
@ 12:39 pm : SMALL BLACK HELI at Shimee Rock- NW, under 500 ft. over public land surveillance many times a week, same location-Cummings area.
JUNE 14, Wednesday
@ 10:30 am: HELI 200’ above trees, no #’s
@ 11:30 am: DARK COLORED HELI in surveillance mode going to specific sites real low in Larrabee Creek (not valley) Shively, Blocksburg 36, Humboldt.
@ 1:05 pm: HELI flying very low Panther Gap.
@ 2:30 pm: HELI left from con camp, flying NW (Ettersburg, Petrolia) came back and left again, also reports of HELIS in Benbow and Reed Mtn. (Estelle of KMUD)
@ 3:34 pm: DARK BLUE/GRAY HELI W/ WHITE STRIPE DOWN MIDDLE flew six times over house less than 50’ has tail #’s, 25’ above roof peak, stopped, hovered, 5 people + tape all black with helmets, camera.
JUNE 15, Thursday
@ 10:30 am: SMALL DARK GREEN HELI flying 200’ or lower in certain areas, he thought it was landing.
@ 12:30 pm: PG&E, not training, overflight in 2 weeks for 4 days. (Annie Esposito on KZYX)
@ 1:01 pm: HELI flying low in Windy Gap near Dyerville Loop.
@ ? : BLACK/DARK HELI over top of Pratt Mtn East in surveillance mode with doors open.
@ 2:20 pm: SILVER/BLACK UNDERSIDE BELL JET RANGER heading west with doors open, guys in khaki.
* Seven phone messages mostly reporting heli sightings all day starting at 10:30 am in Branscomb (200’);
* Larrabee Creek (11:30 am - DARK, surveillance);
* Panther Gap (1 pm very low);
* Benbow (3:34 pm, 50’).
* Estelle called and also reported that someone had seen it leaving the Con Camp at 1 pm (heading NW) and again at 2:30 pm.
* Benbow caller interested in fling COMPLAINT. Looked up tail #N67PJ on www.landings.com and aircraft is registered to PJ helicopters, Red Bluff.
* CLMP did some research on filing FAA Complaints and caller came in to get draft letter, instructions on getting witness statements (with name, address, signature & date). He will bring back tomorrow. [Did not bring it.]
* Annie Esposito called back from KZYX, said Kurt Smalcomb at Mendo Sheriffs told her PG&E HELIS are out.
* No confirmation from local PG&E.
* Three calls about DARK HELI in Windy Gap/Dyerville Loop/Upper Dean Creek. KMUD aired.
* Also KMUD reported HELI in Rancho Sequoia, got tail reading.
JUNE 16, Friday
@ 8 am: HELI touched down in Whitethorn near Mendo/Humboldt line, unloaded 4 hoop-style greenhouses w/ 800 starts.
JUNE 20, Tuesday
* Caller reports CAMP at 11 am flying east of Whitethorn junction (back and forth).
* Other calls report grid pattern flying--Elk Ridge, Salmon Creek, Seely Creek, etc.
* CLMP called S.O.D.# and Forest Service said they were not flying today but will be flying tomorrow and Thursday, and maybe Friday in Humboldt & Del Norte Counties -- a SILVER AND BLACK BELL III JET RANGER.
* CLMP called Sheriff’s Complaint # and left message asking if they knew what was up.
* More calls from Connie Creek area and Reed Mt. in Piercy. Gave Patty Rae of Connie Creek the Sheriff complaint # 445-7703, she said she was going to call and make complaint.
@ 3 pm: HELI spotted on Reed Mtn, S-SW face in Knoll Area for 45’ (then 2 white trucks came to area, worked for a bit, then left.)
@ 3:20 pm: HELI in recon mode in Larrabee Creek.
JUNE 21, Wednesday
@ 8:30 am: NATIONAL GUARD “O.D. GREEN” HELI “We are flying all week on marijuana eradication. Yesterday in Reed Mtn. Will be out Weds, Thurs, Fri above 500’.” (Margie at Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office)
JUNE 22, Thursday
@ 10:40 am and again at 10:48 am: KINDA PINK PLANE flying low over Garberville, circling area and go up.
* CLMP called Margie at Sheriff’s, she said it wasn’t theirs.
@ 11:39 am: HELI low and circling in Thompson Creek, Whale Gulch.
@ 11:40 am: GRAY W/ BLUE STRIPES BELL RANGER circling between Whale Gunch & Whitethorn.
@ 11:50 am: BLACK HELI at County line Thompson Creek (Anna B.)
@ BLACK HELI WITH W/ SILVER LETTERINGS in Kings Range, looks like one that touched down last week, feels privacy invaded: COMPLAINT.
* CLMP updated website w/ HELI REPORT.
JUNE 23, Friday
* Caller to “Thank Jah” said he was visited by “Humboldt County Terrorists” in circling HELICOPTER three times, has medical marijuana note card and they know that because they have seen it. Dogs and cats terrorized, woodpecker freaking out. Flying at 100’ (treeline). Fred said to call CLMP, we’re “very effective.” He did call. COMPLAINT #289. Happened on Solstice @ 1-2 pm. Backside of 3 Creeks, Brannon Mtn. above Willow Creek. (Rich guys from LA grew 1000 plants last year and were busted, now they’re hammering area.) Was worse this year than last. Pulled out plywood “215” and office took picture of it. Thinks was feds in BLACK HELI WITH GUN TURRETS. Felt like was in Baghdad. Beelined for him after refuel at reststop off 299--Titlen Hill)
JUNE 24, Saturday
* @ 4:19 pm: LOW FLYING WHITE HELICOPTER in Island Mtn.
JUNE 25, Sunday
* Caller complained about low-flying airplane in Del Rio Rd. in Laytonville.
* CLMP called Mendo Sheriff--he thought it was CDF.
* No answer at Mendo CDF.
JUNE 26, Monday
@ 10:30: in Woodman Canyon, very low, North, 2 back (Art in Laytonville Paper says: tribal murders- all agencies asked to help).
@ 11:10 am: WHITE W/ RED OCTAGON SHAPES ON EACH WING in Dos Rios Rd, Laytonville at 8:15 am. CDF have 3 of them.
JUNE 27, Tuesday
@ 3:22 pm: BIG GREEN HELI - OLIVE DRAB, NAT. GUARD? in Spy Rock. Much, much lower than 500’, more like 100’.
@ 3:40 pm: HELI (same?) over Iron Peak towards Cal Mtn, got video. [Did not send video to CLMP.]
@ 3:51 pm: HELI over downtown Laytonville.
JUNE 28, Wednesday
@ 11 am: 2 OLIVE DRAB HELIS in Spy Rock, Registered Guest Rd.
@ 11:15 am: 2 HELIS, BELL-BROWN & WHITE, DRAB GREEN APACHE over Island Mtn and Iron Peak in surveillance mode.
@ 2:40 pm: BLACK HELI over Brushy Peak, West of 101, South of Leggett, North of Laytonville.
@ 2:50 pm: DARK GREEN NAT. GUARD HELI flying fast North on 101 near Laytonville, way beneath tree tops.
@ 2:51 pm: BLACK HELI flying North and through Cummings and GREEN HELI circling East of 101, North of Bell Springs.
@ 2:54 pm: HELI circling 50-60’ above home in Leggett. “Nerve-wracking,”
* Many calls came in during board meeting reporting HELIS--people wanting to know WHO THEY WERE. * Reported to KMUD.
JUNE 29, Thursday
@ 5:33 pm: HELI flew at 50-100’, circling over garden, 2 guys with guns in camo. Great concern to wife, mother-in-law and 2 young daughters, and to paranoid-schizophrenic brother-in-law, in Hayfork, yesterday, in Trinity County.
JUNE 30, Friday
* Annie Esposito said she did a report last Friday interviewing Kevin Broin re OVERFLIGHT TRAINING with TWO BLACKHAWKS. Had complaints on Orr Springs Rd. 10 aircraft. Others were fixed wing. County receives $200,000 (from DEA?) for hosting.
* Sudden Oak Death survey says they will fly no more helis this year. [In early Sept. a newspaper report said they will be flying again, have received more funds because spread of SOD is moving fast in areas that have not yet been treated by their program.]
JULY 6, Thursday
* @ 2:30 pm: Estelle, KMUD News Reporter, called and said someone saw a huge gray plane doing several circles over Spy Rock area. She was calling Mendo Sheriff about it.
JULY 10, Monday
@ 12 pm: MULTI-COLOR GREEN HELI W/ STRIPES, BLENDED in surveillance mode in Reed Mtn, going down on homesteads and hovering at 45’, fire danger high. They were in same neighborhood last week--INTRUSIVE!
@ 1:30 pm: HELI at Reggae site, low and slow.
@ 9 pm: DARK GREEN, LIGHT GREEN HELI East of Reed Mountain at 1 pm.
JULY 11, Tuesday
* Caller reports sheriff vehicle driving up Reed Mt. on Twin Trees Rd, follow-up from yesterday’s heli surveillance TWO-TONE GREEN HELI W/ SAME COLOR #’s unreadable.
*Mickey @ KMUD said BLACK AND GREEN HELI flew low over Redway yesterday.
JULY 12, Wednesday
* @ 11:30 am: Saw LARGE WHITE PLANE with FAT FUSELAGE flying low over Garberville, headed NE then circled back south.
JULY 14, Friday
@ 11 am: GREEN & DARK GOLD HELI W/ BLACK NUMBERS on Reed Mtn as low as 250’. Saw them hovering low same as last week. East Branch:back side; New Harris/Pratt Mtn: Piercy side.
@ 11:30 am: DARK GREEN OR BLACK over Old Briceland Rd. near Garberville Airport, circling, low.
@ 12:30 pm: HELIS over Connuck Creek, a few weeks, real low GREEN ones.
@ 12:30 pm: SMALLER BUBBLE IN FRONT, BLACK HELI WITH FAN ON BACK over Seely Creek, low flying SW heading west over Elk Ridge. (COMPLAINT)
@ 11:40 am: CAMP? HELI over Crooked Prairie/Ettersburg, heading towards Kings Range.
@ 1:20 pm: over Dutyville Ridge, Mattole Creek Canyon, one hour.
@ 2:15 pm: between Elk Ridge and Briceland, flying toward Four-Corners.
JULY 17, Monday
* @ 11:10 am: HELI spotted in Reed Mtn area.
* KMUD aired.
* @ 11:30 am: 2nd report of second HELI on Old Briceland Rd.
* FIXED-WING AIRPLANE circled above Fire House area on Briceland Rd.
JULY 18, Tuesday
* BLACK & SILVER or GOLD HELI seen in Windy Gap (reported on 7-24).
JULY 19, Wednesday
@ 10:45 am: WHITE FIXED WING, RED STARBURST ON WINGS circling Upper Bell Springs, Mendocino County, on July 18.
@ 11:10 am: HELI above Telegraph Ridge circling low.
@ 11:26 am: DARK BLACK HELI with WHITE #’s flying at 200’ scaring animals, gave Wayne Hanson’s # for him to complain, he did. (BB)
JULY 20, Thursday
@ 8 am: LARGE GREEN ARMY HELI travelling along S. Bell Springs late Wed. evening.
JULY 21, Friday
@ 3:30 pm: ORANGE COAST GUARD HELI circling all day above King’s Peak Rd.
JULY 24, Monday
* Caller reported BIG ORANGE W/ WHITE STRIPE COAST GUARD HELICOPTER on Kings Peak Rd. all day Friday. 5 neighbors saw.
* Called Diana Totten of Technical Rescue/Fire Dept--knew of no missing person.
* Called Coast Guard--Mr. Egbert transferred to Lt. Steven Baxter Public Affairs and Pilot/Flight Schedules. Left message.
* Steven Baxter called back, said he was taking two local airport managers to view Kneeland, Garberville and Dinsmore Airports on Friday, for funding studies. Asked if he was participating in Sheriff’s marijuana eradication, he said the Coast Guard was “assisting in trying to eradicate Mexican cartels” including having Humboldt Co. Sheriffs fly with them. They stay over 500’ when “mission status permits.” Sounded military.
* Looked on Coast Guard’s website: Humboldt Bay got a new commander, Mark Butt, on July 14, also new one in SF. They are military.
JULY 26, Wednesday
* @ noon: Report of FIXED-WING AIRPLANE in surveillance mode over Reed Mt. area, too high to see markings.
JULY 27, Thursday
@ 5:30 pm: YELLOW FIXED-WING AIRPLANE at 11 am today above Perry Meadow/Elk Ridge Rd.
JULY 31, Monday
@ 9:30 am: HELI having trouble getting through fog in Rohnerville, going out 36-CAMP 155475 “Channel”
* PWA called back to say a PLANE flew him this weekend, also reported 2 PLANES over Windy Gap.
AUGUST 2, Wednesday
@ 10 am: SMALL PLANE reconnaissance E. of Fair? Rd. and S. of Shelter Cove Rd. Is it a fire?
@ 10:30 am: ARMY GREEN BLACKHAWK circling low over Seely Creek & Elk Ridge.
AUGUST 3, Thursday
@ 10:50 am: DARK GREEN HELI, VERY LOW above Mattole Canyon near Ettersburg, 5 times in last 10 days. 200’.
@ 2:10 pm: SILVER SIDED HELI let a guy down dangling 50’ above stream. COMPLAINT
@ 1:30 pm: HELI above dutyville ridge scaring animals. COMPLAINT.
@ 3:30 pm: in Gulch.
AUGUST 5, Saturday
@ 9:15 am: BLUE & WHITE HELI at treetop level 150’ circling Piercy. CHP? connected to Reggae? Deviating from highways.
@ 2:30 pm: LONG SILVERISH HELI flying over Windy Gap Saturday, heard for several hours, continued until 7 pm every 1/2 hr. or hr. and back on Sunday.
* At 2 pm 2 LARGE HELIS seen flying north over Trinidad.
AUGUST 7, Monday
* @ 9:30 am: YELLOW PLANE flying low, hovering over office.
AUGUST 8, Tuesday
@ 10:15 am: HELICOPTER CONTRACTED FROM RED BLUFF over Dean Creek into Con Camp with load.
* @ 2:10 pm: BLACK HELICOPTER circling above Elk Ridge in surveillance mode. KMUD aired.
* @ 2:17 pm: HELI close to 4-corners at tree leve--very low! Caller has photos she’ll bring in.
* @ 2:20 pm: HELI flying all along ridge top and back into Seely Cr. very low.
* Caller asks where Seely Creek is.
* @ 2:25 pm: Low flying HELI over Perry Meadow, over Rick Perkins house.
* LOW FLYING HELICOPTER in Briceland--WHITE BUBBLE W/BLUE TAIL.
@ 4:15 pm: COPTER over Croocked Prairie over peoples’ houses this am and 3:30 pm.
AUGUST 9, Wednesday
@ 5 pm: Just below Windy Gap in Canyon LOW figure 8’s (baby eagles there).
@ 10:30 am: SMALL BLACK AND WHITE HELI in surveillance mode upper Mattle Watershed very low.
@ 11 am: SMALL BLUE & WHITE HELI over Prosper Ridge area of Petrolia.
@ 12 pm: BLUE & WHITE HELI 200’ over house in Seely Creek.
@ 1:54 pm: BLACK & WHITE HELI flying “pretty low” over Salmon Creek.
AUGUST 10, Thursday
@ 12 pm: SMALL DARK HELI over Cummings Hill, SE Leggett, N of Spyrock, zigzagging.
AUGUST 11, Friday
@ 9:45 am: HELI, guys with guns, Rangers, CAMP on Hwy 101 in Leggett.
@ 10:52 pm: SMALL WHITE HELI W/ BLACK ON TAIL, BLUE & WHITE CHP?, low and slow over Sanctuary Forest, Whale Gulch.
AUGUST 13, Sunday
@ 10:16 am: SILVER/BLUE HELI low-flying recon, NW of Whitethorn in Marble River Canyon, checking out all houses.
* @ noon: WHITE AND BLUE HELI, BUBBLE KIND, flying S/W over Miranda.
@ ?, BLUE & WHITE FANCY HELI W/ BLACK THING UNDERNEATH, got photos (reported August 16).
AUGUST 14, Monday
@ 5:13 pm: WEIRD WHITE HELI W/ RED STRIPE doing pattern on hilltops of Laytonville.
@ 5:29 pm: WHITE AND BLUE HELI, BUBBLE KIND flying extremely low, at tree level, second time today, going fast.
AUGUST 15, Tuesday
@ 9:22 am: HELICOPTERS, low flying, lot of helicopters cruising around well below 500’ above happy Camp on Klamath River.
@ 10 am: KMUD News editor calls to say that HELICOPTERS are working on fires in Klamath River area, hoping to contain them by Sept 1st. Also, one helicopter fighting fires went down there two weeks ago and 2 men were killed.
@ noon: SMALL WHITE PLANE circling above Humboldt Mendo Co. line at Gulch with blinking lights.
* Called Sheriff’s Office Special Services to ask if they are using a SMALL AIRPLANE for surveillance purposes, left message for them to call back. [No]
@ 2 pm: WHITE BUBBLE/BLUE TAIL HELI in surveillance mode, Cathy’s Peak, Windy Nip, Honeydew. CLMP report on KMUD.
@ 2:10 pm: SAME HELI in recon mode above Panther Gap.
* Caller heard report on KMUD, called about yesterday.
AUGUST 16, Wednesday
* @ 10:10 am: Margie from Sheriff’s office reports that they are not flying in SMALL WHITE PLANE.
@ 10:30 pm: Erratic flyover possibly same as yesterday above Whiskey Gulch.
AUGUST 17, Thursday
* KMUD reported HELI in tri-county area, same as two days ago.
@ 2:30 pm: HELI at tree-top level, yesterday, Aug. 16, caller looked right into cockpit, 200’ above cabin. Neighbor who was taking a bath said he saw it right out his window, also: saw a second dark helicopter, also, Aug. 16 in surveillance mode.
AUGUST 21, Monday
@ 6:12 am: HELI way below treetops at 3:45 am in S. part of Bell Springs, frightening.
* @ 9:45 am: saw HELI flying fast and low over Garberville heading NW.
* Caller reported HELI at 4 am in Leggett, flying low.
* CLMP called local CHP and dispatch in Redding, who said their HELIS weren’t out.
* Lisa at local PG&E said transmission didn’t inform her they were out & local crew isn’t out.
* Humboldt County Sheriff Dispatch said there is no rescue mission out.
* Margie at “Special Services” said YES they are out.
@ 11:25 am: 2 SHERIFFS circling, flying low over Wood Ranch Road.
@ 3:30 pm: 2 HELIS, ONE RED & WHITE, ONE SMALLER BLACK AND WHITE, landed on river, Upper Thomas Rd. 100’ above Salmon Creek.
@ 3:50 pm: RED & WHITE seen again.
* @ 4:48 pm: RED/WHITE HELI in Salmon Creek: “Right above me. My neighbor said she could look right in cockpit it was so close.”
AUGUST 22, Tuesday
@ 11 am: COAST GUARD HELI took off from staging area near Salmon Creek and 101 with 4 men including Ranger. Both 19th and 20th (Sat and Sun) COAST GUARD HELI flew over Salmon Creek, China Creek, Elk Ridge, Seely Creek.
@ noon: HELI in Sprowel Creek area.
@ 2:15 pm: HELI in Sprowel Creek, guys on ropes, working.
@ 3:15 pm: Caller saw 9 cars coming out of a driveway in Whitethorn: Sheriff w/ container, cars, Estelle Fennel, they went on toward 4-corners.
@ 3:30 pm: HELIS over Whitethorn, Humboldt & Mendo, 16 people dropped in, 5 SUV’s, private property.
AUGUST 29, Tuesday
@ 9:13 am: CAMP is parked at Zenia, Lake Mtn., Ruth Rd. Junction, w/ Fuel Truck (for HELI?) 4 or 5 vehicles, 10 men in camo. Reported to KMUD.
@ 2:30: DARK HELI flying at low elevations in recon mode in Dobbin Creek & Zenia, reported on KMUD.
@ 2:35: report of BIG BLÅCK HELI flying ov er Palo Verde toward Garberville with doors open (about 11 am).
AUGUST 30, Wednesday
@ 12:50 pm: 2 OLIVE DRAB yesterday above Island Mountain, out of Trinity?
@ 2:15 pm: LOW FLYING OLIVE DRAB HELI activity in Willow Creek, 40’ above 70’ tall trees, guy handing out with gun.
@3:41 pm: Estelle called, got same info as CLMP but not description of Helicopter over Willow Creek, will mention on news.
AUGUST 31, Thursday
@ 2 pm: Friend is missing in Island Mtn. found his quad, gave #’s for Trinity & Humboldt.
SEPTEMBER 1, Friday
@ 4:36 pm: Heard BLACKHAWK-sounding CHOPPER, Thompson Creek, couldn’t tell if over BLM land or further inland, but it was low!
SEPTEMBER 5, Tuesday
@ 11:45 am: FIXED WING PLANE in reconaissance mode over Lost River, Whitethorn, and Gopherville. (Said they were CAMPed in 2000, judge sided with them. Now, 12 scripts and under 54 plants, will call Medical Marijuana Union in Mendocino to stand with them if LE comes.)
* Reported to KMUD about plane.
* Gave heads-up to Christine at KMUD news.