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Fort Bragg resident arrested for assault after dousing man with gasoline
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A Fort Bragg man was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly kicked in a man's door and doused him with gasoline.
Ryan Patrick Coppola, 27, was arrested on felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, criminal threats and vandalism, and misdemeanor domestic battery, according to Sgt. John Gregore of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Gregore said that at 12:45 a.m. Saturday, March 31, sheriff's deputies were dispatched to an address on Deer Park Drive in Lower Lake on the report a male who had kicked in the front door to the residence and poured gasoline on the occupants.
When deputies arrived, the victim said he had been with some friends earlier in the night at Maynard’s Sports Bar in Lower Lake, Gregore said.
While the deputies were there, they saw Coppola, who they knew. Coppola recently had broken up with his girlfriend, who was homeless and temporarily staying at the residence in Lower Lake, Gregore said.
The man told deputies that Coppola got into a physical altercation at the bar, but neither he nor his friends were involved, according to Gregore.
After leaving Maynard’s, the victim and some friends went to his house and were sleeping in a front room of the home, Gregore said. The victim woke up to Coppola kicking in his front door and entering the residence carrying a gas can.
Coppola then allegedly started pouring gasoline on the male victim and the interior of the residence, Gregore reported. According to witnesses, Coppola said something about burning the victim.
Gregore said Coppola then noticed his ex-girlfriend lying on a couch in the home. Coppola picked her up off the couch and threw her to the floor.
The male victim said he ran outside his house and Coppola pursued him into the street. Coppola continued to chase him until a neighbor came outside to investigate the commotion. Coppola then left in an unknown direction, according to Gregore.
Gregore said deputies could smell the strong odor of gasoline coming from the victim’s clothing and the inside of his residence. Deputies were unable to locate Coppola at the scene.
Several hours later, deputies located Coppola and arrested him. Gregore said Coppola was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. Bail was set at $25,000.
Coppola, whose arrest sheet lists his profession as jeweler, later posted bail and was released, according to jail records.
Work begins on Highway 20 roundabout near Nice
NICE, Calif. – Preliminary work on a roundabout near the Northshore town of Nice is under way.
The roundabout will be built at the intersection of Highway 20 and the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff, just west of Nice.
Granite Construction received a $2.6 million contract to build the roundabout, according to Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie.
Frisbie said the total project cost – including purchase of additional property for right-of-way – is $4.6 million.
In 2007 Caltrans identified the need for an update to the intersection to increase its safety, Frisbie said.
“At that point we realized we needed to do something,” Frisbie said.
He added, “A major issue there was the collision rate.”
The intersection’s historic collision rate was five times higher than the statewide average for similar intersections, according to Caltrans.
When addressing safety issues at intersections, Frisbie said Caltrans usually considers traffic signs and roundabouts.
“The roundabout was the best option for this intersection,” he said.
Caltrans anticipates the intersection’s new roundabout will reduce the number and severity of collisions.
Another goal is to slow traffic, especially eastbound traffic entering Nice, Frisbie said.
The agency also said the roundabout will lower vehicle emissions by lessening idle times compared to a traffic signal.
Other associated improvements will include sidewalks, enhanced drainage and median islands that will allow pedestrians to cross the highway, Caltrans reported.
Frisbie said the preliminary project work is taking place now, which has included the clearing of some nearby trees.
He said it won’t be until the middle of April that construction work impacting traffic will begin.
Once under way, the project should move quickly, he said.
“We’re expecting it to be completed by this winter,” said Frisbie.
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Public advised not to drive over fire hoses
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The community is urged to be aware of fire hoses and reminded not to drive over them at fire scenes, as doing so is a violation of state law.
In the last week, Lake County fire districts – including Northshore Fire Protection District and Lake County Fire Protection District – have had multiple structure fires, and in each case they have had vehicles drive over fire hoses during emergency fire operations, according to Northshore Fire Deputy Chief Pat Brown.
Brown said driving over fire hoses is a violation of California Vehicle Code.
Vehicle Code Section 21708 states: “No person shall drive or propel any vehicle or conveyance upon, over, or across, or in any manner damage any fire hose or chemical hose used by or under the supervision and control of any organized fire department. However, any vehicle may cross a hose provided suitable jumpers or other appliances are installed to protect the hose.”
Driving over fire hoses places the fire personnel and fire equipment in a very dangerous position, Brown said.
Fire hoses can operate at 300 pounds per square inch and often are the only protection fire crews have in fighting wildland and structure fires, according to Brown.
He said vehicles that drive over fire hoses can shut off the water supply, tear and damage fire hose, clamp the hose and make it explode from the pressure, make the diesel engine of the fire engine over rev and place fire personnel in very immediate danger.
Drivers of vehicles can be cited and held responsible for all damages to hoses, fire equipment and fire personnel, he said.
Early morning fire claims Lucerne man's life
LUCERNE, Calif. – A Lucerne man died in a fire that destroyed his home early Sunday morning.
The man, whose name has not yet been released, was found inside his burned mobile home in Lorraine Village Mobile Home Park, located at 5890 E. Highway 20 in Lucerne, according to Northshore Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Pat Brown.
Brown said Northshore Fire Protection District was dispatched to a structure fire in Lorraine Village at 6:10 a.m. Sunday.
He said multiple 911 calls placed to Central Dispatch reported a fully involved trailer with a male still inside.
The first engine on scene, from the Lucerne station, arrived in six minutes, and reported a fully involved mobile home with structures threatened on three sides, Brown said. Additional equipment was requested.
The second engine, arriving from the Nice fire station, laid 800 feet of 5-inch hose since there are no operating fire hydrants inside Lorraine Village Mobile Home Park, according to Brown.
First arriving units also contacted a neighbor who tried to rescue the male resident of the mobile home, Brown said.
The woman told firefighters that she made it through the front door and toward the bedroom before heat and smoke forced her out, according to Brown.
He said the woman was transported by Northshore Fire ambulance to Sutter Lakeside Hospital and later released. Brown said the district will not be releasing her name.
Twenty minutes into the structure fire crews found a victim in the rear portion of the mobile home. Brown said the Lake County Sheriff's Office was requested and notification of victim name and family contact will be done by that agency.
Brown said the fire was contained 50 minutes from dispatch.
The home was a total loss, he said.
Brown said the fire is under investigation by the Lake County Arson Task Force.
A preliminary indication of cause was electrical, he said.
He said units responding from Northshore Fire included five engines, two medics and three chief officers. Northshore Fire Protection District Support Team supplied two units from the Upper Lake and Lucerne stations.
He said Lakeport Fire responded on mutual aid with one engine with five crew members.
A total of 25 personnel responded with no injuries to fire personnel, Brown said.
