How to resolve AdBlock issue? Police investigate fatal Clearlake stabbing
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department is investigating an early Saturday morning stabbing that resulted in a man's death.
Det. Sgt. Martin Snyder said officers were dispatched to the 14000 block of Walnut Avenue at approximately 12:34 a.m. Saturday for a reported victim of a stab wound.
Snyder said officers responded to the scene and were led by witnesses into a small residence where the adult male victim was located. The victim had an apparent stab wound to his neck area.
The victim was transported to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake for emergency medical treatment. However, Snyder said medical staff pronounced the victim dead a short time later.
Snyder said two detectives with the Clearlake Police Department's Investigations Unit responded to process the scene and conduct witness interviews.
Witnesses on scene identified the subject responsible for the stabbing as an approximately 6-foot-tall, white male adult with a stocky, muscular build, Snyder said.
The witnesses only identified the subject who committed the stabbing as wearing a baseball hat. The subject was last seen walking west on Walnut Avenue, according to Snyder.
Snyder on Saturday evening that the victim's identity was being withheld pending death notification by the coroner and will be released on a later date.
The investigation is ongoing and is expected to go on for several hours, he said.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to call Det. Ryan Peterson at 707-994-8251, Extension 320.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LCSO seeks assistance from public to locate man
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office issued a NIXLE advisory Tuesday afternoon seeking information regarding the location of Lawrence Clayton Jelks.
At the time of the release Jelks had a warrant for his arrest for failing to register as a sex offender.
If you see Jelks, contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office; do not approach him.
Jelks is described as a black male adult, 69 years of age, 5’3”, and 150 pounds. His last known address was in Clearlake Oaks.
Anyone with information regarding Jelks’ location is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office Central Dispatch at 707-263-2690.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
Sheriff's office warns of jury duty telephone scam
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff's Office has issued an alert to community members regarding a new telephone scam.
On Friday, several Lake County residents reported receiving telephone calls from an individual claiming to be a sheriff’s office employee saying the residents had missed jury duty.
The individual insisted that they must pay money to the sheriff's office or they would face being arrested.
Residents were told they had a warrant for their arrest, which was due to not appearing for jury duty.
They also were told they could clear the warrant by paying a $500 fine, and that they needed to go to CVS Pharmacy and complete an "electronic bond voucher" in the scammer's alleged name.
The scammer said that the residents could not go to the sheriff's office or the Lake County Superior Court in order to turn themselves in and, if they did, it would result in an immediate arrest.
If you get a phone call about jury duty, claiming a warrant has been issued and you owe a fine for missing a date and threatening arrest if you don’t pay it, hang up, as it is a scam, the Lake County Sheriff's Office said.
No court or law enforcement agency make intimidating phone calls and demand money from citizens.
Just as a reminder with tax season coming upon us, beware of scammers impersonating the IRS as well. These callers may demand money or may say you have a refund due and try to trick you into sharing private information.
These scam artists can sound convincing when they call. They may know a lot about you, and they usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. They use fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Supervisors deny sheriff's request for outside counsel for lawsuit defense; sheriff intends legal action
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County's sheriff said he intends to take legal action to get the county to hire an outside attorney to represent him in a lawsuit after the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday denied the hiring request and instead asked him to use the services of the County Counsel's Office.
Sheriff Brian Martin went to the board to ask to hire outside counsel to represent him in a lawsuit filed in December by the Lake County Correctional Officers' Association, which is suing both the county and Martin in his official capacity citing breach of contract.
While Martin said he believes County Counsel Anita Grant is the finest attorney in the county, because she's the county's attorney he argued that a conflict of interest exists for Grant's office both due to the litigation and an agreement with the association that is at the heart of the lawsuit, which he said the County Counsel's Office helped craft.
Even if an “ethical wall” is used to try to separate matters involving the sheriff and the correctional officers, Martin argued that it wouldn't adequately represent him.
An ethical wall is a way of limiting the disclosure of information between attorneys in a law firm or agency such as the County Counsel's Office.
In October 2011, the county, including then-Sheriff Frank Rivero and the Board of Supervisors, and the association entered into a contract that guaranteed correctional officers the right to carry firearms at all times while on duty, except for within the jail facility.
That contract also guaranteed correctional officers the right to receive a concealed weapons permit within 30 days of application if they met the legal requirements, along with a waiving of all fees associated with the permit.
Martin told the board on Tuesday that the terms of the 2011 agreement – which had been the result of another lawsuit filed by the association against Rivero – and his strict interpretation of the law differ.
While the previous sheriff agreed that correctional officers are allowed to carry firearms at all times while on duty, “The law is simple in that matter. They are not,” said Martin.
The lawsuit said that in December 2015 Martin breached the contract by refusing to allow correctional officers to carry firearms at all times while on duty, except for when they were in the jail facility, and failing to waive all fees and costs ordinarily charged to concealed weapons permit holders.
Martin said his predecessor relinquished some of his discretionary ability in entering the agreement, explaining that, statutorily, the sheriff determines when correctional officers are authorized to carry firearms. Martin said he's also the decision maker as to who may be issued concealed weapons permits.
“This is just one of the many decisions he made that I simply don't agree with,” said Martin.
So Martin turned to Government Code section 31000.6, which says that, upon a request of the sheriff, the Board of Supervisors shall hire legal counsel to assist the sheriff in the performance of his duties in circumstances when the county counsel has a conflict of interest.
The matter of ethical walls and outside counsels for the sheriff is familiar territory for the board, as Rivero also had sought outside counsel to defend him in an investigation led by District Attorney Don Anderson.
Rivero, after the board turned him down, took the legal remedy of seeking an ex parte hearing before a judge, who ruled that an ethical wall wasn't sufficient and ordered the county to hire the attorney of Rivero's choosing.
On Tuesday, Martin cited that case and the fact that the court decided against the ethical wall. He pointed to additional factors that he said weighed in his favor, noting that Grant's office didn't have any input in Anderson's investigation of Rivero.
In the current case, Martin said the county counsel's involvement “is very clear” and a conflict of interest is apparent. He said that conflict denies him the ability to have the resources, zealous representation and legal support he needs.
He said he's spoken to a local attorney who is available to represent him in the case.
Grant told the board that she and Martin have discussed the matter, and while she respects his concerns, she believed an ethical wall could successfully be used.
Board Chair Jeff Smith said he thought it was worthwhile to try the ethical wall to start with and then, if it doesn't work, to pursue outside counsel. He added that the county has a great attorney in Grant.
Martin replied that the county has Grant as its attorney, he doesn't. “One of the factors is equal representation.”
He also noted during the discussion that he didn't feel his office's best interests were being represented, and he intended to take the next steps to address that, adding he disagreed that the ethical wall can be effective.
One of the options the board discussed was having county staff reach out to other county counsels for additional resources and help. Martin said that suggestion was an acknowledgement that the county counsel couldn't properly represent him, adding the board has a mandatory duty to provide him with the legal counsel he needs.
The board's two newest members, Tina Scott and Moke Simon, joined with Smith, Jim Steele and Rob Brown in deciding instead to pursue the ethical wall.
“I honestly believe we should give this a try,” said Brown.
“Sheriff, you're saying it's my way or the highway,” said Smith.
Martin maintained that he believed an irreconcilable conflict of interest that exists.
In her written report to the board, Grant had explained that if the board didn't agree with Martin, he could initiate an ex parte proceeding before the presiding judge of the Lake County Superior Court.
The judge would have to determine that a conflict actually exists and whether representation by the county counsel through the creation of an ethical wall is appropriate.
In making that ruling, Grant said the judge would need to consider several areas: equal representation, level of support, access to resources, zealous representation or any other consideration that relates to proper representation.
Brown asked Martin if he planned on taking that next step, and Martin said he did.
In taking its approach to the request, Brown said he didn't think the board was being punitive. Martin said he didn't take it as punitive, adding that he's trying to maintain the sanctity of his office.
The board ultimately voted unanimously to pursue the ethical wall with Grant's office.
Later on Tuesday, when contacted by Lake County News, Martin again indicated he planned to seek the ex parte review by a judge.
“That's the remedy that's available to me and I intend to pursue that remedy,” he said.
Martin said the law takes action like the board took on Tuesday into consideration. “My recourse is to petition the court and have a judge decide, so that's what we'll do.”
He didn't have a time frame for pursuing that action, and said he likely will hire an attorney specifically for that work. That attorney will probably be different from the one he's spoken to about representing him in the contractual dispute with the correctional officers. When asked who that local attorney is, Martin declined to name the individual.
With regard to the lawsuit, he said he has granted every concealed weapons permit that he's been legally able to, which he said is his prerogative.
Martin said he was concerned about the precedent the 2011 agreement set and explained that it could have impacts on future sheriffs if not addressed.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Lakeport Police Department completes move to new headquarters
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department reported that, as of Monday, it has completed its move to its new station.
The department's new headquarters facility is located at 2025 S. Main St. It had been located for 20 years on N. Forbes Street.
The move took place this past weekend, according to Police Chief Brad Rasmussen, who had updated the Lakeport City Council on the move at its meeting last week.
While the move is complete, the department said that, due to unforeseen circumstances, it is temporarily unable to have its lobby open to the public during normal business hours.
Although the lobby is closed, regular police business staff is on site and available to serve the public, the agency said.
If you are coming to the police department for regular business inquiries, such as records requests, vehicle releases, permit applications and evidence inquiries, come to the police department and call 707-263-5491, Extension 8, to advise you are here. Someone will assist you.
The department said it anticipates having the lobby open and available to the public during business hours starting Jan. 30.
The Lakeport Police Department's office business hours are Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office is closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
For emergencies, call 911. For non-emergencies requiring police response, call 707-263-5491, Extension 1, or pick up the red phone in front of the police department’s front doors and you will be connected to dispatch.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
