Deputy finds meth, sawed off shotgun during Loleta traffic stop, two jailed

A routine traffic stop on Singley Hill Road in Loleta on November 7 led Humboldt County Sheriff s Office deputies to seize drugs and a prohibited weapon, and to arrest two people who were transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. The information was released by the sheriff s office in a press release published November 10.

Deputies first stopped the vehicle because it was parked partially obstructing the road. Officers contacted the occupants and observed drug paraphernalia in plain view, which prompted a search of the vehicle. The search yielded a sawed off shotgun, bear spray, and about 11 grams of methamphetamine.

The driver was identified as Saeed Michael Owen, 43, of Miranda, and the passenger as Savannah Tori Iverson, 32, of Hoopa. Owen is a convicted felon, and he was booked on multiple counts that include felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a short barreled rifle, unlawful possession of tear gas, and several controlled substance counts. Iverson was arrested on an outstanding failure to appear bench warrant.

Both were taken to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and remain in custody pending further proceedings. The sheriff s office statement also included commentary on California criminal justice policy, urging residents to support stronger public safety measures.

For Humboldt County residents, the incident highlights several local concerns. Singley Hill Road is part of the rural Loleta landscape where vehicle stops and roadside incidents can disrupt daily life and raise questions about drug activity and weapons possession in otherwise quiet communities. The discovery of a sawed off shotgun is significant because such weapons are tightly regulated under state and federal law, and possession by a convicted felon carries serious penalties.

The case also intersects with broader statewide debates about public safety policy, sentencing reforms, and how law enforcement is able to respond to weapons and drug offenses. The sheriff s office used its release to frame the event within those debates, reflecting ongoing tensions between calls for criminal justice reform and demands for stricter enforcement.

Local leaders and residents may watch for court filings and any statements from the Humboldt County District Attorney s Office for more detail about charges and potential prosecution. The outcome will speak to how the county balances individual cases like this with wider policy changes unfolding across California.