How to resolve AdBlock issue? Police responding to calls of dogs left in hot vehicles
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department said that it's regularly responding to calls about dogs that have been left in vehicles during the hot summer weather, despite the warnings it's issued about the dangers hot vehicle interiors pose to pets.
The latest case involving dogs in distress occurred on Wednesday, the agency said.
At about 2:45 p.m. Wednesday the Lakeport Police Department responded to a call on South Main Street regarding three dogs left in a hot car.
When the officer arrived a citizen had already broken into the car and released the dogs, which were overheated, police said.
The agency said the investigation revealed that the dogs had been in the car for around 20 minutes with no access to water, and with the windows barely cracked. The outside temperature at the time of this incident was 102 degrees.
The California Penal Code makes it a crime to leave an animal confined “in any unattended motor vehicle under conditions that endanger the health or well being of an animal due to heat, cold, lack of adequate ventilation, or lack of food or water, or other circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause suffering, disability, or death to the animal.”
The first offense is a $100 fine, or a $500 fine or six months in the county jail if the animal suffered injuries.
The department said it issued a criminal citation to the owner of the dogs and the case will be sent to the Lake County California District Attorney's Office for prosecution.
“We get calls for dogs left in hot cars on a regular basis. Report these violations to law enforcement or animal control,” the department said.
Lake County Animal Care and Control reported in a social media post that car interiors heat up very quickly. On hot days, temperatures can climb to 120 degrees or more inside of a vehicle.
Authorities urge people to leave their pets at home in safe conditions rather than taking them out in the hot weather.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Police looking for man responsible for Saturday stabbing
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Police are attempting to track down the man who they say stabbed a Clearlake resident on Saturday.
Craig Allen Fenno Jr., 28, is wanted for the attack, and is to be considered armed and dangerous, according to Sgt. Rodd Joseph of the Clearlake Police Department.
At 4:15 p.m. Saturday Clearlake Police officers responded to a report of a stabbing in the 3000 block of Seventh Street in Clearlake Park, Joseph said.
Joseph said that when officers arrived at the location they found a 38-year-old male suffering several serious apparent stab wounds to his torso and a bloody crime scene nearby.
Initially, the male victim was uncooperative with police, according to Joseph.
Joseph said the victim was transported to an out-of-county trauma center via air ambulance. As of Monday evening, the man was listed in stable condition.
The victim’s identity is being withheld at this time for his safety, Joseph said.
During the course of the investigation, officers identified Fenno as the attacker, Joseph said.
Fenno is described as a white male adult, 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing about 145 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes, according to Joseph's report.
Joseph said Fenno has several outstanding warrants for his arrest out of Lake and Napa counties.
Fenno is now wanted for attempted homicide in the Saturday stabbing case. Joseph said the weapon used has not been located.
On Monday evening Joseph said police have not been able to locate Fenno, who is known to be transient.
Anyone with information on this investigation is asked to contact investigating officer, K9 Officer Mark Harden at 707-994-8251, Extension 503.
Anyone with information on Fenno’s current whereabouts is urged to contact Clearlake Police Dispatch at 707-994-8251, Extension 1.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Police seek information on Westshore Pool vandalism
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is asking for the community's help in identifying the individuals responsible for a series of vandalisms at the Westshore Pool.
Over the past week suspects have entered the Westshore Pool site, located on the grounds of the Lakeport Unified School District, several times and committed numerous acts of vandalism, police said.
One such incident caused the pool to be closed for 24 hours. In that case, pool staff reported that they came in on Thursday morning to discover that someone had defecated in the pool, requiring that the pool be drained and sanitized before it could be returned to service.
This vandalism is costing the Lakeport Public Works and Lake County Channel Cats money, time and resources that are meant to keep the pool open and available to the community, police said.
If anyone has information on the suspects, they are asked to contact an officer at 707-263-5491, send us a private Facebook message @LakeportPolice or send an anonymous tip from your cell phone by texting the word TIP LAKEPORT followed by your message to 888777.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Man apprehended by police K9 following pursuit
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man was taken into custody on Friday with the help of a police K9 after he led officers on a vehicle pursuit.
Venancio Martinez, 26, was arrested following the incident, according to Sgt. Travis Lenz of the Clearlake Police Department.
Lenz said that on Friday at about 9:45 p.m., Officer Jesse Scott was driving a marked police vehicle conducting routine patrol when Scott observed a 2008 Smart car traveling southbound on Old Highway 53 near Hillcrest Avenue.
Scott observed the vehicle cross over the double yellow lines on the roadway, into the oncoming lane of traffic, a violation of the California Vehicle Code, Lenz said.
Lenz said Scott initiated a traffic enforcement stop on the Smart car on Palmer Avenue just north of Lakeshore Drive. The driver, identified as Martinez, failed to pull over and accelerated to an unsafe speed as he attempted to evade Scott.
Martinez evaded Scott for just over two miles until he drove into a dead end driveway with a locked gate in the 14000 block of Eastlake Drive, Lenz said.
During the pursuit, Lenz said Martinez repeatedly drove on the wrong side of the road and drove well in excess of the posted speed limit.
Lenz said Officer Scott completed a high risk traffic stop, with the assistance of Officer Michael Dietrick, Officer Mark Harden and Harden’s police K9 partner, “Zip.”
During the high risk traffic stop officers ordered Martinez to exit the vehicle, face away from them and place his hands in the air. Lenz said Martinez exited the vehicle and faced officers, briefly placed his hands into the air then abruptly put one hand behind his back near his waistband, out of view.
Officers ordered Martinez to place his hands back in the air and he would not comply. Officer Harden, fearing that Martinez was reaching for a weapon concealed in his waistband, decided to deploy Zip for the safety of the officers, Lenz said.
Zip was deployed and apprehended Martinez by his lower right leg. With the assistance of the police K9, officers were able to detain Martinez in handcuffs and place him under arrest, according to Lenz.
After his arrest, it was determined Martinez was unarmed during the incident. Lenz said it is unclear why Martinez failed to comply with the lawful commands given to him by officers, and why he made the abrupt movement with his hand.
After being medically evaluated at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, Martinez was booked into the Lake County Jail for evading a police officer while driving in wanton and willful disregard for public safety, evading a police officer while traveling in the wrong direction of traffic, driving while under the influence alcohol and driving without a valid California driver's license, Lenz said.
Martinez's bail was set at $35,000. He later posted bail and was released, according to jail records.
Anyone with information in regard to this investigation is asked to contact Officer Scott at the Clearlake Police Department, 707-994-8251, Extension 544.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Police use Taser on man who wielded knife at officer during domestic violence call
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police safely took a Lakeport man into custody on Friday after he wielded a knife at a police sergeant during a domestic violence call, with the man later stating that he had wanted to kill the police officers who came to his home.
Lizardo Elias Velasquez, 50, was arrested Friday afternoon on a felony charge of making terrorist threats, and misdemeanors including domestic violence, exhibiting a deadly weapon, resisting a peace officer, assault on a peace officer and an outstanding warrant, according to Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
At 4:20 p.m. Friday two Lakeport Police Officers and a sergeant were dispatched to a residence in the 1000 block of Martin Street to investigate the report of a male subject threatening to stab his 61-year-old female cohabitant, Rasmussen said.
Upon arrival, the two officers attempted to contact the residents at the front door but the male subject – later identified as Velasquez – refused to open the door and stated that if officers did not leave he would “blow them up,” Rasmussen reported.
Rasmussen said the sergeant went to the back door of the residence where the female victim opened it, stepped out on the porch and stated that she was afraid the man was going to stab her.
The sergeant ordered the female to a safe location and then approached the porch, at which point Velasquez – who was not yet armed with a weapon – came to the open back door, saw the sergeant and then ran back inside, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said the sergeant pursued Velasquez into the house, drew his department-issued Taser and tactically approached the kitchen area where he saw Velasquez go and then saw him pick up a knife.
The sergeant immediately ordered Velasquez to drop the knife and alerted the other officers. Rasmussen said the sergeant told Velasquez that if he approached with the knife he would be shot.
Velasquez then stepped toward the sergeant with the knife in his hand and the sergeant, who Rasmussen said already had the Taser deployed, immediately fired it, striking Velasquez in the abdomen with both darts, causing him drop the knife and fall to the floor.
Rasmussen said the sergeant continued the Taser deployment while the two officers handcuffed Velasquez and took him into custody.
Per standard procedure, Rasmussen said Velasquez was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for medical clearance due to the Taser deployment before he was transported to the Lake County Jail for booking.
During transport to the jail, Velasquez told the sergeant that if he had possessed a gun he would have shot him and that he wanted to kill the police who arrived, Rasmussen said.
Velasquez remained in custody on Monday, with bail set at $15,000.
“The department is thankful that our sergeant and officers were not injured and commends them for their use of good tactics in this situation which could have turned deadly,” Rasmussen said.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
