Man Arrested After Multi-Hour Standoff Following Ferndale Stabbing

Humboldt County Sheriff’s deputies responded on Jan. 9, 2026, to a reported stabbing and domestic violence incident at a residence on Van Ness Avenue in Ferndale. A 48-year-old woman reported she had been physically assaulted and stabbed by her boyfriend. The suspect, identified as 42-year-old James Jay Labranche of Ferndale, refused to exit the residence, prompting a multi-hour police standoff.

The Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office deployed its SWAT team during the incident and used a less-lethal diversionary device to gain compliance and take the suspect into custody. The victim’s injuries were described as non-life-threatening, and she did not require further medical treatment, authorities reported. Labranche was booked on charges including corporal injury to a cohabitant, under Penal Code 273.5(a), and attempted murder, under Penal Code 664/187.

County and city law enforcement agencies provided mutual aid during the response. The Sheriff’s Office acknowledged assistance from the Ferndale Police Department, Rio Dell Police Department, and Eureka Police Department. The cooperation among agencies reflects established mutual-aid protocols used in Humboldt County for incidents that require additional tactical or investigative resources.

For local residents, the incident raises immediate public safety questions and broader issues about how the county responds to domestic violence. Multi-hour standoffs in small communities can strain local resources, create neighborhood disruption, and intensify public concern about the availability of protective services. The use of a SWAT response and a less-lethal diversionary device underscores ongoing debates over tactical options that law enforcement employs to resolve dangerous confrontations while seeking to minimize harm.

The case is also a reminder of the central role of community reporting and information sharing in domestic violence investigations. The Sheriff’s Office asked anyone with information related to the incident to contact Humboldt County law enforcement to assist ongoing inquiries. Local residents seeking support for domestic violence or safety concerns are encouraged to reach out to appropriate county services and law enforcement for assistance.

The investigation remains active, and authorities continue to gather evidence and witness accounts as they process the case and pursue any additional charges that may arise.