According to a press release from the Redwood National and State Parks, Park law enforcement rangers have determined the report from tourists of being robbed at gunpoint near the Lady Bird Johnson trailhead of Redwood National and State Parks on Nov. 3 was not true. No armed robbery took place within the parks and visitors should not be concerned.
The November 3 incident according to a press release from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at the time, involved a group of Spanish tourists traveling through northern California visiting Redwood National State Parks in the Bald Hill area.
The tourists reportedly parked their two vehicles on a wide spot of the road just east of the Lady Bird Johnson parking area and upon their return to their vehicles, they were immediately approached by a male suspect wearing a tactical style vest with the word “SWAT” on the front of it.
At this point, after warning shots were fired, and the tourists were ordered to lay on the ground and were robbed at gunpoint.
Upon notification of the robbery, park law enforcement rangers immediately began investigating the area along Bald Hills Road where the incident allegedly took place and began comparing its time frame with similar incidents reported outside park boundaries. While the victims claimed that multiple shots were fired from an assault-style rifle, no shell casings were found on the ground. In addition, other National Park Service employees in the area at the same time as the alleged robbery heard no shots fired.
Rangers then conducted multiple witness interviews, including the landowner of the first robbery that took place off Bald Hills Road on private land. The Rangers were then able, through a third party, to contact the five tourists. They admitted that they fabricated the park robbery story because they were concerned about being associated with activities at a local marijuana operation.
Park law enforcement rangers are continuing their investigation into the matter and are collaborating with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office.
Redwood National and State Parks law enforcement officers encourage anyone with information regarding the Bald Hills Road robberies or any suspected crime within the parks to call the park crime tip line at: (707) 465-7353.