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Lakeport Police logs: Saturday, Jan. 10
Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026
00:00 EXTRA PATROL 2601100001
Occurred at Lake County Law Library on 3D....
Sheriff's detectives investigate Tuesday night Clearlake Oaks stabbing
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Clearlake Oaks man was the victim of a Tuesday night stabbing, with sheriff's detectives seeking leads on the identity of the responsible subjects.
Sheriff's Lt. Steve Brooks said that the male victim was transported to the hospital for treatment of a stab wound to his neck and arm.
At approximately 8:53 p.m. Tuesday deputies were dispatched to Firehouse Pizza in Clearlake Oaks on the report of approximately 20 people arguing in front of the restaurant, Brooks said.
As deputies were responding, Central Dispatch advised that the confrontation had become physical with multiple gunshots heard, Brooks said. Just prior to the deputies arriving on scene, Central Dispatch provided information that all of the subjects had fled the area in different directions.
Upon their arrival, deputies located a white male adult who appeared to have been stabbed in the neck and the arm. Brooks said medical personnel from Station 75 treated the victim’s injuries and then transported him to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake for additional medical attention.
Detectives and crime scene investigators were called out and assisted the patrol deputies with multiple interviews and the collection of evidence. Brooks said a detective responded to the hospital and was told by medical staff that the victims injuries were not life threatening and that he would be treated and later released.
A detective contacted the victim in the emergency room as he was receiving medical attention, Brooks reported.
Brooks said the victim said he stepped outside his residence when he noticed a group of people fighting in his driveway. The victim said the group consisted of approximately 15 people who were described as being Caucasian males, between the ages of 18 to 24.
The victim said he felt someone strike his head a couple of times and then suddenly felt blood running down his neck. He told the detective that he did not think he would be able to identify any of the people involved, according to Brooks' report.
This investigation is ongoing and detectives are pursuing all leads to identify the person responsible for the stabbing, Brooks said.
If anyone has information pertinent to this case, please contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 707-263-2690.
Mendocino County Sheriff's deputy killed by armed robbery, carjacking suspect; suspect found dead of apparent suicide
NORTH COAST, Calif. – A Mendocino County Sheriff's deputy was fatally shot Wednesday morning after confronting an armed robbery and carjacking suspect who law enforcement said later committed suicide.
Deputy Ricky Del Fiorentino, 48, a 26-year law enforcement veteran, was killed shortly before noon near Fort Bragg, according to Mendocino County Sheriff Tom Allman, who held a news conference on the shooting early Wednesday evening.
The man who shot Del Fiorentino, 32-year-old Ricardo Antonio Chaney, was later found dead near the scene of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, Allman said.
Allman said that Chaney was the suspect in an early morning armed robbery involving a shotgun, carjacking and kidnapping in Eugene, Ore.
Chaney stole a black 2006 BMW 330, forced the owners into the trunk and headed south. Allman said he did not have information about the people who had been forced into the trunk, but that they were not in the vehicle at the time of the shooting in Fort Bragg.
A “be on the lookout” about the armed robbery, kidnapping and carjacking was issued to Mendocino County, but Allman's staff didn't have it for their Wednesday morning briefing.
Just after 10:30 a.m. a business owner at Confusion Hill, nine miles south of the Humboldt County line, found Chaney urinating outside of his business, confronted him and told him it was inappropriate, and escorted Chaney off the property, according to Allman.
The business owner told law enforcement that Chaney, wearing a hoodie, returned a short time later with a double-barreled shotgun. The man armed himself with a baseball bat and locked himself inside the business, with Chaney shooting at him through the door. As Chaney sped from the scene, the business owner shot at him with a handgun, Allman said.
Allman said that Mendocino County Sheriff's Dispatch received a 911 call about the incident at 10:34 a.m., just after it occurred.
Chaney fled southbound on Highway 1, with Mendocino County Sheriff's Lt. Greg Stefani spotting the BMW at 11:38 a.m., Allman said.
Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies pursued Chaney, with Allman reporting that the pursuit reached speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, with Chaney passing on double-yellow lines and blind corners.
About three miles out of Fort Bragg the deputies lost sight of the stolen BMW, and Allman said deputies made contact with Fort Bragg Police to let them know the suspect was headed their way but hadn't yet entered the city.
Allman said the deputies then began searching dirt roads in the area.
Del Fiorentino turned down Park Drive – located three and a half miles north of Fort Bragg, on the west side of Highway 1 – at around 11:50 a.m. and came face to face with Chaney and the stolen BMW, Allman said.
Allman said Chaney – who had two AK-47-type assault rifles, in addition to the double-barreled shotgun he had used at Confusion Hill – riddled Del Fiorentino's patrol car with bullets, blowing out both the windshield and rear window.
Arriving Fort Bragg Police officers found Del Fiorentino dead in the front seat of his vehicle, with Chaney going through the car. Allman said Chaney had taken Del Fiorentino's sidearm from its holster.
What followed, said Allman, was a firefight between Chaney and Fort Bragg Police Lt. John Naulty, who also was armed with an assault rifle.
Allman said Chaney shot six to seven rounds at Naulty, with Naulty returning fire with less than five rounds.
Naulty was able to retreat to safety, with Chaney going into nearby brush, Allman said.
Law enforcement from around Mendocino County – including California Highway Patrol, State Parks and Cal Fire – joined sheriff's and Fort Bragg Police personnel at the scene, creating a sealed perimeter. Allman said that the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office also sent personnel as well as its helicopter to assist with the search for Chaney.
Chaney would later be found in the area, with a gunshot wound in the leg, which it's believed he received during the firefight with Naulty. Allman said Chaney appeared to have committed suicide.
Allman said there was no indication of a second suspect in the shooting, although a second person had been detained at the scene earlier Wednesday.
He said the investigation is continuing, and the CHP and the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office are in charge of processing the scene of the shooting. Investigators from Eugene, Oreg., also are traveling to Mendocino County.
“There's many details that we don't know,” Allman said.
All of the firearms were recovered, including Del Fiorentino's sidearm, which was found near the BMW, Allman said.
Allman said early Wednesday evening that Highway 1 was in the process of being reopened.
Del Fiorentino was “a very, very brave man,” who Allman said he had known for years. They had worked cases together in their early days in the department, and he had last spoken to Del Fiorentino two weeks ago.
Allman said Del Fiorentino worked as a sheriff's deputy from 1988 to 1990, went to work for the Fort Bragg Police Department from 1990 to 2000, and then returned to the sheriff's office in 2000, working there these past 14 years.
A wrestling coach, father and husband, Del Fiorentino lived in Fort Bragg and was assigned to the north coast area, Allman said.
Gov. Jerry Brown, Congressman Jared Huffman, California Attorney General Kamala Harris and CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow had all called Allman on Wednesday in the wake of the shooting, he said.
Allman asked the community for prayers and sympathy for Del Fiorentino's family.
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Police seek identity of subject who attempted to lure girls into van
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department said Monday that it is seeking information about the identity of a male subject who attempted to lure two girls into his van on Saturday.
Lt. Jason Ferguson said Lakeport Police officers responded to the 800 block of N. Main St. at 7:30 p.m. Saturday on the report of two 11-year-old females who said that a male subject attempted to lure them into his van.
The girls reported that a man, described as 40 to 50 years old, with longer hair that had some gray color, was parked in the driveway at 800 N. Main St. in a light baby blue-colored van with no windows on the side, Ferguson said.
As the girls walked toward the van the male told them to get into the van and made an inappropriate comment – which was sexual in nature – to one of the girls, according to Ferguson.
Ferguson said the girls reported that they continued to walk and noticed the van began to follow them, so they hid behind a nearby restaurant.
The girls reported that they watched the van pass by several times, believing the male was attempting to locate them while they hid, Ferguson said.
Ferguson said the girls were able to flag down law enforcement to report the incident.
Lakeport Police officers developed information into a possible suspect, but Ferguson said both juveniles were unable to positively identify the male as the person who followed them.
Officers are continuing their investigation into the identity of the male subject in the van, Ferguson said.
Anyone with information about the subject is asked to call the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491.
Police arrest suspect in Clearlake thefts; man had asked for water, was allowed into homes
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department said Thursday that a man suspected of being responsible for several thefts in Clearlake homes – where he had been allowed in after asking residents for water – has been arrested.
Clearlake transient Richard William O’Keefe Jr., 32, was taken into custody late Wednesday night, according to Clearlake Police Sgt. Rodd Joseph.
On Feb. 26 the Clearlake Police Department had issued a report on an unidentified male subject who was going to homes around the city, claiming to be associated with the local fire department and asking residents for water.
Victims reported that after he was admitted into their homes, he stole items and then fled, as Lake County News has reported. Items reported stolen included electronics, wallets and purses.
Following the agency's release of the report on the thefts, Joseph said the Clearlake Police Department received several tips regarding the subject's possible identity, and were able to positively identify O'Keefe as the suspect in at least two of the recent Clearlake thefts.
Officers are working to try and link O’Keefe to other similar reported crimes, Joseph said.
On Wednesday night, shortly after 11 p.m., O’Keefe was taken into custody by Clearlake Police officers on unrelated charges stemming from illegal controlled substance use in a residence he had broken into and in which he was trespassing, according to Joseph.
During the contact with police O’Keefe resisted arrest, threatened to kill officers at their residences and to blow up the police department with C4 explosive, Joseph said.
O'Keefe was booked into the Lake County Jail early Thursday morning. Jail records showed he was booked on a misdemeanor charge of entering a noncommercial dwelling, and felony obstructing or resisting an executive officer. He has a March 17 court appearance scheduled.
Joseph said that, upon completion of the Clearlake Police investigation, the reports will be forwarded to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for additional charges against O’Keefe.
The Clearlake Police Department thanked Lake County residents who called in and provided crucial information, which Joseph said ultimately led to O’Keefe’s positive identification in the theft cases.