Sheriff’s POP Team Executes Blue Lake Drug Search, Two Arrested

On Jan. 8, 2026, deputies from the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Problem Oriented Policing (POP) Team executed a search warrant at a residence in the Larsen Heights neighborhood of Blue Lake following multiple community complaints alleging suspected drug activity. Law enforcement reported the seizure of approximately one ounce of methamphetamine, 11 grams of fentanyl, drug paraphernalia and items investigators said were consistent with sales and distribution.

Two people were taken into custody. Forty-three-year-old Katherine Rominger of Blue Lake was booked on charges of owning property for drug manufacture, storage or distribution and possession for sale. Twenty-two-year-old Kylie Cook of Fortuna was booked on a failure-to-appear bench warrant and related charges. Deputies booked both subjects into the county jail and referred the seized evidence for further processing and possible prosecution.

The use of the POP Team reflects a targeted, problem-oriented approach that Alameda County and other jurisdictions have described as focusing resources on neighborhood complaints and recurring public-safety issues. In Humboldt County, the tactic concentrates investigative and operational capacity on locations identified by residents and patrol officers as sources of persistent narcotics-related disorder. The Sheriff’s Office has reiterated its ongoing commitment to narcotics enforcement and asked community members to provide tips to support investigations.

For residents, the immediate significance lies in neighborhood safety and nuisance reduction. Seizures of fentanyl in particular raise public-health concerns because small quantities can pose a high overdose risk for users and first responders. The presence of items consistent with distribution underscores the potential for broader community exposure to illicit sales networks, not just isolated personal use.

The operation also points to policy choices facing local officials: how to balance enforcement with investment in drug treatment, harm reduction and housing stability. Decisions on budgets and policing priorities are shaped by voter preferences and elected officials at the county level. Residents seeking to influence those priorities can contact their supervisors, monitor sheriff’s office activity at public meetings, and report information relevant to investigations through the Sheriff’s Office tip channels.

The Sheriff’s Office asked anyone with information about the activity to submit tips through county channels. As charges move through the criminal-justice process, prosecutors will determine filing decisions and next steps based on evidence collected during the search and subsequent investigation.