TRP430

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SERVING DEL NORTE COUNTY SINCE 1879

www.triplicate.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 30, 2021

Crescent City, CA

Suspect arrested in murder case By KNOX KERANEN The Triplicate

Law enforcement officers have arrested a 33-year-old man, Neil Hiller, suspected of shooting and killing 22-year-old Joseph Deford during the early hours of May 22. According to a Tuesday release by the Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office, Hiller was arrested Monday

and charged with Deford’s homicide. The Del Norte County Sheriff’s Office said they received a call at 1:14 a.m. Thursday, May 22. The caller reported a man lying on the ground near the 200 block of Harding Avenue. An officer arrived on scene and found Deford unresponsive. The officer attempted CPR and administered naloxone, which is typically used in opioid

overdoses. However, Deford could not be revived and was transported to Sutter Coast Hospital, where a small caliber bullet was found in his back, according to police. Before the shooting, Deford was seen at the Patriot gas station on Northcrest Drive at about 12:50 a.m. Then, at 1:12 a.m, — two minutes before the 911 call — Deford was picked up by a

surveillance camera near the 1200 block of California Avenue. In the video, which has been viewed by the Triplicate, Deford was walking westbound, and near the end of the video he glances over his shoulder. About a minute later, the camera picks up what appears to be two men on bicycles headed the same direction Deford was walking. The source who recorded the video

wished to remain anonymous and did not want the video to be published citing privacy concerns. According to the same anonymous source, law enforcement officers were able to use the surveillance footage provided to identify and arrest the suspect Monday. Hiller appeared in court on Please see MURDER, Page A8

Measure S board sets final spending plans By KNOX KERANEN The Triplicate

By Knox Keranen The Triplicate

Above: Crescent City firefighters raised money with a car wash to be used to raise awareness about an upcoming vote on a benefit assessment. Below: Crescent City firefighters was cars at a fundraising car wash.

Firefighters raising funds to support upcoming vote

By KNOX KERANEN The Triplicate

The Crescent City Volunteer Firefighter’s Association hosted a car wash last Friday to raise money and awareness about their upcoming benefit assessment. The car wash asked patrons for $5 donations, which will be used for continued marketing of the campaign. Property owners should expect ballots in their mailboxes in the coming weeks for Crescent City Fire Protection District’s benefit assessment. If approved, the fire protection district will be able to use the boost in funding from property taxes to continue operations. However, if the assessment fails, their funding could run out within two years. At a Monday city council meeting, Fire Chief Bill Gillespie said the firefighters washed more than 100 cars on Friday, and they have more fundraisers in the works. They will host a fish fry on May 15 from 4-8 p.m. Patrons of the fish fry will have a chance to win a helicopter ride for three, donated by Cal-Ore Life Flight. For more information on upcoming events, check out their Facebook page at: Facebook.com/ CCFRvolunteerFFassociation

Del Norte County remains in red tier another week ZACK DEMARS The Triplicate

Del Norte County will spend a twelfth week in the red tier of COVID-19 restrictions, according to state health officials. The county’s tier classification has remained unchanged in recent weeks as its COVID-19 cases have remained fairly consistent. Still, the county continues to see new virus cases, with an average of 13.5 new cases a day per 100,000 in population. That’s the highest per-person rate in the state, and would have put the county in jeopardy of moving to more restrictions if not for the

state’s small-county exemption, which allows the county to stay in the red tier so long as it has fewer than 35 cases in a week. For the week ending April 17, the week the state used to make its latest restriction level determinations, the county reported 26 cases of the virus, according to the California Department of Public Health. Numbers have continued to drop in the past week, with just 14 active cases reported in the community as of Tuesday, according to the county public health department. That’s the lowest since at least the beginning of the year. Last week another tool in the fight against the pandemic

was returned to the state’s toolbox, with federal and state health officials completing their review of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and a western states panel giving the shots the greenlight to be administered. “After additional review, analysis and scrutiny, experts have concluded the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is safe, effective and will protect you against the COVID-19 virus,” said Governor Gavin Newson in a statement after the approval, noting he himself had already received the shot. “I encourage all Californians to trust the science, getting vaccinated is the best way to protect ourselves and our loved

ones and end the pandemic.” The use of the vaccine had been paused for several days after reports of blood clots occurring in a very small number of those who received the vaccine, mostly women between ages of 18 and 49. That pause ended April 24, after federal officials endorsed the use of the vaccine. “More than half of Californians 16 and older have received one of the three vaccines available, and the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine is also an important tool in our fight to stop the spread of COVID-19, especially as more

Go Wild Rivers Coast Guide released Ames recognized for service during World War II AT TRIPLICATE.COM

Please see COVID, Page A2

The Measure S Oversight Board laid out their final arguments on how the city should spend tax revenues from Measure S — a one cent sales tax to fund improvements to the streets, police and fire departments and the city pool, during a Monday meeting with the Crescent City Council. At the meeting, City Manager Eric Wier presented an overview of needs in the four categories — police, fire, streets and pool —to the board members, as well as the city council. Measure S is projected to bring in $1.3 million each year, totaling $6.8 million over the next five years. Here’s the breakdown on how the city is proposing to use those funds: POLICE The city plans to spend $1,646,885 of Measure S funds over the next five years on the Crescent City Police Department needs: ● Staffing additional police officers, including a detective and a lieutenant, as well as another K-9 officer. ● New vehicles, such as detective and special assignment vehicles. ● Facility needs, including improvements to the existing station in the short term and a new police station as a long-term goal. ● Upgrades in body cameras and new tasers. Crescent City Police Chief Richard Griffin attended the meeting to speak on behalf of police funding recommendations. In the wake of recent controversial police shootings across the country, Griffin said his top priority is acquiring new body cameras and tasers. He said the body cameras the police currently use fall off often and have a short battery life, meaning, they can’t last the 12 hour shifts officers work. He said Axon-made cameras are the standard in police departments across the U.S. “I would purchase Axon for myself to go out there, so if it’s something I want for myself, it’s something I want for my officers,” Griffin said. Griffin’s point became especially pertinent after a Crescent City police officer had to prevent their body camera from falling off during a struggle with a suicidal subject on Monday, Griffin said. The 36-yearold man was attempting to take his own life with a razor blade. Despite the body camera fumble, he was successfully apprehended by officers and transported to Sutter Coast Hospital where he was placed on a mental health hold. “The importance of this to me... you can put on hold the upgrades to the building, if this gets to my officers...we’re making due with the building… this is something that will save their lives and it will save the city in liability,” said Griffin. STREETS The city plans to spend $1,755,000 of Measure S funds over the next five years on street improvements including: Please see MEASURE S, Page A2

INDEX Crossword................................................A3 Crossword Answers..................................A7 Classifieds................................................A5

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