Two U.S. Forest Service Workers Held Hostage Overnight in California Forest, Released Unharmed

Two U.S. Forest Service workers were released safely around 2 a.m. Friday after being taken hostage the previous day while conducting fieldwork in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, the Washington Examiner reported.

Joseph Charles Hendrickson and his son Phoenix zip-tied the workers and held them at gunpoint inside a trailer near a lake, Siskiyou County Sheriff Jeremiah LaRue said. Hendrickson indicated he had firearms and ammunition and wanted to speak with the FBI. Authorities were notified of the kidnapping around 11 a.m.

Thursday. A Forest Service law enforcement officer coordinated initial responses with the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. , authorities used drones to identify the trailer where Hendrickson was inside, LaRue said.

The FBI led the joint law enforcement effort, supported by Forest Service law enforcement, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Land Management, the California Highway Patrol, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and partners from eight counties.

Officials said the suspects did not have any history with local law enforcement. Secretary Rollins and Chief Schultz were engaged as the incident developed, and Rollins was in direct contact with the FBI Director and the White House to ensure maximum support, the Forest Service told the Washington Examiner.

Authorities have not yet identified the victims out of respect for their privacy. “I’m grateful beyond words that both of our Forest Service employees taken hostage on the Shasta-Trinity National Forest are home safe,” Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz said in a statement.