How to resolve AdBlock issue? Clearlake Police officers make arrests in enforcement sweep
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Saturday operation focusing on probationers resulted in several arrests.
Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department said seven individuals were arrested during the enforcement that the agency conducted, which focused on individuals on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS).
During the operation officers went to four locations that were preselected from a list of individuals on PRCS probation, Hobbs said.
As a result of this operation, Hobbs said three individuals on PRCS were arrested:
- Shawn McPherson, 42, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
- Shy Savok, 21, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of a felony warrant.
- Betty West, 32, was arrested for possession of a prescription medication without a prescription.
Additionally, four others who Hobbs said were not on PRCS but were at the residence of a person who is were arrested on various charges. They included:
- Breanne Hubbard, 30, was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
- Garlin Dillard, 45, was arrested for a misdemeanor warrant.
- Sherrie Newcomb, 42, was arrested for a misdemeanor warrant.
- Christie Kirk, 38, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Anyone with information regarding individuals on Post Release Community Supervision that are violating the terms of their probation in Clearlake can contact the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Initial audit finding points to discrepancy in sheriff’s undercover operations fund
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – County officials are investigating the discovery this week of a discrepancy in the balance of the fund that supplies cash for undercover sheriff’s operations.
A Friday afternoon statement released by Sheriff Frank Rivero’s office said an audit of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau undercover operations fund conducted on Wednesday discovered that $2,100 could not be accounted for.
“The funds are kept in a safe located within the detective’s bureau at the Sheriff’s Main Office,” the statement said. “The persons with access to the funds are limited and strict procedures are in place, which require two signatures for assignment of the funds when needed for operational purposes.”
The sheriff’s office statement concluded, “Upon learning of the discrepancy between the last reported audit balance and current balance, Sheriff Rivero assigned his financial personnel to review the account for financial errors and instructed his command staff to secure an outside agency to conduct an internal affairs investigation.”
The release of the information comes ahead of the completion of the audit, which was being conducted by Cathy Saderlund, the county clerk/auditor-controller.
“I can confirm that we have an audit in progress that has now been compromised, in my opinion,” said Saderlund in reference to the press release. She did not want to comment further at this point.
Sheriff’s command staff did not respond to a request by Lake County News for an explanation of why the information was released ahead of the audit’s completion.
County Administrative Officer Matt Perry said the sheriff’s office also didn’t alert him before releasing the information about the in-process audit.
He said that on Wednesday Saderlund’s staff was conducting a periodic audit of the fund, which last had been audited in December of last year.
The sheriff’s office had said that during that December audit, all funds had been accounted for, and Perry said he had not been advised otherwise at that time.
In January, sheriff’s Capt. Chris Macedo and Undersheriff Pat Turturici had gone before the Board of Supervisors to ask for an increase in the appropriation for the fund, which is used for operations such as narcotics investigations, as Lake County News has reported.
Rivero’s written report to the board stated, “As the Sheriff’s office has been pro-active in narcotic’s (sic) investigations, interdiction and eradication, it is requested this appropriation be increased to $25,000 at this time.”
Despite concerns about the lack of transparency of how the funds were used – sheriff’s staff acknowledged that information about how the money is used is sensitive – the board unanimously approved the request to raise the appropriation amount from $5,000 to $25,000.
According to the meeting minutes, the board also “encouraged the Sheriff’s Office to abide by requests from the Auditor-Controller regarding proper accountability.”
Perry confirmed that the fund whose audit is in question was the same one for which the board voted to raise the appropriations amount.
However, he said the increase hadn’t yet taken place, pending the sheriff’s office coming into compliance with the auditor-controller’s accountability requirements.
Supervisor Rob Brown, who supported raising the fund appropriation, credited Saderlund with finding the issue, but added, “It’s highly unlikely that any of the detectives have done anything inappropriate.”
Instead, he suggested it may have been the result of an accounting error. Brown added that audits are meant to find those very kinds of discrepancies.
“We all need to wait and see what the outcome of the independent audit is before we jump to any conclusions,” Brown said.
Perry said he didn’t want to discuss the county’s next steps at this point, noting that Saderlund has to finish her audit and he wants to confer with county counsel.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
012213 Board of Supervisors - Request to raise sheriff's undercover fund appropriation
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Police use Taser on Clearlake man involved in domestic dispute
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Police used a Taser to subdue a man who rushed officers responding to the report of a domestic dispute on Friday.
Miguel Feliciano, 26, was taken into custody without incident afterward, according to a report from Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department.
Just before 10 a.m. Friday Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to a trailer in the Lakefront Mobile Home Park, located at 5575 Old Highway 53, for a welfare check, Hobbs reported.
He said dispatch advised that the reporting party – a local school’s vice principal who had given a student who was suspended a ride home – discovered a heated argument inside the residence.
When the subjects inside would not come to the door for her or their child, the vice principal left with the child and called the police, Hobbs said.
Hobbs and Officer Tyler Paulsen responded, and he said when they arrived they could hear subjects inside the residence arguing.
After making contact with a Kristein Feliciano, 27, near a window by the front door she refused to open the door, Hobbs said.
Officer Paulsen believed a subject who was on active state parole lived at the residence. Once a check via dispatch confirmed the subject was on active state parole, officers requested the female open the door or it would be forced open, Hobbs said.
Kristein Feliciano still refused and the door was forcibly opened. Once inside the residence, Miguel Feliciano was observed trying to climb out a window at the rear end of the residence, Hobbs said.
When ordered to stop Miguel Feliciano began running directly at officers. As he got closer to the officers he put his hands up in a fighting position and continued toward them, Hobbs said.
A X26 Taser was deployed and Miguel Feliciano was struck with both the probes. Hobbs said they then placed Miguel Feliciano under arrest for resisting or obstructing a police officer.
Complaint charges also will be filed with the Lake County District Attorney’s Office against Kristein Feliciano for resisting or obstructing a police officer, Hobbs said.
Miguel Feliciano was medically cleared for incarceration and transported to the Lake County Jail, according to Hobbs.
Hobbs said the parolee who lives at the residence was not home at the time of this incident and it was determined there had not been a crime between the Felicianos prior to the arrival of police.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Lakeport Police Department offers community summer safety tips
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Summer is rapidly approaching and the Lakeport Police Department would like to remind the community of some important safety tips and general information.
Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said traffic safety will be extremely important this summer as pedestrian and vehicular traffic increase.
He said the community should be aware that the summer concert series and Independence Day celebration at Library Park bring heavy traffic flow through the downtown area.
Rasmussen asked that drivers take extra care to watch for pedestrians while driving about Lakeport, and remember that pedestrians do have the legal right of way.
Rasmussen said the Lakeport Police Department will do its best to enforce this, and all other traffic laws, but will also be counting on the public to be mindful of the risks to drivers and pedestrians alike.
Pets often are innocent victims during the summer months and Rasmussen reminded community members that leaving your pets in your vehicle is very dangerous and owners should use good judgment when taking your pet for a ride.
Vehicles can very easily become ovens even with the windows down, so always be prepared and have water if your animal is traveling with you, Rasmussen said.
For those with pickup trucks, Rasmussen said they should remember that even through the animal is in the open air, the bed of the truck can become extremely hot. Always have a bed or platform that your animal can lay or sit on to protect their feet from the heat.
Summer is garage sale season and police remind the community that the city of Lakeport has an ordinance prohibiting the posting of any type of handbill or advertising on any public property in the city. Rasmussen said the ordinance is designed to keep public areas free from clutter and resulting litter when the signs fall down.
In addition, he said signs can obstruct the view of motorists; therefore, signs should only be posted on private property and, only after obtaining permission, from the property owner. The police department will be monitoring compliance with this ordinance.
Rasmussen said the police department team always is happy to hear from the community; feel free to contact them with any questions or concerns at 707-263-5491.
The Lakeport Police Department wishes the community a great summer.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Police arrest 13 during Thursday enforcement operation
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A special enforcement operation on Thursday in the city of Clearlake that focused on probationers resulted in the arrests of 13 individuals.
Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department said that agency and Lake County Probation conducted the operation regarding individuals on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS).
During the operation officers went to 15 locations that were preselected from a list of individuals on PRCS probation, Hobbs said.
The 13 individuals arrested included the following:
– Jeremy Green, 36, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for an outstanding felony warrant.
– Robert Jones, 43, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of a controlled substance and violation of probation.
– Nicole Miller, 30, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of drug paraphernalia.
– Nigel Powers, 39, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for violation of probation.
– Shavon Vestal, 31, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for a outstanding felony warrant and violation of probation.
– Sean Bremer, 30, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for a outstanding felony warrant.
– Paul Lambdin, 66, was arrested for violation of probation. Lambdin is on felony probation for driving under the influence of alcohol and was contacted while consuming alcohol at his residence.
– Marty Merola, 57, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of a narcotic controlled substance.
– Christopher Carson, 25, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for a outstanding warrant.
– Dwayne Yiggins, 35, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for being a felon in possession of a firearm and violation of parole. During a search at Yiggins residence he was found to have access to a loaded 9 millimeter semiautomatic handgun.
– Joseph Flores, 37, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of a narcotic controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
– Nicole White, 29, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia.
– Steven Cova, 44, was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.
Anyone with information regarding individuals on Post Release Community Supervision who are violating the terms of their probation in Clearlake can contact the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
