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Sheriff's office to participate in Operation Dry Water
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In an effort to discourage boating under the influence on Clear Lake, the Lake County Sheriff’s Marine Patrol Unit will be participating in Operation Dry Water 2016.
Lt. Steve Brooks said this year’s operation dry water will be on June 24, 25 and 26.
Anyone found to have blood alcohol content higher than 0.08 percent, as prescribed by law, may be subject to arrest and incarceration.
Operation Dry Water is a national boating under the influence awareness and enforcement campaign devoted to bringing attention to the dangers of boating under the influence and removing impaired boaters from our nation’s waterways.
Now in its eighth year, Operation Dry Water partners with recreational boaters, as well as local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to make a positive impact on impaired boating.
The Sheriff’s Marine Patrol Unit also participated in Operation Dry Water last years, as Lake County News has reported.
Operation Dry Water is a joint program of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators is a national nonprofit organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety. It represents the recreational boating authorities of all 50 states and the U.S. territories.
For more information on Operation Dry Water, visit www.operationdrywater.org .
May 20 Lakeport vigil planned as part of National Police Week
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Again this year, communities across the United States will come together during National Police Week – May 15 to 21 – to honor and remember those law enforcement officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as the family members, friends and fellow officers they left behind.
This year, the names of 252 officers killed in the line of duty were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, DC.
These 252 officers include 123 officers who were killed during 2015, plus 129 officers who died in previous years but whose stories of sacrifice had been lost to history until now.
The names of all 252 fallen officers nationwide were formally dedicated during the 28th annual Candlelight Vigil on May 13.
The candlelight vigil was one of many commemorative events taking place in the nation’s capital during National Police Week 2016.
The national observance is organized by a group of organizations led by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund (NLEOMF), Concerns of Police Survivors, the Fraternal Order of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary.
“The loss of a law enforcement officer always represents a loss for the entire community,” said Sheriff Brian Martin.
Martin said the week is dedicated to remembering and honoring those who have died serving their communities. “It is my hope that one year we will have no names to add to the Memorial Wall.”
All fallen law enforcement officers and firefighters who died in the line of duty from Lake County will be remembered during Police Week services being held 8 p.m., Friday, May 20, at the Police & Fire Memorial in front of the museum in downtown Lakeport.
Participants may bring their own candles in a jar to protect the flame from the wind, or a candle with blue shield will be provided for your use during the vigil.
For more information about National Police Week, please visit www.LawMemorial.org/policeweek .
Clearlake Police arrest four, seize hundreds of marijuana plants
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department arrested four men and seized hundreds of marijuana plants following the service of two separate search warrants on Wednesday.
Lt. Tim Celli, the department's acting chief, said the first two individuals were arrested at a property in the 3500 block of Garfield Avenue, where 94 marijuana plants also were seized.
Officers received complaints regarding cultivation at the property, followed up with an investigation, obtained probable cause and eventually secured a search warrant, Celli said.
He said the property was a fenced-in vacant lot and there were no other structures on the property. After securing the search warrant, surveillance was conducted and officers observed two suspects go to the property and tend to the growing marijuana.
On Wednesday morning, after seeing the two suspects at the location tending to the marijuana plants, officers served the search warrant, Celli said.
As a result, Celli said 94 budded growing marijuana plants were seized. The marijuana plants were inside a light deprivation hoop house that was used to accelerate the growth of the marijuana.
Two suspects who were identified as brothers out of Ukiah, Manuel and Gilberto Zazueta, were arrested for the cultivation of marijuana at the location, he said.
Celli said the grow site was believed to be a commercial marijuana grow and there were no indicators that it was for medical purposes. The brothers were both later booked into the Lake County Jail.
While officers were serving the search warrant on Garfield Avenue, other Clearlake Police officers responded to a disturbance call in the 3400 block of Harrison Avenue, Celli said.
During the call, officers observed marijuana growing in the backyard at the location. When officers attempted to talk to the occupants about the marijuana grow, the occupants were uncooperative and challenged the officers to get a search warrant, according to Celli.
At that point, officers secured the location in preparation of a search warrant, which Celli said was authored by a Clearlake Police detective based on the observation made by officers. A Lake County Superior Court judge later signed the warrant, authorizing the search of the property.
Investigators served the search warrant at the location and, as a result, Celli said 726 marijuana plants were seized from the property.
Hundreds of marijuana plants were seized from the outdoor growing operation in the backyard which was in various stages of growth. In addition, hundreds more “clone” marijuana plants were seized from inside the residence which was converted for an indoor growing operation. Parts of the residence were also converted for a marijuana processing operation as well, Celli said.
Celli said officers also located at the residence a “stun gun” type billy club which is illegal to possess in violation of 22210 PC.
At the conclusion of the investigation, two suspects identified as Juan Alverez Munoz and Fernando Herrera Arguez were arrested for cultivation of marijuana and possession of the weapon and later booked in the Lake County Jail, Celli said.
Police arrest suspect in commercial marijuana grow, seize nearly 1,300 plants
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – In the latest in a series of operations targeting illegal commercial marijuana grows, the Clearlake Police Department said one suspect was arrested and almost 1,300 plants were seized and eradicated on Thursday.
Police arrested a man who identified himself as 53-year-old Jose Antonio Chabolla Munoz of Clearlake for his involvement in the sales and commercial cultivation of marijuana, according to Lt. Tim Celli, the department's acting chief.
The man was booked under the name Antonio Chabolla after no record of him was found under the name he gave to authorities, Celli said.
Celli said that Chabolla was taken into custody shortly before 11 a.m. Thursday when Clearlake Police officers served a search warrant in the 3500 block of Locust Avenue at the home where he and his family live.
When officers initially arrived they gave numerous announcements of their presence, demanded entry into the residence and the surrounding buildings, but received no answer, Celli said.
Cell said the officers subsequently forced open the doors of the residence as well as a garage that had been converted into living quarters.
Inside the garage living quarters, an adult female – whose name Celli said is being withheld because she was not charged with a crime – was located inside with her small child.
The woman apparently didn’t unlock the door or contact the police when commanded to do so because she was calling her father, Chabolla, who was at work at a local restaurant, according to Celli's report.
Celli said the officers did not locate anyone else at the property. However, a short time later, a woman identified as Chabolla’s wife and Chabolla himself showed up at the residence in two separate vehicles.
During the service of the search warrant, officers located and seized approximately 1,272 marijuana plants from the backyard of the residence. Celli said some of the plants were planted in the ground, however, many of the plants were still in pots, appearing as though they would be moved to another location.
Also seized during the search warrants were several false identifications including several Social Security cards and a passport, all belonging to Chabolla in various names with different Social Security numbers, Celli said.
Celli said several thousand dollars in cash also was seized and is pending judicial asset forfeiture proceedings.
Officers located evidence to suggest sales of marijuana, including information collected that suggested large sale transactions upwards of $50,000. Celli said scales and packaging were located along with approximately 8.5 pounds of processed marijuana.
During a subsequent interview of Chabolla, he took responsibility of the marijuana located at the residence. In addition, he admitted that he has been involved in sales, cultivation and also brokering marijuana deals for a several years, according to Celli.
Celli said Chabolla was arrested and later booked into the Lake County Jail pending proper identification, with bail set at $15,000.
Charges against him, according to booking records, included felony charges of marijuana cultivation, possession of marijuana for sale and forging an official seal.
No record for Chabolla under the name he gave to police – Jose Antonio Chabolla Munoz – was located during a Livescan fingerprint check and he was eventually bailed from the Lake County Jail under the name Antonio Chabolla, Celli said.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to call Det. Elvis Cook at 707-994-8251, Extension 315.
Celli said the Clearlake Police Department will continue to investigate commercial marijuana grows in the city, with subjects who are involved in or renting property to growing operations subject to prosecution for felony crimes as well as environmental crimes.
Under city ordinance, commercial growing of marijuana is not allowed and Celli said the laws pertaining to cultivation, sales transportation or furnishing will be assertively enforced.
He said these operations should not be confused with the medical marijuana permit process and enforcement that involves Clearlake Code Enforcement.
Information of the medical marijuana permit process can be found on line at the city of Clearlake Web site, http://clearlake.ca.us/ .
