WILLITS, Calif. – A Washington man on the run from the law and charged with his ex-girlfriend's December murder was found under a bridge Tuesday and arrested by Mendocino County officials.
Shawn David Gulseth, 40, of Kent, Wash., was arrested after he was located under Willit's Broaddus Creek Bridge Tuesday afternoon, according to Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.
Smallcomb said the sheriff's office received information Tuesday from the Kent Police Department in Washington that Gulseth was wanted for murder, was an escapee from the Washington State Department of Corrections and was possibly staying in the Willits area.
The Kent Police Department reported that the victim was 45-year-old Bonnie Peterson, found murdered in her East Kent apartment on Dec. 20 after police received a call from her friends who were concerned about her.
“This is a crime of violence committed by a very dangerous person,” Kent Police Lt. Pat Lowery said in a written statement released Dec. 21 that asked for the community's help in finding Gulseth, who police already had identified as the suspect.
The department had warned community members not to try to approach Gulseth, who was considered to be armed and dangerous.
Smallcomb said officials received information that Gulseth had last been seen at a local business establishment located in the Willits area on Monday.
He said reports from community members led law enforcement to believe Gulseth was possibly still in the area.
Personnel from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, Willits Police Department and the California Highway Patrol responded to the area of the Broaddus Creek Bridge, located in downtown Willits, and searched the area, finding Gulseth and arresting him without incident, Smallcomb said.
Smallcomb said Gulseth was transported to the Mendocino County jail where he is currently being held pending an extradition hearing.
The Seattle Times reported Tuesday that Gulseth has been charged with first-degree murder in the case.
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