18-year-old woman attacked in Eureka with metal bar in front of child, HCSO says

EUREKA, Calif. — A woman was arrested in Humboldt County after police said she broke into another woman's home and attacked her with a metal bar in front of a child.

On March 16, at about 7:35 p.m., the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office said deputies were dispatched to a multi-residence property on Ole Hanson Road near Eureka for the report of an assault.

Deputies arrived at the property and located an 18-year-old female victim with serious facial injuries, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office. The victim was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.

During their investigation, deputies learned that the suspect, 54-year-old Bernelle Fay Moran, reportedly forced entry onto the property, the HCSO said.

"Moran reportedly threatened multiple individuals on the property and then attacked the victim with a metal bar in the presence of a small child," the HCSO reported. The child did not sustain physical injuries from the incident, and Moran fled before the police got there, officials said.

While investigating, deputies received information that Moran was in the area of the 1700 block of Anderson Avenue in McKinleyville. Moran was tracked down and taken into custody without incident.

Moran was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on charges of assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, child endangerment, criminal threats, exhibiting a deadly weapon, burglary, battery with serious bodily injury and entering a property without consent, police said.