Two U. S.
Forest Service employees have been freed after being held at gunpoint for 15 hours in a Northern California national forest.
>>> Asus Launches 11-Port USB-C Dock with Triple Display and 100W Charging
The incident occurred Thursday at Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
Authorities were alerted around 11 AM when a Forest Service law enforcement officer reported the two employees were zip-tied and held inside a trailer at gunpoint, according to Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue.
The identities of the employees have not been released.
More than two dozen law enforcement officers responded, including a SWAT team, snipers, hostage negotiators, and bomb experts.
>>> HMD Fusion 2 and XR22 Still in Development, Leak Suggests
Deputies located the trailer using drones around 1 PM in a heavily forested campground area near Gumboot Lake.
Drone footage showed one suspect carrying an assault weapon while walking in and out of the trailer.
Officers began negotiating with the suspects — Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49, and his son, Phoenix Henrichsen, 23 — around 4:20 PM Thursday.
>>> Tom Brady Slaps Logan Paul Onstage at Fanatics Fest 2026
One suspect said in a phone call he had "live rounds ready" against anyone who interfered.
Police say the suspects had an AR-15 rifle, knives, and grenades in the trailer.
The suspects released the two Forest Service employees around 1:50 AM Friday and surrendered less than an hour later.
They were taken into custody Friday and face federal charges of kidnapping government employees. If convicted, they face life in prison and a $250,000 fine.
>>> Xiaomi 18 series appears on SRRC certification, hints at Pro model with UWB
The suspects are believed to have targeted the park workers because they are government employees. The investigation is ongoing.
