Hatchet, Knife, Fists Fail To Close Pot Deal – August 8, 2012
HCSO PRESS RELEASE
TRINIDAD – On Tuesday, Aug. 7 at about 10:30 p.m. the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a victim of a robbery.
When deputies arrived at the Emerald Forest campground, Trinidad they met with the 27-year-old male victim who declined medical attention. The victim told the deputies he went to assist a friend with moving at the Hidden Creek Trailer Park. After the victim arrived, two other males showed up.
Bronte Cooper
One of the males was Bronte Allen Cooper, 54 years, a Trinidad resident. Cooper was upset with the victim for failure to pay on an outstanding marijuana debt owed to Cooper from several months ago. The victim attempted to leave and Cooper shoved the victim down on a couch in the residence and prevented him from leaving.
For the next four hours, Cooper held a pocket knife to the victim’s throat and other body parts, and punched him. Cooper also threatened the victim with a hatchet. At approximately 10:30 p.m. Cooper allowed the victim to leave after the victim promised not to call law enforcement.
A deputy responding to the call at approximately 10:40 p.m., saw the vehicle Cooper was driving at the US 101 Park and Ride near North Westhaven. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle and Cooper was arrested.
Inside the vehicle, deputies located a 9 mm semi-auto handgun, loaded 9 mm magazine and a hatchet that the victim told deputies Cooper threatened him with. The investigation into this matter is ongoing. Several other involved parties are still being questioned by deputies.
Bronte Allen Cooper was transported and booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of robbery, assault, battery, false imprisonment and carrying a loaded firearm in a vehicle. His bail is set at $50,000.
