How to resolve AdBlock issue? Sheriff's office reports on Tuesday morning discovery of pipe bomb
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday issued a report on a pipe bomb discovered the previous day near Kelseyville.
Lt. Steve Brooks said the pipe bomb was found at approximately 10:40 a.m. Tuesday in a field near the area of Soda Bay Road and Sacramento Perch Drive in Kelseyville.
He said a Lake County Roads Division employee found the device approximately 20 feet from the edge of Soda Bay Road.
The device was described as a 6-inch piece of PVC pipe with caps on each end. Brooks said there also appeared to be a fuse sticking out of one of the end caps.
Deputies arrived and located the item, said Brooks. They evaluated the situation, moved the pipe bomb to a safe distance from the public and roadway and then destroyed it.
He said remaining pieces of the device were collected for forensic evidence.
Roads division staff and CHP also were reported to be on scene, closing down a portion of Soda Bay Road while the investigation was under way.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Clearlake Police Department addresses increase in illegal dumping, seeks code enforcement volunteers
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department on Wednesday urged community members to take part in addressing the increase in code enforcement cases in the city.
In a Wednesday report from Lt. Tim Celli, he said the city of Clearlake has seen an increase in illegal dumping activity.
He said it is believed that, in many instances, individuals have been hired to provide services such as property clean up or dump runs and rather than dispose of the items lawfully they are dumping refuse in isolated areas throughout the city.
Hiring a reputable company with proper licensing to perform these tasks can be beneficial but property owners need to understand that they could be held liable for the illegal dumping, Celli said.
If citizens choose to hire individuals out of the classified ads or other sources they should consider requiring a receipt for services rendered in addition to a receipt for the county landfill. Celli said this may help identify the individuals who are illegally dumping items and may help provide some protections to the property owner.
Even that may not totally absolve liability, he said. Illegal dumping is a crime with punishments ranging from monetary penalties to jail time depending on the offense. There also are environmental impact concerns that have separate penalties. Please be responsible and ensure your trash and debris is being disposed of properly.
In recent years, due to budgetary constraints, staffing and funding for public services has suffered throughout the country. Celli said the city of Clearlake has been no exception, suffering drastic budget cuts. One particular resource devastated by budgetary problems in the city of Clearlake has been code enforcement, which was cut in 2009.
Unfortunately the city is still recovering from budget cutbacks; however in an effort to try and regain some control of the growing code enforcement problem, city staff will be working on limited code enforcement issues, Celli said. At this time these issues will be limited to those extreme public health and safety concerns however there are many options being discussed for the future.
One of many options discussed is to utilize volunteer resources to assist with code enforcement duties, he said. There are many aspects to code enforcement with one such vital requirement being clerical duties.
At this time the city of Clearlake is accepting volunteer applications from persons interested in volunteering their time for code enforcement, particularly with respect to clerical duties, Celli said. Some of these duties may include taking information on code enforcement complaints, returning phone calls, keeping track of paperwork, typing and mailing notices as well as many other essential functions.
If city residents have public safety code enforcement complaints that need immediate attention, or wish to submit a volunteer application, please contact Julie Burrow at Clearlake City Hall, 707-994-8201.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
REGIONAL: Sheriff's K9 dies from injuries suffered in fall
MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – A Mendocino County Sheriff's K9 died last week after being injured in a fall.
“Argus,” a 2-year-old German Shepherd, died on the morning of Friday, Feb. 8, as a result of injuries sustained in a fall from a height of approximately 30 feet, according to Liz Evangelatos of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office.
Argus was off duty with his handler, Deputy Craig Walker, when he got out of an enclosed back yard, Evangelatos said.
She said Argus had wandered up onto a nearby building. Deputy Walker called Argus, who responded immediately to his handler's call, leaping off the building. The dog did not appear to be aware of the height of the structure he was on. Evangelatos said Argus’ injuries were immediately fatal.
Argus had been brought to the United States from Slovakia and was assigned to Deputy Walker for approximately six months prior to his death, Evangelatos said.
Prior to his death Argus assisted Deputy Walker on his patrol duties in the Anderson Valley Resident Post, providing handler protection duties, fugitive apprehension, drug detection and regularly attended to the needs of the citizens they served, according to Evangelatos.
She said Argus made a recent visit to the Anderson Valley School District, where the students met him and learned about the K9 duties related to law enforcement. Argus was a big hit with the school children and all who met him.
Evangelatos said Argus will be missed not only by his handler and immediate family, but by everyone in the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office. Argus will be remembered as devoted, courageous, and loyal.
The Sheriff’s Office will be seeking to obtain another K9 to partner with Deputy Walker to meet the law enforcement needs of the citizens in Anderson Valley and surrounding areas, Evangelatos said.
This is the second tragedy for the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office's K9 program in the last year.
Last August, the agency's K9 “Morgan,” a 15-month-old German Shepherd, died from accidentally ingesting methamphetamine during narcotics detection training, as Lake County News has reported.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Clearlake Police Department welcomes two new officers
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Monday, the Clearlake Police Department welcomed two new officers to its ranks.
Sgt. Nick Bennett said Chris Reagan and Trevor Franklin are the agency's newest additions.
Reagan is an Army veteran and served a combat tour in Iraq during his service. Bennett said Reagan had served with the Clearlake Police Department previously but had left in 2010 to work with the Shasta County Marshall’s Office.
Missing the community and friends he had made while working in Clearlake, Reagan reapplied for a position, according to Bennett.
Franklin graduated from the Napa Valley College Basic Police Academy in December 2012, Bennett said.
Franklin grew up in Middletown, graduating in 2007. Bennett said Franklin attended Santa Rosa Junior College then San Francisco State University, where he received a bachelor of arts degree in criminal justice studies.
Both officers were selected after a process that included an oral interview, polygraph examination, an in-depth background investigation – which includes contacting friends, neighbors, employers, educators, law enforcement agencies, spouses, both present and past if applicable, and exploring any issues of concern that may arise during the investigation – a psychological examination and a thorough medical examination, Bennett said.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Stabbing investigation continues; police challenged by victims’ lack of cooperation
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Police are continuing to investigate a Monday stabbing, an effort that’s being hampered by a lack of cooperation from the victims.
Three males had been injured with a knife during a fight early Monday evening at Clearlake’s Redbud Park, as Lake County News has reported.
Clearlake Police Sgt. Nick Bennett said one of the victims was kept overnight at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake for a knife wound to the stomach, which turned out to be long but fairly superficial.
Another of the men had wounds on his hand, which may have come from holding a knife, and the third also had superficial hand wounds, Bennett said.
“The victims are uncooperative,” said Bennett, with all of them refusing to give accurate information on the case.
“But the investigation is continuing,” Bennett said.
Anyone with information about the incident should call Det. Travis Lenz at the Clearlake Police Department 707-994-8251.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
