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Supervisors to discuss sheriff's agreement with DEA, manufactured home installation age limits
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Board of Supervisors will take up a fairly short agenda this week that includes an agreement between the federal Drug Enforcement Administration and the sheriff's office, and a proposed ordinance to set age limits on manufactured home installations on private property.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 28, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting can be watched live on Channel 8 and online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Boards/Board_of_Supervisors/calendar.htm . Accompanying board documents, the agenda and archived board meeting videos also are available at that link.
In an untimed item, the board will consider Sheriff Brian Martin's request for approval of an agreement and grant assurances between the sheriff's office and the DEA Task Force Group for an investigator to be assigned to the group.
Martin's report to the board explains that all expenses, including salaries and benefits, vehicle costs and all miscellaneous expenses are paid for by the sheriff-coroner's budget, but overtime costs or training specifically approved by this task force for DEA operations may be reimbursed under this agreement, up to $17,548, which Martin said is inclusive of any other federal overtime reimbursements.
In an item timed for 9:30 a.m., the board will once again consider a request to initiate and audit of county land records relating to foreclosures.
At 9:45 a.m., the board will hold a public hearing to consider updating county rules relating to age limits for installation of used manufactured homes on private property.
The full agenda follows:
CONSENT AGENDA
7.1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting held July 7, 2015.
7.2: Approve plans and specifications for the Behavioral Health Clearlake Facility Expansion Project, Clearlake, CA; Bid No. 15-06, and authorize the Public Works director to advertise for bids.
TIMED ITEMS
8.2, 9:15 a.m.: Consideration of Health Services requests to approve the appointment of Dr. Robert Gardner to serve on the Partnership HealthPlan Board of Commissioners and represent Lake County for a four-year period.
8.3, 9:30 a.m.: Discussion/consideration whether to initiate an audit of county land records.
8.4, 9:45 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of proposed ordinance amending Chapter 21 of the Ordinance Code of the County of Lake pertaining to age limits for installation of used manufactured homes on private property.
8.5, 10 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration to Amend Contract No. 12-CDBG-8395.
UNTIMED ITEMS
9.2: Consideration of agreement between the Lake County Sheriff's Office and the DEA Task Force for the assignment of one detective and the corresponding grant assurances and authorizing the sheriff to execute necessary documents and authorize the chair to sign grant assurances.
9.3: Consideration of a resolution amending approved recommended budget For FY 2015/16 to appropriate money in Budget Unit 4121, in the amount of $4,386 for the purchase of a 2016 Ford Truck.
CLOSED SESSION
10.2: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(d)(1): Lakeside Heights HOA v. County of Lake.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Police continue to seek leads on missing woman; vehicle found
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The effort to locate a Lakeport woman who was last seen on Friday morning is continuing, with new information leading police to discover her vehicle in Del Norte County.
Amber Costner, 24, was last seen at about 7 a.m. Friday, when she left her home in her white Dodge Caravan, as Lake County News has reported.
There were concerns for Costner's safety due to a statement she had made to her daughter on Thursday night that she was going away soon and nobody would see her again, as well as reports that she has a history of suicidal thoughts and was possibly in possession of a handgun, according to police.
The Lakeport Police Department reported that at 10 a.m. Saturday its officers received further leads in the case.
At that point, police were informed that Costner sent information to family indicating that she was OK but did not want to be located.
While police originally believed Costner had left Lakeport headed for Southern California, Lakeport Police's officers subsequently developed information that she was possibly in the Crescent City area.
Lakeport Police reported that it contacted the Crescent City Police Department for assistance in the case.
Just before 11 a.m. Saturday, Crescent City Police officers located Costner's white Dodge van in the parking lot of a Safeway store and recovered an unloaded handgun from inside of it, Lakeport Police Sgt. Mike Sobieraj told Lake County News.
However, Costner was not with the vehicle and police still have not been able to locate her.
Sobieraj said early Sunday that there have been no new developments since the vehicle was found on Saturday morning, and no indications that Costner has been in any additional contact with her family.
As for why she headed north instead of south, “We're not really sure why she went up there,” said Sobieraj.
The Lakeport Police Department reported that it intended to continue to follow all leads and investigate the case until Costner is located and confirmed to be OK.
Meanwhile, community members have worked to assist the effort to find Costner, sharing her information on social media around the state and in Southern Oregon.
Costner is a white female, 5 feet tall and 180 pounds, with red hair with blonde streaks and blue eyes. She has a tattoo of an elephant on her left wrist.
Anyone who sees her is asked to call their local law enforcement agency.
The Lakeport Police Department can be reached at 707-263-5491.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
Clearlake man arrested following Thursday night police pursuit
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man who led police on a 27-mile pursuit in a stolen vehicle on Thursday night was taken into custody after crashing into a tree.
Mario Tito Mirabella, 24, was arrested shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday, according to the Clearlake Police Department.
Lt. Tim Celli said that on Wednesday Kelseyville resident Charles Sells reported to the California Highway Patrol that his 1999 Acura had been stolen from the town.
At about 9 p.m. Thursday, the Clearlake Police Department was alerted by Sells that he saw his stolen vehicle in the city of Clearlake and began to follow it, losing sight of the vehicle in the area of Boyles and 25th avenues, Celli said.
Celli said officers responded to the area and began to search for the vehicle, however they were unable to find it at that time.
Then, at approximately 10:19 p.m., Clearlake Police Officer Elvis Cook spotted the vehicle in the area of Lakeshore Drive near Old Highway 53, Celli said.
Cook ran the license plate through dispatch and discovered the vehicle he was behind was the reported stolen vehicle. Celli said Cook then attempted to stop the vehicle; however, the driver didn't stop, but instead led Cook on a high-speed pursuit.
Celli said other officers joined the pursuit and coordinated with the Lake County Sheriff Office for assistance.
Clearlake Police officers and Lake County Sheriff’s deputies who joined in the chase pursued the stolen vehicle for more than 27 miles from the city of Clearlake to Lower Lake, to Clearlake Oaks and finally back to the city of Clearlake, Celli said.
Speeds during the chase were sometimes in excess of 100 miles per hour, with Mirabella driving the Acura into the opposing lane of traffic several times during the chase, according to Celli.
Celli said officers attempted to coordinate and deploy a spike strip, but were unsuccessful due to the high speeds and erratic driving by the suspect.
Mirabella led officers back into the city of Clearlake and onto surface streets. At one point while traveling on Old Highway 53, Mirabella was driving at an estimated speed of approximately 90 miles per hour before entering the “Village” residential area, Celli said.
The stolen vehicle continued to travel through the residential area of the “Village” and “Highlands Harbor,” with Celli explaining that the pursuit finally ending when Mirabella lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree near Old Highway 53 at Airport Road as he was attempting to make a turn onto Airport Road.
Celli said officers used high-risk car stop techniques to detain two subjects in the vehicle, including Mirabella, the driver, who was found to be in possession of methamphetamine after he was taken into custody.
The passenger was identified and later released without charges after the investigation determined he didn’t commit any provable crime, Celli said.
Mirabella was arrested for several felony charges including possession of a stolen vehicle, felony evading, evading while going the wrong direction and possession of a controlled substance, according to Celli.
Celli said Mirabella was transported to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake for precautionary reasons.
While at the hospital, Mirabella attempted to escape from the officer by trying to flee out the doors. Celli said the escape attempt was unsuccessful and Mirabella was recaptured.
Mirabella was cleared at the hospital for incarceration and booked into the Lake County Jail with an additional charge of attempting to escape, Celli said.
As of Friday afternoon, Mirabella – whose booking sheet lists him as a parts driver for an auto parts store – remained in custody, with bail set at $35,000, according to jail records. He is tentatively scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
Celli said the police department was very thankful that the pursuit ended without anyone being hurt.
The Clearlake Police Department thanked the Lake County Sheriff’s Office for its assistance in the incident.
Police issue alert for missing Lakeport woman
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is asking the community to help locate a woman who went missing early Friday.
The agency is seeking information on the whereabouts of 24-year-old Amber Costner of Lakeport.
Costner left her home Friday at about 7 a.m. and has not been seen since, police said.
Police said Costner told her daughter on Thursday night that she was going away soon and nobody would see her again.
She has a history of suicidal thoughts and she may be in possession of a handgun, according to the police report.
Costner is a white female, 5 feet tall and 180 pounds, with red hair with blonde streaks and blue eyes. She has a tattoo of an elephant on her left wrist.
Police said Costner left her home in a white Dodge Caravan, license plate 7COV638, with a “NOTW” sticker on the back.
She may be en route to the Los Angeles area, police said.
Anyone who locates or sees Costner is asked to immediately notify their local law enforcement agency.
The Lakeport Police Department can be reached at 707-263-5491.
