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Harrowing audio recordings captured the tense negotiations on Friday as the FBI dealt with a man holding two U.S. Forest Service employees hostage in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.
The California Post obtained scanner audio revealing a man identifying himself as Charles Perry, later confirmed to be 49-year-old Joseph Charles Henriksen, insisting that FBI agents meet him near Gamboot Lake.
Henriksen is facing the possibility of life imprisonment for the kidnapping of a federal officer. The Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office is involved.
“We have two biologists in custody… We’re trying to reach the FBI through law enforcement… We want them to communicate with us,” he stated, adding that this was a prerequisite to releasing the hostages.
Henriksen, along with his 23-year-old son, allegedly restrained the two Forest Service employees with zip ties inside a trailer after abducting them at gunpoint while they were conducting field work in the area.
Initially, the dispatcher attempted to acquire Henriksen’s direct contact information over the radio. “Can you provide a good phone number to contact you directly?” the operator asked.
Henriksen declined, requesting an in-person meeting with the FBI instead.
Hours after the sheriff’s deputies first responded and utilized a drone to locate the trailer, an FBI negotiator, who introduced himself as Russell from the Sacramento office, could be heard attempting to establish communication through inconsistent radio channels.
A hostage rescue team was dispatched from Quantico, Virginia, to manage the unfolding crisis.
Russell’s voice was somewhat unclear, but Henriksen directed him toward a Red Bronco and gave specific instructions as the FBI approached the scene.
“You can bring your rifle, but don’t point it at me. We can talk about this. I suggest you come unarmed; a gun might set me off, you know? Or, if you look like you’re aiming at me, it could trigger a reaction in you,” he communicated over the radio.
FBI agents assured him that no one would be aiming a weapon at him when they arrived.
This standoff resulted in the closure of the Gamboot Lake area and triggered a significant multi-agency response, including SWAT teams, a sniper unit, a bomb squad, and personnel from the FBI’s hostage rescue division. One law enforcement member reflected on the inherent risks involved.
Around 1:50 a.m., the two Forest Service officials were released safely. U.S. Attorney Eric Grant reported that both Henriksen and his son are expected to face kidnapping charges from federal authorities.
The hostages were released early Friday morning after being held for more than 12 hours. If convicted, Henriksen could be sentenced to life in prison and fined up to $250,000. Authorities are still investigating the motive since Henriksen stopped cooperating with them.
FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Tosh mentioned at a press briefing that the situation could have had different outcomes. “In crises like this, it’s unusual for all individuals to exit safely,” he remarked.
Henriksen had been previously noted for “deteriorating mental health” following an incident in Washington State in 2022, where he was charged with a hate crime for harassing residents of Russian and Ukrainian descent. It was also reported that he once ran a mortgage business, which had its license suspended due to issues related to fee collection.
Henriksen’s son, identified as Phoenix, attended Bellingham High School in Washington. Officials stated that neither of the suspects had prior interactions with law enforcement in Siskiyou County.
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