Joseph Charles Henrichsen was arrested after holding two U.S. Forest Service workers hostage during a tense standoff in Northern California.

Joseph Charles Henrichsen was arrested Friday after holding two U.S. Forest Service workers hostage for over 12 hours in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest. The 49-year-old suspect and his son, Phoenix Henrichsen, allegedly zip-tied the employees and held them at gunpoint inside a trailer near Gumboot Lake. The standoff began Thursday morning when the workers were abducted during routine fieldwork. A massive multi-agency response followed, involving the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office, local police, and the FBI Hostage Rescue Team from Quantico, Virginia. During negotiations, Henrichsen requested to speak with the FBI and instructed agents to approach his position with caution. The two hostages were released safely at approximately 1:50 a.m. Friday, and both Henrichsen and his son were taken into custody shortly after. US Attorney Eric Grant stated that the men will face federal kidnapping charges. While Henrichsen’s specific motives remain under investigation, authorities noted he was armed with a rifle and knives during the incident.

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