How to resolve AdBlock issue? Sheriff's office reports on latest marijuana-related investigations; four arrested, more than 4,100 plants eradicated
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Three separate investigations by Lake County Sheriff's detectives have led to four arrests, the seizure of approximately 250 pounds of processed marijuana and the eradication of approximately 4,118 marijuana plants.
The Lake County Sheriff's Office reported that Ryan Patrick Cravea, 25, and 48-year-old Dean Edward McClellan, both of Kelseyville, and Heliodoro Castellanos, 31, of Lower Lake and Jose Gabriel Pelayo, 57, of Clearlake were arrested in the cases.
In the first of the investigations, Lt. Steve Brooks said that on Oct. 21 the Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force conducted a raid and eradication operation in a rural area of Kelseyville, approximately one mile south of Kelsey Creek.
The marijuana grow site – which Brooks said was located earlier in the year during a routine marijuana overflight operation – was planted shortly after several large eradications were conducted in early July of this year, in the same geographical area.
The site contained a total of 4,118 marijuana plants, which were eradicated, Brooks said.
Detectives said the plants were being irrigated using a complex gravity fed water system, which was diverting water from a nearby spring. Brooks said no suspects were located at the time of the raid.
In the second case, on Oct. 22, narcotics detectives secured a search warrant for a residence located in the 9000 block of Mojave Trail in Kelseyville, serving the warrant the following day at 9 a.m., Brooks said.
At the residence detectives located Cravea and McClellan, detaining them without incident, according to Brooks.
During the search detectives located an active butane honey oil lab and several pounds of processed marijuana. Brooks said the extraction of concentrated cannabis using the BHO method is extremely dangerous and potentially explosive.
Cravea admitted to cultivating marijuana for the purpose of sales and said it was his sole source of income, Brooks said.
While conducting a search of the residence, detectives located items linking the suspects to another residence in Middletown. After securing and serving the second search warrant at the Middletown address, Brooks said detectives located approximately 10 pounds of processed marijuana. All of the processed marijuana was seized as evidence.
Both Cravea and McClellan were arrested for cultivating marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale and manufacturing a controlled substance. Brooks said Cravea also was charged with child endangerment. Both were transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.
In the third case, Brooks said deputies assigned to the Highway Narcotics Interdiction Detail conducted an enforcement stop of a blue van at Highway 29 at Guenoc Lane in Middletown on Oct. 24.
Brooks said the reason for the enforcement stop was vehicle code violations. The driver was identified as Castellanos, with Pelayo riding as his passenger.
During the initial contact, deputies noticed the three rows of passenger seats in the van had been removed and the vehicle was hauling several large garbage bags and storage containers, Brooks reported.
Deputies immediately detected the odor of marijuana while speaking to both occupants. Brooks said a search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of 224 bags of processed, packaged marijuana. The total combined weight of the processed marijuana was approximately 230 pounds.
Castellanos admitted ownership of the marijuana and told deputies he was en route to throw the marijuana away, Brooks said.
Brooks said both Pelayo and Castellanos were arrested for possession of marijuana for sale and transportation of marijuana.
After Pelayo was arrested on the aforementioned charges, he was found to be in possession of a small amount of methamphetamine. Brooks said the additional charge of possession of a controlled substance was added to Pelayo’s charges.
The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force can be reached through its anonymous tip line at 707-263-3663.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Sheriff's office seeks assistance in identifying possible stolen property
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff's Office is seeking the community's help in identifying the rightful owners of numerous pieces of property that may have been stolen.
Lt. Steve Brooks said this week that detectives were attempting to gather information on two separate lots of items secured during recent investigations.
The first group of items were seized by the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit during the service of a search warrant, Brooks said.
Brooks said the items include various tools, a rototiller, paint sprayer, diving equipment and miscellaneous golf clubs that were located during the course of a burglary investigation.
The second group of items includes a large quantity of coins and jewelry that also is believed to be stolen, Brooks said.
He said the items was seized during a vehicle stop. The driver was unable to explain the origin of the property.
If you have recently been the victim of a theft where similar items was taken, contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 707-262-4200 and a detective will contact you for further information.
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Police warn of Internet scams at the holidays
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – With the holidays approaching the Clearlake Police Department would like to remind the community to be mindful that Internet scams will be out in full force to get their attention and hard earned money.
It’s just not for gifts, according to a report from Sgt. Nick Bennett.
Bennett said recently a young person in the community was scammed by a someone from out of state posing as a member of the military who was being transferred and needed to sell a vehicle – an opportunity too good to be true.
After several e-mails and guarantees of delivery several thousands of dollars were transferred to the seller. The result was there no vehicle and no seller that could be located or tracked, Bennett said.
Bennett warned that, during the next few weeks leading up to the holiday season and beyond, citizens will be reporting they have been defrauded out of their money by the IRS calling for a payment of delinquent taxes (the IRS conducts business by mail, not telephone), utilities calling for payment or phone/power will be turned off (utility companies always send notices of delinquent accounts by mail well in advance) or some lottery calls with the good news that they have won money and need to send a certain amount of money to receive their prize.
He said that people do not need to pay out money to collect legitimate winnings.
Another scam that has been around for some time but people still fall for it is a check will appear in the mail which looks legitimate, Bennett said.
The sender requests you deposit the check and return a portion to them and keep the rest as your winnings. Days later the check will not clear and your checking account is debited for the bad check that cannot be traced, Bennett said.
Bennett reminded community members that, if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Lakeport Police Department deploys officer body cameras
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department said it is rolling out its use of body cameras for officers.
The agency began issuing body cameras to officers and training them in their use this past Friday, according to Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
Earlier this year, the Lakeport City Council authorized funding to purchase additional and replacement mobile audio video units – known more commonly as “MAVs” – to deploy in all marked Lakeport Police vehicles and body cameras for all sworn Lakeport Police Department staff, as Lake County News has reported.
Rasmussen said his department has been using MAV units in vehicles for a number of years. However, the body cameras are new equipment for department personnel.
Rasmussen said the body cameras will extend and enhance the department's ability to capture video footage of officers conducting their work when outside of their vehicles and not in range of the MAV units.
Additionally, the use of body cameras is intended to enhance the mission of the department by accurately capturing contacts between members of the department and the public, Rasmussen said.
“We believe that the cameras will be particularly beneficial in those situations where officers are being threatened or physically assaulted or situations where persons are resisting arrest or being confrontational with officers,” Rasmussen said. “This year we have had numerous incidents of officers being assaulted and subjects resisting arrest.”
Lakeport Police management worked with the Lakeport Police Officers Association in implementing department policies and procedures for use of the body cameras, which is separate and has differences from the agency's current policies and procedures covering MAV units, according to Rasmussen.
After researching different camera systems, the department elected to purchase body camera units known as BODYCAM by PRO-VISION of Byron Center, Mich.
These units have a 170-degree, wide-angle view, infrared night vision, 1080P high-definition video with audio, 32 gigabytes of video storage and wireless remote control activation, Rasmussen said. Further information on the units can be found at www.bodycameras.com .
Rasmussen said his department thanked the Lakeport City Council and City Manager Margaret Silveira for their support of this program.
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Police arrest father and son on felony charges after officer assaulted during Lakeport bar check
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police have arrested a father and son alleged to have assaulted a police officer early Sunday morning during a downtown bar check.
Roman Hanson Rose, 24, and Michael Dale Rose, 51, both of Lakeport, were arrested on felony charges, according to Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
Roman Rose was booked for resisting an officer with force and violence, battery on a peace officer with injury, fighting in a public place, threatening or attempting to prevent a peace officer from performing his duties and escape from custody, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said Michael Rose was arrested for resisting an officer with force and violence, battery on a peace officer causing injury and battery.
At approximately 12:16 a.m. Sunday a Lakeport Police officer, accompanied by a ridealong, entered TJ’s Downtown Bar and Grill, located at 370 S. Main St., to conduct a bar check, Rasmussen said. The officer observed approximately 100 customers in the bar at the time.
During the bar check a male subject, later identified as Roman Rose, grabbed the back of the officer’s duty belt. Rasmussen said the officer turned around and contacted Rose, who immediately became verbally abusive and threatened to assault the officer. Roman Rose also was showing signs of intoxication.
The officer called for backup and continued to observe Rose while waiting for the backup unit. Rasmussen said a second Lakeport Police officer arrived a few minutes later.
Both officers then approached Rose and asked him to step outside due to his hostile behavior. Rasmussen said Rose refused and continued to be verbally abusive, hostile and threatening toward the officers and used both hands to push the initial officer.
The officers attempted to take control of Rose and he violently resisted and the second officer used a Taser to control him so he could be handcuffed, Rasmussen said.
While being taken outside to a patrol car, Rose escaped from an officer and ran across S. Main Street before being detained again, according to Rasmussen.
During the arrest of Rose a second male subject – later identified as his father, Michael Rose – came to his aid, interfering with the arrest and also assaulting the initial officer by grabbing him around the neck and attempting to place a “choke” hold on him, Rasmussen said.
During the incident, Michael Rose also assaulted the ridealong, who was not injured. Rasmussen said the initial officer received minor injuries as a result of the assault and resistance from both of the Roses.
The second officer, with the assistance of the ridealong and three bar customers, was able to take Michael Rose into custody, Rasmussen said.
During the incident other bar customers were becoming hostile towards the police officers who also requested emergency backup from allied law enforcement agencies, according to Rasmussen.
Six Lake County Sheriff’s Office units and two California Highway Patrol Officers responded and arrived at the scene to assist a short time after the call. Rasmussen said the Clearlake Police Department also responded a unit but they were canceled while en-route after on-scene officers determined no additional resources were needed.
Both Roman Rose and Michael Rose received minor injuries during the incident and were transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for medical clearance prior to booking, Rasmussen said.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
