Kidnapped US Forest Service employees released after more than 12 hours, say authorities

Two men arrested after taking federal employees hostage in Shasta-Trinity national forest Two US Forest Service employees were released early on Friday morning after being held hostage for more than 12 hours, authorities in far northern California said. Law enforcement officers arrested two men for the alleged kidnapping near Gumboot Lake in Shasta-Trinity national forest, Jeremiah LaRue, the Siskiyou county sheriff, told reporters on Friday afternoon. The incident began on Thursday morning before 11am, the sheriff said. His office received a call from a USFS law enforcement officer reporting that a man had the two employees restrained with zip ties and was holding them at gunpoint inside a trailer. The man was later identified as Joseph Charles Henrichsen, 49. The call set off a massive response from law enforcement across the region, including local sheriffs offices, police departments and the FBI. Officials said Henrichsen was armed with an AR-15 and knives, and said that he wanted to speak with the FBI. Around 4pm, authorities began negotiations with Henrichsen, LaRue said. The hostages were ultimately released after 2am on Friday morning, and law enforcement officers were able