Craig Martin Merz, a 24‐year old non‐student, was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on felony charges of rape, oral copulation, sexual penetration and misdemeanor sexual battery. According to the University Police Department, all of the alleged acts occurred in circumstances in which the survivor was unable to resist, owing to intoxication by alcohol.
The survivor’s name was withheld by police to maintain confidentiality. Her injuries did not require hospitalization and no weapons were involved, the UPD said. No evidence of date rape drugs has been found.
The investigation involved specially‐trained University Police and Arcata Police Department personnel, supported by forensic expertise from the Humboldt County Sexual Assault Response Team.
Investigators suspect the HSU freshman encountered Merz for the first time on Saturday night near the footbridge leading to the Northtown area of Arcata.
She was reportedly walking alone when she met Merz, also alone, and the two engaged in conversation.
Merz then allegedly purchased hard liquor and two proceeded to a city park in the Northtown area, where they drank heavily. UPD said the student became extremely intoxicated and Merz took her to a nearby relative’s home, entering a garage by a side door late on Saturday night or early Sunday morning. Some acts of sexual assault allegedly took place there.
Early on Sunday morning, Merz is believed to have walked the student back to her residence hall room at HSU. He allegedly spent several more hours with her and investigators believe additional acts of sexual assault occurred there as well.
At both locations, investigators suspect the survivor was too intoxicated to resist Merz, making the sexual assaults a crime under California statutes. “The law clearly requires consent, including positive cooperation and an exercise of free will,” said UPD Chief Tom Dewey. “Both parties must act freely and voluntarily, and have knowledge of the nature of the act involved, or it is a crime.”
By mid‐day Sunday, police say, Merz had left the freshman’s residence hall room. UPD received report of the crimes at about 1:40 p.m.
Merz apparently lingered on campus and at about 3:15 p.m., he was reported as a suspicious person loitering at an outdoor smoking gazebo in another area. Students there called UPD alleging that the suspect had engaged them in dialogue about drug activity, making them nervous.
UPD Lt. Lynne Soderberg responded to the call, located Merz near the gazebo and ultimately detained him as the suspect in the sexual crimes. He was transported to the Arcata Police Department for interviews, then remanded to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility for booking.
Investigators gathered physical evidence and tracked down witnesses well into the night, while the student was informed of medical and counseling assistance.
The initial report will be brought to the District Attorney’s Office on Tuesday, Nov. 18, in advance of Merz’s arraignment. The University will seek a court order to ban Merz from the HSU campus, the pedestrian footbridge and adjacent areas.