Man arrested after leading police on foot chase through neighborhood

CLEARLAKE PARK, Calif. – An attempt to pull over a bicyclist on Saturday afternoon ended up with police chasing the suspect through several yards in a city neighborhood before apprehending him.
Kyle Wesley Taylor, 35, of Clearlake was arrested after the chase, which ended in the area of Ninth Street, according to Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department.
Taylor was in the Clearlake Park area riding his bike when Officer Alan Collier attempted to pull him over, Hobbs said.
During a probation search Collier found Taylor in possession of a controlled substance. “Then he took off running,” said Hobbs.
Collier chased Taylor for about a block and a half, and when he caught up to him, Taylor attacked him, Hobbs said.
Following a brief physical confrontation Taylor took office again, running another half block before Hobbs said he got away from Collier.
A short time later, a resident in the 3300 block of Ninth Street called police to alert them that Taylor was hiding in their garage, Hobbs said.
Hobbs said he and another officer went into the garage and Taylor went running out.
Hobbs chased Taylor through four more yards, going over fences, before Hobbs caught Taylor.
Taylor was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, battery on a police officer, a probation violation and resisting arrest, Hobbs said.
Collier was OK following the fight with Taylor. Hobbs said Collier had been kneed in the chest and suffered some scrapes.
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Police nab suspects in Thursday burglary of Lakeport church
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Two Lucerne residents are in custody in connection with the burglary of a Lakeport church on Thursday morning.
Miguel Antonio Velez, 30, and Michelle Denise Miller, 44, were arrested by Lakeport Police officers following the burglary at United Christian Parish, according to a report from Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
At 10:15 a.m. Thursday Lakeport Police units were dispatched to investigate the report of a burglary in progress at the church, located in the 700 block of North Brush Street, Rasmussen said.
He said the reporting party advised that the two suspects – later identified as Velez and Miller – took a $1,500 laptop computer from the church office.
Responding officers located and detained both Velez and Miller at the scene and determined that they acted together in removing the laptop computer from the church, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said Velez is currently on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) due to California AB 109 Realignment.
Velez has numerous prior arrests for drugs and violence charges and a felony conviction for burglary where he was sentenced to state prison for four years in February 2011, Rasmussen said.
Velez was arrested and booked into jail for burglary and violation of probation, according to Rasmussen, while Miller was arrested and booked into jail for burglary and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia.
The computer was recovered and returned to the church, Rasmussen said.
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Board votes to amend contract for sheriff's attorney; district attorney said he's made 'Brady' decision
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted to amend a contract for legal services for the county's sheriff, who has been under investigation for allegations that he lied during a 2008 shooting investigation – a matter the county's district attorney said has now been concluded.
The 3-2 vote – with Jim Comstock and Rob Brown voting no – approved amending the contract with the Jones and Mayer law firm of Fullerton, with another $2,000 added to it, for a total of $8,500.
The original contract, which had a $6,500 cap, was approved last year, as Lake County News reported.
The action wasn't popular with board members, but County Counsel Anita Grant reminded the supervisors that a judge had ordered the county to provide the outside legal services for Sheriff Frank Rivero.
That decision, handed down last year, was reached after the court determined that Grant could not erect an ethical wall in her department to offer Rivero legal representation.
“This is not an ideal situation,” said Supervisor Anthony Farrington. “We're forced to act.”
Grant said the court made “a very specific ruling” in ordering the county to cover Rivero's legal fees in the deliberations with District Attorney Don Anderson, and she encouraged the board to allow the additional attorney fees in order to be in compliance.
In 2011 Anderson opened an investigation into allegations that Rivero – while working as a sheriff's deputy – had lied to sheriff's office personnel about his actions during a February 2008 incident in which he shot at a man with a can of pepper spray at a Cobb home. The man was uninjured.
Anderson conducted the inquiry under the auspices of the 1963 U.S. Supreme Court case Brady v. Maryland, which requires the government to disclose to defendants in criminal cases any information that could clear them. That includes information about any credibility issues relating to law enforcement officers who are witnesses in criminal cases.
The Board of Supervisors originally had considered the Jones and Mayer contract amendment at its Feb. 5 meeting, but held the matter over for two weeks so Grant could get an update on the status of Anderson's inquiry.
Grant told the board Tuesday that the matter “should be winding down.” She added that she didn't anticipate another 10 days would pass before there was a final resolution.
In fact, Anderson told Lake County News on Tuesday that he had made his decision.
“It's been done,” he said, explaining that he emailed his decision to Rivero's attorney early that same morning.
Because of the requirements of the Peace Officer's Bill of Rights, Anderson could not disclose his finding.
He said he and Rivero's attorney have a “gentleman's agreement” that for 10 days after the decision is issued none of the facts of the investigation will be released, unless Rivero wants to go public with it.
“That's up to him,” said Anderson.
At the end of that 10 days, Anderson plans to make a public statement on the facts of the case – but not the decision itself – along with offering an explanation of Brady requirements.
Rivero and another local officer – who Anderson could not name – are the only individuals recently considered for placement on the “Brady list,” Anderson said.
Having a negative Brady finding can often end a person's law enforcement career.
When Anderson came into office, he inherited a Brady list of about 12 to 14 individuals who previous district attorneys had decided had credibility issues.
All of those individuals had, by that time, left the law enforcement profession, he said.
Anderson said he wrote his own Brady policy, which drew in part from some established policies at other agencies.
He then went back through his office's Brady list and, based on his policy's guidelines and a lack of evidence, immediately crossed off about half of the former officers who were listed.
Anderson then wrote letters to those who remained on the list, met with some of them, and reduced the number further, down to three or four now, he said.
He believes that, eventually, all of the individuals who were on the original Brady list he inherited will be cleared.
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Clearlake Police arrest man for allegedly setting Wisedas Resort fire

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Police said they have arrested a suspect believed to be responsible for setting a closed lakeside resort on fire on Sunday.
Clearlake resident Richard Alarcon Teruel, 34, was taken into custody on Sunday in connection with the fire at Wisedas Resort, located at 14375 Lakeshore Drive, according to Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department.
Just after 1 p.m. Sunday Sgt. Hobbs was driving by Wisedas Resort while responding to an unrelated call when he reported observing smoke coming from the second story apartments on the rear side of the main building.
While waiting for personnel from Lake County Fire Protection District to respond, Hobbs said he attempted to look inside the apartment that have been used by transients for shelter in the recent past to see if anyone was inside but was not able to see very far in due to the amount of smoke.
He said fire personnel arrived a short time later and began working to keep the fire from spreading to other buildings.
While personnel from Lake County Fire Protection District, Northshore Fire, South Lake County Fire and Cal Fire worked to contain the fire, Clearlake Police personnel were on traffic and crowd control, Hobbs said.
Several blocks of Lakeshore Drive and Palmer Avenue were closed due to the location of the fire and the need to run fire hoses to additional fire hydrants that were several blocks away, he said.
Hobbs said there were large crowds gathered to watch the fire at the south and north ends of the area around the fire that was closed off.
At approximately 5:10 p.m. a witness contacted California Department of Fish and Wildlife Officer Doug Willson who was obtaining runoff water samples from the fire several blocks away on Lakeshore Drive, Hobbs said.

The witness provided information to Officer Willson about a subject who had walked by the witness’ location shortly after the fire, allegedly providing the witness with details on how he started the fire. Hobbs said the witness was able to provide a detailed description of the subject.
At approximately 5:40 p.m. Fish and Wildlife Officer Willson was contacted by a citizen who reported seeing a subject that was acting strange near Lakeshore Drive and Howard Avenue, Hobbs said. The citizen pointed the subject out and Officer Willson noticed the person matched the description provided by the witness he had already spoken too.
Hobbs said Officer Willson contacted the subject who was identified as Teruel.
At this time Officer Willson contacted Hobbs who responded to his location. During a pat search of Teruel's person he was found to be in possession of an expandable baton concealed inside his jacket and Hobbs said he arrested him for possession of a deadly weapon.
Det. Travis Lenz responded to take over the investigation into the fire. Hobbs said Lenz contacted and interviewed the witness who had provided a statement about Teruel admitting to starting the fire.
Hobbs said Lenz then drove the witness to Teruel's location and the witness was able to positively identify him as the person who had admitted to starting the fire.
Lenz then interviewed Teruel, who provided several conflicting statements, Hobbs said.
During further interviews at the police department Hobbs said Teruel admitted to starting the fire.
Hobbs said that in addition to possession of a deadly weapon, Teruel was charged with arson and booked into the Lake County Jail.
Jail records show that Teruel's bail was set at $100,000. He is due to appear in court on Wednesday.
Meantime, firefighters remain on scene at Wisedas Resort, where fire officials allowed the decades old building to collapse because it was a hazard.
Radio reports indicated Monday morning that resources were expected to remain on scene another three days to monitor the site.
Anyone with information regarding this fire or any other arson in the city of Clearlake can contact Det. Lenz for 707-994-8251. Callers may remain anonymous.
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Board to hold hearing on ordinance covering marijuana grows in mobile home parks; discuss legal services for sheriff
LAKEPORT, Calif. – This week the Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on a proposed ordinance governing medical marijuana grows in mobile home parks and prohibiting them on apartment properties, and also revisit extending an agreement for special legal services for the sheriff.
The meeting will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport. The meeting will be broadcast live on TV8.
The board is scheduled to hold the hearing on the proposed ordinance beginning at 10:15 a.m.
Community Development Director Rick Coel received the Lake County Planning Commission's initial approval of the proposed last year.
Based on the planning commissioners' recommendation, the ordinance would allow medical marijuana grows in specifically approved garden areas within mobile home parks or on lease lots larger than 4,500 square feet, according to Coel's report.
The ordinance he's presenting to the board contains his original proposal to prohibit grows on properties where there are apartments or other multifamily dwelling units larger than duplexes.
It also would limit the amount of marijuana processing that can be cultivated on the premises to be in compliance with the amount of marijuana that can be grown under any existing county ordinance.
In an untimed item, the board will reconsider a proposed first amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and the Jones & Mayer law firm of Fullerton for special legal services for Sheriff Frank Rivero.
The matter, which the board originally had discussed Feb. 5, was held over to allow the board to find out if District Attorney Don Anderson has made a determination on an investigation into allegations that Rivero, while working as a deputy sheriff in February 2008, lied to investigators about his actions during a nonfatal shooting involving a man holding a can of pepper spray.
If Anderson concludes Rivero lied, Rivero could be placed on a “Brady list” of officers with credibility issues. As a requirement of a U.S. Supreme Court case, the 1963 Brady v. Maryland, Anderson's office would then have to disclose Rivero's credibility issues to all defendants in criminal cases in which he is involved in his law enforcement capacity.
The county's agreement with Jones and Mayer had a total amount of $6,500, which County Counsel Anita Grant reported had been surpassed by approximately $173.64.
In other business, at 10 a.m. Special Districts will offer the board an update on the Southeast System lift station and force main administration project in Clearlake and consider a proposed resolution authorizing Special Districts Administrator Mark Dellinger to sign a notice of completion.
At 11 a.m. the board will receive an update on the South Main Street and Soda Bay Road Corridor Improvement Project and discuss a request for staff direction regarding amending the agreement with Quincy Engineering to include final design and right-of way services.
Also on Tuesday agenda, at 1:30 p.m. the board will consider a proposed allocation of an additional $165,000 – for a total amount of $350,000 – toward the abatement of nuisance aquatic weeds on Clear Lake.
During the board's discussion last week of the midyear budget review, Supervisor Anthony Farrington had wanted an additional allocation for lake projects and was the lone dissenter in the budget review's approval because it did not include those additional funds.
The full agenda follows. Some items may appear out of order because A-15, consideration of proposed agreement between the county of Lake and Aramark Correctional Services LLC for food services at the Lake County Jail and Juvenile Hall facilities, was removed from this week's agenda.
TIMED ITEMS
9 a.m. A-1 to A-4: Approval of consent agenda, which includes items that are expected to be routine and noncontroversial, and will be acted upon by the board at one time without discussion; presentation of animals available for adoption at Lake County Animal Care and Control; consideration of items not appearing on the posted agenda, and contract change orders for current construction projects.
9:05 a.m.: Citizen’s input. Any person may speak for three minutes about any subject of concern, provided that it is within the jurisdiction of the Board of Supervisors and is not already on the agenda. Prior to this time, speakers must fill out a slip giving name, address and subject (available in the clerk of the board’s office, first floor, courthouse).
9:10 a.m., A-5: Presentation of the following proclamations: (a) proclamation commending John and Pat Norcio for their years of community service; (b) proclamation commending Phil Blair for his volunteer efforts to paint the Lakeport Fire Department; and (c) proclamation designating the week of Feb. 17-23, 2013, as National Engineers’ Week.
9:15 a.m., A-6: Presentation of Lake County Office of Education Annual Report Education.
9:30 a.m., A-7: Discussion/consideration regarding the level of response required of enforcement chiefs the law enforcement officers to support mental health and medical association (LCLECA) referrals.
10 a.m., A-8: (a) Presentation of Southeast System Lift Station and Force Main Administration Project update; and (b) consideration of proposed resolution authorizing the Special Districts administrator to sign a notice of completion.
10:15 a.m., A-9: Public hearing, consideration of proposed ordinance amending Chapter 21 of the Ordinance Code of the County of Lake pertaining to the limitation of outdoor medical marijuana cultivation within mobilehome parks, the prohibition of cultivation within multifamily dwelling properties, and limits on medical marijuana processing.
11 a.m., A-10: (a) Presentation of South Main Street and Soda Bay Road Corridor Improvement Project Milestone Status Report; and (b) consideration of request for staff direction regarding amending the agreement with Quincy Engineering to include final design and right-of way services.
1:30 p.m., A-11: Consideration of FY 2012-13 appropriation of an additional $165,000 (for a total amount of $350,000) toward the abatement of nuisance aquatic weeds on Clear Lake.
NONTIMED ITEMS
A-12: Supervisors’ weekly calendar, travel and reports.
A-13: Consideration of options to fill remainder of unexpired term of treasurer-tax collector and appointment of interim treasurer-tax collector.
A-14: Continued from Feb. 5 – consideration of proposed first amendment to agreement between the county of Lake and Jones & Mayer for special legal services for Sheriff Frank Rivero.
CLOSED SESSION
A-16: 1.Conference with labor negotiator: (a) county negotiators: A. Grant, L. Guintivano, M. Perry, and A. Flora; and (b) employee organizations: Deputy District Attorney's Association, Lake County Deputy Sheriff's Association, Lake County Correctional Officers Association, Lake County Employees Association, Lake County Safety Employees Association.
A-16: 2. Public employee performance evaluation: Registrar of Voters Diane Fridley.
A-16: 3. Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code Sec. 54956.9(a): Jensen and Larson v. Lake County Sheriff’s Office, et al.
CONSENT AGENDA
C-1: Approve minutes of the Board of Supervisors meeting held on Feb. 12, 2013.
C-2: Adopt the following proclamations: (a) proclamation commending John and Pat Norcio for their years of community service; (b) proclamation commending Phil Blair for his volunteer efforts to paint the Lakeport Fire Department; and (c) Proclamation designating the week of Feb. 17-23, 2013, as National Engineers’ Week.
C-3: Approve first amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and Women’s Recovery Services for FY 2012-13 provision of residential treatment services for Lake County resident women experiencing alcohol or drug-related problems, for an increase of $15,000, and authorize the chair to sign.
C-4: Adopt resolution authorizing the Lake County Public Services Department to submit application(s) to California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CALRECYCLE) for all CalRecycle grants for which the county of Lake is eligible.
C-5: Approve first amendment to agreement between the county of Lake and California Exterminators Alliance for vegetation control services, for an increase of $14,500, and authorize the chair to sign.
C-6: Approve amendment two to agreement between the county of Lake and Quincy Engineering Inc., for engineering services for four bridge replacement projects and two bridge rehabilitation projects in Lake County (Anderson Creek Bridge, Cobb; Manning Creek Bridge at Mathews Road, Lakeport; Manning Creek Bridge at Ackley Road, Lakeport; Highland Creek Bridge, Lakeport; Robinson Creek Bridge, Upper Lake and Harbin Creek Bridge, Cobb), an increase of $164,700, and authorize the chair to sign.
C-7: (a) Waive the formal bidding process and make a determination that competitive bidding is not appropriate due to acquisition of equipment from a sole source vendor; and (b) approve purchase of C-IV tech refresh upgrades and hardware support from the county of San Bernardino and authorize the Social Services director/assistant purchasing agent to issue a purchase order to the county of San Bernardino, in the amount of $9,151, for C-IV tech refresh upgrades and hardware support for existing equipment.
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021913 Board of Supervisors - Marijuana Cultivation in Mobilehome Parks by LakeCoNews
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