Two U.S. Forest Service employees were freed early Friday morning after being taken hostage in rural Northern California. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz expressed gratitude for their safe return in a statement. The employees were abducted by two armed individuals on Thursday while conducting fieldwork in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and were released around 2 a.m. on Friday.
Joseph Charles Hendrickson and his son Phoenix allegedly held the workers zip-tied and at gunpoint inside a trailer near a lake, according to Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue of Siskiyou County. Hendrickson indicated he possessed firearms and ammunition and sought to speak with the FBI.
Authorities were notified of the kidnapping around 11 a.m. Thursday, and a Forest Service law enforcement officer coordinated the initial response with the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. At approximately 1:03 p.m., drones were deployed to identify the trailer where Hendrickson was located, and attempts were made to communicate with him to resolve the situation.
Officials noted that the suspects did not have any prior history with local law enforcement. The FBI led the joint law enforcement operation, with support from the Forest Service law enforcement, local police, and various agencies from eight counties. The identities of the victims have not been disclosed to respect their privacy. The Forest Service indicated that Secretary Rollins and Chief Schultz were involved in the incident's management and were in contact with the FBI Director and the White House to ensure support for the safe resolution of the crisis.