How to resolve AdBlock issue? Police arrest two, seize nearly 2,300 marijuana plants
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Thursday Clearlake Police officers closed down more illegal commercial marijuana grows in the city and seized nearly 2,300 plants.
Lt. Tim Celli, the department's acting chief, said two Clearlake men – identified as Bradley Glenn Stagg, 38, and Jose Miguel Zuniga, 20 – also were arrested during the Thursday operation.
At about 8 a.m., officers served two search warrants on four properties in the city of Clearlake that Celli said were believed to be connected.
Two of the properties were linked together located in the 3900 block of Laddell. Celli said the service of the search warrant on Laddell resulted in the seizure of 1,100 marijuana plants, with approximately 30 pounds of processed marijuana and trimmings that appeared were going to be used for a possible extraction process to make concentrated cannabis, although there were some components missing.
At the Laddell location, it was discovered that most of the house was converted for the indoor growing of marijuana. Celli said there was marijuana located throughout most of the living quarters that were in various stages of growth.
The marijuana plants inside the Laddell residence were already in bloom and had marijuana buds on them. In addition, Celli said there was hundreds of marijuana plants planted in the ground in the backyard.
Also discovered at the property was an illegal electrical connection that bypassed the electrical meter. Celli said Stagg was arrested at the site for cultivation possession of marijuana for sale and theft of utilities.
The second set of properties where Celli said officers served a second search warrant was located in the 3900 block of Manchester Avenue.
At those locations, officers seized approximately 1,193 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, Celli said.
There was an indoor growing operation at the Manchester location as well, however Celli said it appeared as though many marijuana plants had been moved to another unknown location.
He said there was evidence to suggest that there had been more of an indoor growing operation at this location at some point other than what was found.
Located on an adjacent fenced-in property – that could only be accessed from the residence property – were marijuana plants in various stages of growth. There were marijuana plants in the open and also in a “hoop house,” Celli said.
At the Manchester location officers took Zuniga into custody for cultivation of marijuana. While Zuniga was the name the man provided, Celli said it is unknown if this is his actual name.
Both residence locations were red tagged by Clearlake Code Enforcement due to dangerous mold issues as well as other code enforcement issues, Celli said.
Anyone with information related to these commercial marijuana growing operations should contact Det. Elvis Cook at 707-994-8251, Extension 315, or
Both Stagg and Zuniga remained in the Lake County Jail on Thursday night, with bail for each set at $15,000, according to jail records.
Celli said the Clearlake Police Department will continue to investigate commercial marijuana operations located in the city.
He said individuals who are involved with commercial marijuana grows should be forewarned that this type of activity will not be tolerated in the city of Clearlake.
Anyone caught engaged in this type of activity – including knowingly providing properties for these types of operations – could face criminal charges related to cultivation, environmental crimes as well as civil, financial penalties. Environmental crimes will be forwarded to the California Environmental Protection Agency, Celli said.
The city currently requires that medicinal marijuana grows follow a permitting process that is only open until May 2, Celli said.
For more information visit http://clearlake.ca.us/338/Medical-Marijuana-Cultivation-Permit-App .
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Clearlake Police officers honored for heroism, life-saving actions
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department has honored two of its officers for their heroic efforts to save the lives of city residents.
Clearlake Police's acting chief, Lt. Tim Celli, presented the commendations to Sgt. Travis Lenz and Officer Trevor Franklin during the Clearlake City Council's April 14 meeting. The presentation starts at the 6:40 mark in the video above.
Ahead of the commendation presentations, Celli paused to introduce the agency's newest dispatcher, Melissa Carpenter, who at that point was halfway through her 16-week communications training. Once completed, she'll be able to work on her own in dispatch, Celli said.
Celli said Carpenter and the department's other dispatchers were being showered with gifts and goodies that week in celebration of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, which was marked from April 10 to 16.
Celli also introduced 27-year-old Chris Kelleher, Clearlake Police's newest officer.
Kelleher has spent most of his life in the Clearlake area, previously volunteered for the Lake County Fire Protection District and worked at a local mortuary, Celli said.
Last year, Kelleher graduated from the police academy at Santa Rosa Junior College. “He said it was the best decision of his life,” Celli said.
Getting hired by the Clearlake Police Department fulfilled Kelleher's dream of working locally, as he wants to raise his two young children here, according to Celli.
At that point, Kelleher was in week five of a 16-week training, Celli said.
After the introductions, Celli presented what he said were two very special commendations to Lenz and Franklin.
First up was Lenz, honored for saving a woman who had been held hostage at gunpoint on Oct. 29, 2015.
Celli said the commendation's presentation had to be put on hold until the department received a clearance letter from the District Attorney's Office.
That's because the District Attorney's Office was completing an investigation into the incident – which involved Lenz shooting and injuring the suspect, Brenden Fanucchi – as part of the county's critical incident protocol.
In March, District Attorney Don Anderson released his findings in the case, concluding that Lenz was justified in shooting Fanucchi, as Lake County News has reported.
Anderson was on hand for the presentation to Lenz at the April 14 meeting. Celli said he had spoken to Anderson about the case, and that Anderson had agreed that Lenz should receive the award for his actions.
On the morning of Oct. 29 Lenz responded to a report of a man – later identified as Fanucchi – holding two women hostage in a garage at a residence on 18th Avenue, according to the original police and district attorney's reports.
One of the women would be let go, but Fanucchi continued to hold the second woman at gunpoint. Celli said Lenz went into the residence to talk with Fanucchi, attempting to negotiate with him for nearly a half hour.
Lenz pleaded with Fanucchi to put the gun down and let the hostage go, Celli said. Fanucchi became more hostile, demanding marijuana he had accused the woman of stealing.
Then Fanucchi began counting down in what appeared to be preparation for shooting the woman. When he reached “two,” Lenz went into the garage and shot at Fanucchi twice. Fanucchi turned his attention to Lenz, who Celli said then shot twice more, with Fanucchi collapsing.
Fanucchi was treated for gunshot wounds to his right arm, left shoulder and upper abdomen, officials reported.
Celli said Fanucchi is now awaiting trial. Fanucchi remains in custody at the Lake County Jail, with his bail set at $1 million on an attempted murder charge, according to jail records.
Lenz's decisive, immediate and valiant action saved the hostage's life, and it reflected well on Lenz, the department and his chosen profession, said Celli.
Adding that Lenz handled the situation with honor and bravery, Celli presented him with a commendation. In addition, Lenz received a badge that says “valor” and which he is able to wear on his uniform.
Celli then called forward Officer Trevor Franklin, who in March saved an elderly couple from a house fire.
Franklin arrived on scene at the burning home on 39th Avenue shortly after 1 a.m. March 23, according to the original police report.
He found a man – Troy Burnett, who later was arrested for setting fire to his family's home – on the burning front porch and led him away to safety before going around to the rear of the residence and finding Burnett's sister in the backyard.
At the same time, Burnett's 82-year-old father and 77-year-old stepmother were trapped in the house. Celli said Franklin put his own safety at risk to save the couple, first leading out the man and then going inside to find the woman on the floor and unable to get up. He then carried her from the home.
Based on statements from witnesses, Franklin was credited with saving the lives of the man and woman, who Celli said likely would have perished.
Franklin received a certificate of commendation, and like Lenz a special badge – Franklin's with a life-saving award – to wear on his uniform to signify his accomplishment.
Franklin joined the Clearlake Police Department after he graduated from the police academy in December 2012. He's a 2007 graduate of Middletown High School.
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Clearlake Police officers seize 6,800 marijuana plants, make one arrest
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Search warrants served this week by the Clearlake Police Department resulted in one arrest, and the seizure of a loaded handgun and 6,800 marijuana plants.
Lt. Tim Celli said officers served the search warrants in the 16300 block of 28th Avenue on Monday morning.
He said the search warrants were for associated residences and several properties that were involved in the cultivation of commercial marijuana.
At the main residence, officers contacted 37-year-old Ricardo Perez of Napa. Celli said Perez was the only person at the location, however, it is believed there are other individuals involved in the operation.
Celli said the search of the main residence resulted in the discovery of a loaded handgun and approximately 2,300 marijuana plants in various stages of growth.
Some of the marijuana plants were located in the backyard of the location. In addition, Celli said there were other rooms located in the residence that had indoor growing rooms set up. Only some of the rooms were in operation.
There were additional rooms added onto the garage that were set up for indoor marijuana growing with tunneled passageways leading to the additional grow rooms, according to Celli.
There also was an apparatus set up for processing and drying marijuana, numerous illegal electrical connections set up at the residence and the house had unsafe mold conditions as well. Due to the unsafe conditions located at this residence, the property was red tagged by Code Enforcement, Celli said.
As a result of the search of the properties located across the street, Celli said officers seized an additional 4,500 marijuana plants in various stages of growth.
One fenced lot, located directly across the street from the initial residence, had more than 2,000 marijuana plants already planted in the ground, Celli said.
Celli said a second residence located across the street was set up as a processing location. There were drying marijuana plants and some processed marijuana discovered at that location.
Perez was booked at the Lake County Jail for cultivation, possession of marijuana for sale, being armed during the commission of a felony, and a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition due to a prior felony conviction for possession of marijuana sales, according to Celli.
His bail was set at $15,000, and he remained in custody early Wednesday, according to jail records.
Celli said this marijuana growing operation is still under investigation as to anyone else involved. Anyone with information regarding this large scale commercial marijuana operation is encouraged to contact Det. Elvis Cook at 707-994-8251, Extension 315, or [email protected] .
The Clearlake Police Department will continue to investigate commercial marijuana operations located in the city, Celli said, adding that commercial marijuana grows will not be tolerated in the city.
If individuals are caught while engaged in commercial growing – including knowingly providing properties for these types of operations – potential risks include criminal charges related to cultivation, environmental crimes as well as civil, financial penalties. Environmental crimes will be forwarded to the California Environmental Protection Agency, Celli said.
Celli said the department urges any citizen desiring to grow medicinal marijuana to follow the permit process or risk code violations and civil penalties through the city's Code Enforcement division.
He said there is a very short time left to obtain permits for medical marijuana. Individuals desiring to grow medical marijuana in the city of Clearlake should contact Clearlake City Hall immediately.
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Sheriff's office releases name of deputy injured on Mendocino Coast
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On Wednesday morning the Lake County Sheriff's Office released the name of a deputy who remains in critical condition after he and his son were rescued from the ocean Monday morning.
Jacob Steely, 39, is in the Neurological, Trauma, Surgical, Intensive Care Unit at Enloe Hospital in Chico, where he was airlifted on Monday, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.
Brooks said that during Steely's treatment there have been signs of his physical condition improving, however, this recovery process is predicted to be long and challenging.
“It is too early at this point to predict what Jake’s condition will be,” Brooks said in his report. “We are all praying for a full recovery.”
Steely and his family were at Mendocino Headlands State Park Monday when he and his 11-year-old son went into the water, according to radio reports of the incident.
So far, authorities have not made clear whether Steely and his son were swept into the water by a wave or if he went into the water to save the boy.
They were reported to have been about 100 feet offshore when they were rescued. When Steely was brought to shore, he was unconscious and CPR was performed on him before he was flown out.
Steely's son was treated and released from Mendocino Coast District Hospital, and appears to be making a full physical recovery, Brooks said.
Initially, Steely's family had asked that his name not be released. However, Brooks said that, understanding the fact that Lake County is a small community and there are many people who know of the incident and care about the well-being of Steely and his family, the family eventually chose to approve the release of his name.
Steely began his law enforcement career in 2007 as a police officer for the Lakeport Police Department, Brooks said. After spending three years with that agency he was hired as a deputy sheriff with the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Since joining the sheriff's office, Steely has held positions working patrol and SWAT, and is a canine handler, Brooks said.
“Deputy steely is a dedicated, committed and caring law enforcement officer with deep roots in this community,” Brooks said. “He is universally respected by his peers for his abilities, character and professionalism.”
Last year, Steely – along with Sgt. Andy Davidson – was honored by the Lakeport City Council and the Board of Supervisors for saving the life of a man who tried to hang himself at the Natural High property in September 2014, as Lake County News has reported.
Brooks said Steely is surrounded by friends and family at the hospital during his recovery efforts.
For those wishing to make donations to assist the Steely family with medical expenses and other needs, Brooks said a fund has been established in the name of “Dep. Jake Steely Family” at Mendo Lake Credit Union in Lakeport.
A Go Fund Me account – which can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/29y4dxk4 – also was created for the family on Wednesday morning. It has a $50,000 goal.
Brooks said Sheriff Brian Martin, staff, department members and friends also are planning a fundraiser to assist Steely and his family. Details on that event will be available soon.
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Police arrest four in connection to Clearlake marijuana grow
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Tuesday the Clearlake Police Department took four men into custody, and seized firearms and hundreds of marijuana plants as part of an investigation into an illegal grow.
Lt. Tim Celli said that officers served two separate search warrants Tuesday morning, which resulted in the seizure of 359 marijuana plants, 21 pounds of processed marijuana and two firearms.
Arrested were Clearlake residents Jose Ceja Lupian, 58; Jose Ricardo Olmedo, 45; Justin Louis Raab, 19; and John Jockamo Ambroselli, 24, Celli said.
Celli said officers served a search warrant in the 14000 block of Woodland Avenue where they contacted Lupian.
Lupian was discovered to be in possession of two firearms, which he is prohibited from possessing due to a prior felony marijuana cultivation conviction, Celli said.
At that residence Celli said officers also discovered 135 marijuana plants that were in various stages of growth.
They also found that the garage had been converted into an indoor marijuana growing facility which contained some growing marijuana plants. Celli said it was obvious that the conversion was new and not at full operation.
Lupian was arrested and booked at the Lake County Jail where he was charged with cultivation, armed in the commission of a felony and being a felon in possession of a firearm, Celli said.
Celli said officers served a second search warrant in the 3500 block of Sonoma Way, where they seized 224 marijuana plants in various stages of growth and located 21 pounds of processed marijuana packaged for sale.
At that location officers located and arrested Olmedo, Raab and Ambroselli. Celli said Olmedo was booked into the Lake County Jail for cultivation, Raab was charged with cultivation and possession of methamphetamine, and Ambroselli was charged with cultivation, and possession of marijuana for sale.
Celli said the Clearlake Police Department has no interest in legal medicinal marijuana grows that are in compliance with the city ordinance, which requires people to follow a permitting process.
Information on the permit process can be located at the city of Clearlake Web site at www.clearlake.ca.us or at City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive.
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