The Lumberjack



Students Serving The Cal Poly Humboldt Campus and Community Since 1929

Tag: Mad River Hospital

  • Press Release: APD Still Seeks Public’s Help in Lawson Case

    Press Release: APD Still Seeks Public’s Help in Lawson Case

    APD asks witnesses to come forward on third anniversary of David Josiah Lawson’s death

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    JOSIAH LAWSON HOMICIDE OCCURRED THREE YEARS AGO

    On this day three years ago HSU Student David Josiah Lawson was murdered in Arcata. This case remains under investigation and the Arcata Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance during the on-going investigation. On April 15, 2017, while attending a house party on Spear Avenue, Josiah was stabbed during an altercation. Josiah was pronounced deceased shortly thereafter at Mad River Community Hospital. 

    Witnesses described upwards of 100 people in attendance at the house party. Many of those who were present have not been identified nor have they been interviewed by Detectives from the Arcata Police Department. The completion of this investigation is dependent on a number of factors including interviewing all people who were present at some point during the party or who have information that can corroborate what occurred that night.

    The Arcata Police Department established a 24 hour confidential tip line for community members to provide information relative to this investigation. The phone number is (707) 825-2590. Community members can also call the APD’s Dispatch Center at (707) 822-2424.  

    Keeping Josiah’s memory alive is paramount to this case. The Arcata Police Department will continue to investigate this case and will continue to work all investigative leads until justice prevails.  

    Attached in a separate email is a Public Service Announcement developed in partnership with DJ’s Mother, Charmaine Lawson, the Arcata Police Department, the Eureka Broadcasting Company and the City of Arcata’s IT Department. The PSA link is Facebook compatible. All are encouraged to share this link with anyone in order to never forget DJ and to encourage community members who have any information at all regarding who else was in attendance at the party and/or the events that led to DJ’s death, to come forward. 

    Public service announcement video reposted by the North Coast Journal:

  • Frustration is not hostility

    Frustration is not hostility

    By | Reza Sadeghzadeh

    It has been almost five months since the death of David Josiah Lawson. Yet, there are still some controversial questions lingering in the minds of students regarding Arcata’s first responders that handled the emergency call on the morning of April 15. Namely, why did it take so long for the medical responders to show up to the scene?

    As we all know, this horrendous incident took place on Spear Ave., which is right around the corner from Mad River Community Hospital. However, the ambulance arrived on the scene about 25 minutes after the arrival of law enforcement. The justification for the tardiness of the medical responders was based on the alleged hostility of the crowd.

    During Kyle Zoellner’s preliminary hearing, an Arcata police officer said in their testimony that the hostile crowd of students at the time law enforcement arrived was using offensive language such as “fuck the police,” but their claim lacked validity. The words used by some of the individuals at the time did not provoke any threatening actions towards the police officers and their colleagues. Thus, they misread the frustration and worry of the students as hostility. Even though I have a tremendous amount of respect for the Arcata Police Department, I would argue that on the morning of April 15, some of the police officers forgot their top priority, that is to serve and protect the ones in need.

    One thing that the community of Arcata needs to be aware of is the decrease in enrollment at HSU, which ultimately affects Humboldt County. I would encourage the city officials to work with the university to create an environment where every student feels safe and receive adequate attention during an emergency. What happened to Josiah is unacceptable and what is even worse is that there have been no official discussions about the faults of the first responders. I advise the university and the community of Arcata to maintain his legacy as an admired student leader who had great intentions. Lastly, my heart and prayers go out to Josiah’s family and friends.