On 3/17/2024, at about 3:21 a.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received a call from a resident living in the 1700 block of Noble Ct., in McKinleyville reporting she could hear someone actively breaking into her house and that her power was out.

While enroute to the scene, one of the responding deputies called the 47-year-old female victim who reported she awoke to noises and that her power was shut off and that while fleeing the residence she observed a person dressed in black clothing walk through her yard and enter her garage. She told the deputy she had fled to her neighbor’s house and said that once she arrived at the neighbor’s she observed the person leaving her house and walking toward the area of Heartwood Drive.  

When deputies arrived on scene, they located a male matching the subject’s description in the 1600 block of Heartwood Drive. After a brief foot pursuit and struggle with deputies 30-year-old Stephen Gabriel Alvarez was taken into custody. Stephen Gabriel Alvarez was determined through evidence and witness statements to be the subject who was breaking into the residence. 

Alvarez was transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where he was booked for (PC 459/461(a)) First Degree Burglary and (PC 148(a)(1)) Obstruct/Resist Peace Officer. 

This case is still under investigation.  

Anyone with information about this case or related criminal activity is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at (707) 445-7251 or the Sheriff’s Office Crime Tip line at (707) 268-2539.

Stephen Gabriel Alvarez / Booking Photo Humboldt County Correctional Facility