How to resolve AdBlock issue? Lakeport Police Department welcomes new officers, gets to full staffing
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A group of new young officers are filling out the ranks of the Lakeport Police Department, which thanks to the new hires has now reached full staffing, according to the department's chief.
Over the last several years the department has struggled to keep its staffing up in the face of retirements and officers leaving for more pay at other agencies.
But following a series of recruitments – including one in which the department sought out trainees interested in attending the academy – Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said he now has a full crew.
The newest officer to join the force is Joseph Medici, 27, who was sworn in at a Monday morning ceremony at Lakeport City Hall.
Medici comes from Orange County, and graduated from the Fullerton College Police Academy in May 2014, Rasmussen said.
Medici's mother, Linda Martin, stepfather Rick Martin and grandfather James Medici traveled from Southern California to celebrate his swearing in, with his mother pinning on his new badge.
Prior to the Lakeport Police Department hiring him, Medici worked as a code enforcement officer for the North County Transit District in San Diego County, Rasmussen said.
Shortly before Medici started, Victor Rico joined the Lakeport Police force.
Rico, 25, had worked for the Lake County Sheriff's Office for a deputy prior to moving to the police department, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen introduced Rico to the Lakeport City Council at its May 17 meeting, with his parents and little brother on hand for his public debut.
Rico – born and raised in Lake County, and a Lakeport resident – is fluent in Spanish. Rasmussen said Rico is the department's only bilingual officer.
With the hiring of Medici and Rico, the Lakeport Police Department is now at full staff, based on the 12 officers in this fiscal year's budget, said Rasmussen.
That number also includes two police officer trainees, Dale Hoskins, 24, and Andrew Welter, 23, who are attending the police academy in Windsor. Rasmussen said both young men have been doing well in the academy, and are set to graduate in August.
While the department is now fully staffed, its ranks could still see another increase. That's because later this month the Lakeport Unified School District Board is expected to approve its budget, which includes a full-time school resource officer, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said that agreement also will go to the Lakeport City Council, which will be asked to cover the position during the months when school isn't in session.
Rasmussen said he expects both the board and the council to approve the agreement.
If they do, Rasmussen said his agency would be budgeted for 13 full-time sworn officers when the 2016-17 fiscal year budget goes into effect in July.
In addition to the new sworn officers, Rasmussen said the Lakeport Police Department has brought on a police intern, Natalie Sylar.
Sylar, a 2011 Clear Lake High School graduate, is attending California State University, Chico, he said.
“She will be with us learning about policing until school starts in the fall,” Rasmussen said.
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Police seek information on downtown Lakeport vandalism
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is asking for the community's help in identifying who is responsible for vandalism that occurred in the downtown sometime late last week and earlier this week.
The agency reported that between June 9 and 13 someone vandalized three new sidewalk trees paid for by the city on Third Street between N. Main and Park streets.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491, send a private message on Facebook or by sending us an anonymous message through your cellular telephone by texting the word TIP LAKEPORT followed by your message to 888777.
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Police arrest four, seize more than 5,000 marijuana plants
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Police Officers arrested four suspects believed to be involved in the commercial cultivation of marijuana and seized more than 5,000 marijuana plants as a result of serving search warrants at residences located on 37th and 38th avenues.
On Thursday at approximately 8 a.m. teams of Clearlake Police officers simultaneously served four search warrants, two of which were located in the 15800 block of 38th Avenue and the other two were located in the 15700 block of 37th Avenue, according to Lt. Tim Celli.
The properties located on 38th Avenue were connected to each other. As a result of the service of the two search warrants on 38th Avenue, Celli said officers seized 685 marijuana plants, a loaded shotgun and approximately $7,000 in cash pending judicial asset forfeiture.
Arrested at the 38th Avenue properties were 25-year-old Tanya Ayala, 44-year-old Vicente Ayala and 40-year-old Isabelle Beltran-Vega of Clearlake, Celli said.
Celli said Vicente Ayala and Tanya Ayala were charged with cultivation, being armed in the commission of a felony, possession of marijuana for sale and conspiracy. Beltran-Vega was charged with resisting arrest after she attempted to run from the property when officers initially arrived.
Officers served a search warrant at a location in the 15800 block of 37th Avenue. As a result of that search warrant, Celli said 141 mature, budding marijuana plants were seized.
Police arrested 39-year-old Clearlake resident Arturo Olmedo for possession of marijuana for sale and cultivation, Celli said.
At a second location in the 15700 block of 37th Avenue, officers seized 4,237 marijuana plants in various stages of growth from the backyard and two garages located on the property. The garages were converted for indoor growing, Celli said.
In addition, Celli said two pit bull dogs were impounded by Clearlake Animal Control.
The suspect was not contacted during the search warrant service, but has been identified, Celli said.
The investigation into this grow site is ongoing. Anyone with information related to these illegal marijuana growing operations is asked to contact the Clearlake Police Department Investigations Unit at 707-994-8251.
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Clearlake Police arrest three following search warrant service at marijuana grow sites
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Service of search warrants this week resulted in the arrests of three out-of-county residents on charges related to illegal marijuana cultivation in the city of Clearlake.
On Wednesday Clearlake Police officers served search warrants on properties located on Second and Third avenues that were involved in the commercial cultivation of marijuana, according to Lt. Tim Celli.
The two grow sites were within 50 yards of each other, but are not believed to be connected, he said.
At a location in the 16500 block of Second Avenue officers seized 643 marijuana plants in various stages of growth. Some of the plants were near mature with large marijuana buds, according to Celli.
Celli said there was no one found at this location, however, two canines were impounded by Clearlake Animal Control.
A possible suspect later drove by this location and once he saw officers on scene, he sped away in an off-road truck toward areas where the patrol cars were unable to follow, Celli said.
Celli said the suspect has not been identified, and the only description was a Hispanic male, between 25 and 30 years old, last seen driving north toward Third Avenue in a late model, lifted Chevy Silverado truck.
Officers also served a search warrant in the 16400 block of Third Avenue. At this location, three suspects identified as 56-year-old Timothy Bones out of Humboldt, 19-year-old Thomas Christie also out of Humboldt and 30-year-old Redlands resident Ade Wijaya-Karre were arrested for cultivation, possession of marijuana for sale, armed during the commission of a felony and conspiracy, according to Celli.
Both Christie and Wijaya-Karre admitted they were hired to trim marijuana, Celli said.
At this location, investigators seized 495 marijuana plants in various stages of growth along with drying marijuana and a thirty gallon container full of marijuana buds. In addition, Celli said a loaded handgun and a “billy club” also were seized.
Celli said the three suspects were contacted in a motor home located on the property. An apparent sewer line from the motor home appeared as though it was draining into the ground. It did not appear there were any legal connections, Celli said.
Employees from Lake County Environmental Health were contacted, however, Celli said a representative was unable to respond during the time officers were on scene.
Code Enforcement also was requested to scene and will follow up with Environmental Health for possible additional charges, Celli said.
Anyone with information regarding either of these grow sites is asked to Call Det. Elvis Cook at 707-994-8251, Extension 315.
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Sheriff's office identifies possible drowning victim
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff's Office has identified a Kelseyville man who appeared to have drowned while swimming in Clear Lake last week.
Walter Patrick Hoertkorn, 69, died while swimming near a Kelseyville area home on Thursday, June 2, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Brooks said a witness told authorities that Hoertkorn had jumped off a boat dock and was swimming toward a residence, about 50 yards away, when he suddenly appeared to start struggling at about the halfway point and went down.
“He was located by one of the boat deputies with the use of their side scan sonar,” said Brooks. “The spot was marked and then the dive team was brought in for the recovery.”
While it appears that Hoertkorn drowned, the official cause of death is pending autopsy results, Brooks said.
Hoertkorn was a Navy veteran who had worked as a certified public accountant and later for the Kelseyville Post Office, retiring in 2003, according to his obituary.
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