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Lakeport Police seek help in identifying armed robbery, burglary suspect
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is asking for the community's help in identifying a man who they say burglarized a home on Thursday afternoon and pointed a gun at the resident who confronted him.
At approximately 1:15 p.m. Thursday Lakeport Police units were dispatched to a Fifth Street residence to investigate the report of a burglary where the suspect pointed a handgun at the victim, according to a report from Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
Rasmussen said the victim arrived home to find a suspicious vehicle parked in his driveway. The victim entered his home and found that someone had been inside, and then exited the residence and found that a male subject was now seated in the driver’s seat of the suspicious vehicle.
The victim then approached the vehicle and the subject pulled a handgun – believed to be a large, dark-colored revolver – and pointed it at him, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said the victim ducked away from the subject, who then began driving in reverse out of the driveway, hitting the victim’s vehicle and several garbage cans before fleeing north toward 11th Street.
It is believed that the subject was able to load numerous items of property into his vehicle before the victim arrived home, Rasmussen said.
The subject's vehicle is described as an older black 1980s or 1990s beat up, two-door sedan, possibly a Pontiac, with a possible partial California license plate number of 4LNH. Rasmussen said the vehicle may also have spoilers on it, and it is believed that the vehicle may have driver’s side damage.
Rasmussen said the male subject is described as being in his 30s to early 40s with a scruffy beard and wearing a dark-colored baseball cap and a dark-colored, heavy padded jacket.
During the investigation, Officer Joe Eastham – a certified police sketch artist – worked with the victim to complete a sketch of the man who robbed him, Rasmussen said. The sketch is shown above.
The investigation is ongoing, and Rasmussen asked that anyone who may have information on this incident or who may be able to help identify the alleged robber or his vehicle contact the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491.
Rasmussen cautioned that anyone who sees the subject should not attempt to contact him in any way as he is considered to be armed and dangerous.
Board of Supervisors supports sheriff directing county Office of Emergency Services
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors has begun the process of moving the Lake County Office of Emergency Services back under the auspices of the sheriff's office, a move expected to be finalized with the second reading of an ordinance next week.
The board approved that ordinance's first reading at its Nov. 3 meeting, advancing it to a second and final reading Nov. 17.
The ordinance makes the sheriff director of the Office of Emergency Services, a title currently assigned to the county administrative officer.
In February 2013, the board had voted unanimously to move Lake County OES from the sheriff's office to the County Administrative Office based in part on recommendations in a consultant's report completed following the Wye and Scotts fires of 2012, as Lake County News has reported.
County Administrative Officer Matt Perry told the board that after the recent wildland fires he met with Sheriff Brian Martin; Supervisor Rob Brown, who chairs the county's Disaster Council; Carol Huchingson, the county's Social Services director who is doing double duty as the county recovery officer; and Auditor-Controller Cathy Saderlund about transferring Lake County OES back to the sheriff's office.
Perry said that while he still thinks there is a role for his office – as well as the Auditor-Controller's Office – to play as far as coordinating long-term recovery issues and managing the recovery funding sources from the California Office of Emergency Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the sheriff's office has more staff, better training, and more experience in preparing for and responding to emergencies.
In addition, Perry reported that the sheriff's office would manage the Emergency Management Performance Grant and Homeland Security Grant.
As such, he proposed transferring Lake County OES back to the sheriff's office. “Sheriff Martin is agreeable to that.”
The transition of Lake County OES from the County Administrative Office to the sheriff's office would be effective upon hiring an interim manager, Perry said.
Perry said his staff is working with the California Office of Emergency Services to identify candidates – including retirees – qualified for hire as an extra help employee on a contract basis pending a permanent OES manager being hired. He hoped that temporary person would be in place within a few weeks.
“One of the things I think this emergency showed us is that a response is required from the county as a whole,” Martin told the board, explaining that's why every county employee is designated a disaster services worker.
While the ordinance will make him director of of OES and give him a manager, “It truly is a countywide effort,” Martin said.
He said he's grateful for the support he is sure will come his way as he assumes the OES director role, adding he thinks it's good to have Perry maintaining an ongoing role with OES as well. Martin said he looks forward to selecting a person to fill the OES manager role.
Board Chair Anthony Farrington asked if the OES manager job is a civilian position. Martin said yes.
Farrington noted that over the last several years the OES manager job has been moved around from various department – from Public Services to the sheriff's office to the County Administrator's Office.
“It's the best fit” to put it back in the sheriff's office, Farrington said, adding he was glad Martin is willing to take it on, which he said he wasn't sure was the case with the sheriff's office leadership in the past.
Farrington said he believed that the continuity, experience, oversight and leadership from the sheriff's office in managing OES would offer better service to the public in the long run.
Supervisor Jim Steele asked Martin of the new OES manager would be an OES professional, and if they would have duties including planning for emergencies.
Martin said previously the OES manager had been a uniformed sergeant who rotated into the job. He said he hopes to find someone who wants to make a career out of being OES manager, an answer that satisfied Steele, who offered his support for returning OES to the sheriff's office.
Brown explained how that OES started out in the Public Services Department before moving to the sheriff's office. He said previously, with the county having not gone through major disasters like the recent flood and fires, it wasn't a priority for other departments to work cooperatively with the sheriff's office on OES matters, so there was trouble getting information.
Having now gone through the Valley fire, “I think we're going to get full cooperation with other departments and other agencies and throughout the county,” Brown said.
“Now we have leadership that is able to take this on,” he said, adding they have commitments from other departments and involvement from Perry's office that will ensure Martin has what he needs.
“I think the Valley fire really changed our culture here. It made us realize that it's not somebody else's problem. It's not OES' problem, it's not the sheriff's problem or whoever. It's a county problem,” said Martin. “I think, that, unfortunately it took a big tragedy like this to change our culture and I hope that we're able to maintain that culture for many, many years to come.”
Community member Mike Dunlap said he supported moving OES to the sheriff's office, but asked for a commitment from the board and the sheriff to have public involvement in the disaster council, “and that we get busy in putting together a comprehensive disaster response program.”
Brown moved to approve the ordinance, which the board approved and forward to Nov. 17 for the second reading.
The board also unanimously approved a resolution amending the county's salary and classification plan to adjust the salary of the OES manager classification. That action set the monthly entry salary at $5,876.
The Lake County Human Resources Department has listed the OES manager job, which has a salary range of $5,876 to $7,143 per month. Applications are being accepted through 5 p.m. Dec. 4.
In other news, the board also approved reestablishing a lieutenant's job in the sheriff's office to help Martin's staff.
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Police arrest Kelseyville man on weapons, domestic battery charges
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Police officers this week arrested a Kelseyville man on weapons charges and domestic battery, and also took his girlfriend into custody for having in her vehicle a concealed weapon which later was determined to have been stolen.
Marco Antonio Meza, 24, and Marcella Ann Milenewicz, 23, of Lakeport were arrested Thursday afternoon, according to a report from Lakeport Police Lt. Jason Ferguson.
Ferguson said that at approximately 2:44 p.m. Thursday Lakeport Police officers were dispatched to
the area of Second and N. Forbes streets to contact Milenewicz.
Milenewicz told officers that Meza, her boyfriend, had taken her car keys and left the area. Upon arrival, officers located Milenewicz sitting on the sidewalk and the vehicle stopped in the middle of the street, Ferguson said.
While speaking to Milenewicz, an officer approached the passenger side of the vehicle and, looking through the window, noticed a silver-colored .25-caliber handgun with white grips, lying on its side, in plain view, according to Ferguson.
Ferguson said the officer inquired about the handgun and learned it belonged to Milenewicz, and that she and Meza had been out at Cow Mountain target shooting. Officers conducted a check on the loaded firearm and learned it was registered to Milenewicz.
Officers obtained consent to search the vehicle and located a loaded .22-caliber pistol concealed
inside a yellow zippered bag in the center console, Ferguson said. When asked about the pistol, Milenewicz denied ownership but claimed the yellow zippered bag belonged to her.
Located on the floorboard of the vehicle was a box of .22-caliber hollow point ammunition, containing 100 rounds, which were determined to belong to Meza, Ferguson said.
Based on the location of the pistol, combined with the fact it was concealed in the vehicle, Ferguson said officers placed Milenewicz under arrest for possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle and transported her to the police station for questioning.
While at the station, officers at the scene of the vehicle located Meza as he returned to the area. Ferguson said Meza was placed under arrest for being a driver in possession of a concealed firearm in a vehicle, felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition and domestic battery.
Both Meza and Milenewicz were transported to the Hill Road Jail where Meza’s bail was set at
$15,000. Milenewicz was later released on a citation, Ferguson said.
Throughout the course of their investigation, Ferguson said officers learned that the .22-caliber pistol had been reported stolen in a recent burglary in the Kelseyville area.
Additional charges of possession of stolen property are being sought against Milenewicz and Meza, Ferguson said.
Jail records indicated that Meza later posted the required percentage of his $15,000 bail and was released. He's tentatively scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
Lakeport Police seek felony domestic violence suspect
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is asking for the public's help in locating a man who assaulted and threatened to kill a woman early Saturday.
Ben Emerson Brooks, 33, is wanted for felony charges of domestic violence and terrorist threats, according to a report from Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
At 3 a.m. Saturday Lakeport Police officers – assisted by Lake County Sheriff’s deputies – were dispatched to a residence in the 2200 block of Green Street to investigate the report of Brooks assaulting a female subject and tearing up the yard of the residence, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said Brooks fled the residence on a bicycle prior to officers arriving at the scene.
A Lakeport Police officer conducted an investigation and talked to the 29-year-old female victim who stated that Brooks hit her and threatened to kill her while strangling her with his hands to the point she could not breathe, Rasmussen said.
A male subject associated with the residence heard the victim yelling and confronted Brooks, who then fled the area, according to Rasmussen's report.
Rasmussen said the victim complained of pain and had visible injuries on her face and neck. She was checked by medical personnel from the Lakeport Fire Protection District.
Officers searched the area for approximately 45 minutes in an effort to locate Brooks but were unable to find him, Rasmussen said.
At about 4 a.m. Saturday, Rasmussen said officers were again dispatched to the residence to investigate the report that Brooks had returned. At approximately 4:30 a.m. Brooks was spotted in the area by law enforcement but fled before he could be apprehended.
Officers searched the area until approximately 6 a.m. but were again unable to locate Brooks, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said officers have continued to conduct a followup investigation, including checking a Mendocino County location where Brooks may have been hiding. However, they have not been able to locate him, and at this time it is not known if Brooks is in Lake or Mendocino County.
On Wednesday, Rasmussen said the Lakeport Police Department submitted the investigation reports to the Lake County District Attorney's Office, which filed felony charges of domestic violence and terrorist threats against Brooks.
Rasmussen said his agency then obtained an arrest warrant for Brooks from a Lake County Superior Court judge for the charges.
Police are seeking public assistance in providing information to locate and arrest Brooks.
If you have information on Brooks’ location, call the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491.
