Shopping center manager retracts offer for sheriff’s substation; calls sheriff ‘a jerk’

CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – The manager of a Clearlake Oaks shopping center said he is retracting his offer to give the Lake County Sheriff’s Office a $1 a month lease for a substation location after he said the sheriff mischaracterized and attacked his offer.

Milt Pereira, who manages the Big Oak Shopping Center at  at 13340 E. Highway 20, contacted Lake County News this week to say he was no longer willing to rent to the sheriff’s office in the wake of statements Sheriff Frank Rivero made about his offer at the Board of Supervisors Oct. 16 meeting. A full account of that meeting's discussion on the substation can be found here: http://bit.ly/RApSfV .

Pereira, who watched the meeting on television, said Rivero acted “like a juvenile” and because Rivero was against the proposal, Pereira believes the sheriff won’t staff the facility.

“I’m not going to deal with that clown,” said Pereira. “I really don’t need the 12 bucks.”

County Deputy Administrative Officer Alan Flora said he spoke to Pereira to ask him to reconsider, but he refused.

“We’re just very disappointed that the offer is no longer on the table,” said Flora.

When asked if he wanted to respond to the news of Pereira retracting his offer, Rivero called this reporter a liar and blacklisted Lake County News. Rivero is refusing to release further information to this publication or to respond to requests about public safety matters except through the lengthy Public Records Act process, which he previously has used to block Lake County News’ information requests.

Pereira said community members approached him and asked if he would be willing to offer a space to the sheriff’s office, and he agreed, believing it would help the community to have a substation presence there.

The shopping center is owned by Whistler Management of Ukiah. The owners also own the Whistler ski resorts, Pereira said.

While the space normally goes for $1,200 to $1,500 a month – and he had other offers – Pereira said he initially offered the county the space for $100, then dropped it to $1 a month for the first year and no more than $200 a month for each subsequent year.

Rivero wants to purchase a property at 12539 Shady Lane in Clearlake Oaks for a new substation. The property price is $325,000, with an additional $93,000 in renovations required.

At the Oct. 16 meeting, the Board of Supervisors heard a report from the County Space Committee – which includes Flora, Supervisor Jeff Smith and Public Services Director Caroline Chavez – on the Shady Lane property and three others, including two on Acorn Street, one of them county owned, and the Big Oak Shopping Center.

The shopping center at that time was offered for a lease price of $1 a month for the first year, with an estimated $3,500 in renovations to fully outfit the space for the sheriff’s office.

Flora reported that Rivero, members of his staff and county staff toured all of the sites on Sept. 6.

Board members indicated their support for the shopping center location, at least on a temporary basis, as an economical way for setting up a new substation. In the future, the county could consider a larger purchase.

But the meeting became contentious, with Rivero adamant that he didn’t want to locate his staff in the shopping center. At one point Supervisor Anthony Farrington told Rivero that he was being “hostile.”

Rivero faulted the low lease price. “You get what you pay for,” he said, also calling the offer “alarming.”

Rivero also complained about the presence of a local bar and a “thrift shop” that he said was surrounded by too much debris.

Pereira said Rivero also suggested that no one wanted the space.

Wrong on all counts, Pereira said.

He told Lake County News that the space he offered is the anchor spot in the 12-space center, with the space he offered once used by Tri Counties Bank. “I thought it would be very visible.”

Pereira, who has run the shopping center for two years, said the bar that Rivero complained about has been gone for two years, and the “thrift shop” he mentioned is actually an antique shop without debris issues, but which does set out furniture for display.

In addition, Pereira said the location has plenty of parking for deputies, which was one of the reasons he chose that space to offer. It has direct line of vision to the county’s communications tower space on Mt. Konocti and is the largest of the shopping center’s spaces.

And as for no one wanting the space, Pereira said he had put three other interested parties on hold while he worked with the county.

“As a shopping center lessor it's my responsibility to bring tenants in that enhance the other businesses," but an empty sheriff’s substation won’t do it, said Pereira.

He said his first obligation is to his current tenants, whose support he had when he originally made the offer. However, Pereira said in the wake of Rivero’s comments, the tenants also have withdrawn their support.

“I think it needs to be known that I’m retracting it because Frank’s a jerk,” said Pereira.

Flora said county staff will go back to the Board of Supervisors to see how its members want to proceed.

“We’re trying to work together and help provide service to the citizens of Clearlake Oaks and neighboring areas, and it’s going to make it more difficult for us to pull it off,” Flora said.
                  
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 27 October 2012

Clearlake man arrested after leading police officer on chase

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man was arrested Tuesday after police say he led an officer on a high speed chase on a stolen motorcycle.

Shade Hill, 29, was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of stolen property and evasion, according to Lt. Tim Celli of the Clearlake Police Department.

On Monday night at approximately 9:16 p.m. Clearlake Police Officer Mike Ray was dispatched to a report of a stolen motorcycle in the 7100 block of Old Highway 53, Celli said. Officer Ray took the stolen vehicle report and the information was entered into the stolen vehicle system.

At approximately 1:41 a.m. Tuesday, Ray was on patrol and saw a similar motorcycle as the one reported stolen traveling westbound on Olympic Drive, according to Celli.

Celli said Ray attempted to catch up to the motorcycle and stop it for vehicle code violations. When Ray tried to stop the motorcycle, the motorcycle rider – later identified as Hill – accelerated to a high rate of speed.

Hill led Officer Ray on a vehicle pursuit for approximately one mile with speeds reaching 50 miles per hour on residential streets, Celli said.

Celli reported that Hill lost control of the motorcycle in the area of Laskey and West 40th avenues and fell to the ground. Hill then immediately fled on foot, leading Ray on a foot pursuit.

Ray deployed his K9 partner Harley, who located Hill hiding in an alleyway between West 40th and Palmer avenues, Celli said. Hill was not injured as a result of the motorcycle crash or his apprehension.

The motorcycle Hill was riding later was determined to be the stolen motorcycle reported to Officer Ray earlier in the evening, Celli said. The motorcycle had been repainted in an attempt to disguise it.

Celli said the motorcycle later was released to the registered owner.

Hill was transported to the Lake County Jail and booked early Tuesday morning, with bail set at $15,000. Jail records indicated that Hill remained in custody on Wednesday.

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Written by: Lake County News reports

Published: 17 October 2012

Supervisors, sheriff disagree over substation proposals

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A lengthy Tuesday morning Board of Supervisors discussion grew heated when board members and the county’s sheriff disagreed about a county committee’s proposals for options for a Clearlake Oaks substation.

Sheriff Frank Rivero demanded the board respect his authority as the county’s lead law enforcement officer, punctuating some of his comments by pounding his fist on the table as he sat before the board dais.

In turn, some board members accused Rivero of exaggerating the situation for effect, in an attempt to get his way, with Supervisor Anthony Farrington at one point saying Rivero was being hostile.

Earlier this summer, Rivero had gone to the board with a proposal to purchase a property at 12539 Shady Lane in Clearlake Oaks for a new substation in that community. The property’s purchase prices is $325,000, plus an estimated $93,000 in renovations.

The board directed the County Space Committee – which includes Supervisor Jeff Smith, Public Services Director Caroline Chavez and Deputy Administrative Officer Alan Flora – to look at that property as well as alternatives.

Flora presented to the board Tuesday a report outlining the committee’s findings on the Shady Lane property as well as three alternates: the county-owned 12580 Acorn St., which houses a visitor center and which would cost the sheriff’s office nothing to lease but would require $6,000 in renovations; 12594 Acorn St., for sale for $120,000, with $13,000 needed in renovations; and a space in the Big Oak Shopping Center at 13340 E. Highway.

In the case of the shopping center property, the owner is offering it at a lease price of $1 a month for the first year, with $3,500 in renovations needed, the committee reported.

Smith said the matter comes down to how much money the county wants to spend. He said the Big Oak Shopping Center location offered the county an economical opportunity to locate a substation in Clearlake Oaks before taking on a larger purchase.

Board Chair Rob Brown said he’s normally not big on leasing or buying property if there is county-owned land available.

“I think we need a substation in the Oaks,” Brown said.

Brown said there has been a lot of rhetoric spread around about crime going down in the community if a substation locates there, but he thinks it’s only rhetoric. After having spoken with deputies, he said they’ve communicated that it would be a clear benefit. He agreed with Smith about the attractive offer at the shopping center.

John Pavoni with the Clearlake Oaks United Methodist Church told the board that the community needs a substation to help reduce crime.

Brown questioned if a substation really is a deterrent, pointing out to Pavoni that an armed robbery that occurred at Fosters Freeze in Lucerne in July took place within sight distance of the Lucerne substation.

Bob Fash, the Realtor who is the listing agent for the Shady Lane property, told the board that the owner is very motivated and that price will not be an issue. He said that the building will be cheaper than the other alternatives the committee mentioned.

Fash then said that, as a taxpayer, he was concerned about the issues between the sheriff and the supervisors, and said he was offended by a comment he accused Supervisor Jim Comstock of making before the meeting. He said Comstock told him in the courthouse lobby that Rivero was an idiot and that he wasn’t going to let him spend $300,000 on the property.

Comstock adamantly denied making the comments.

Rivero wants to use funds from the Small and Rural Sheriff’s Program, which he said is state money meant to enhance public safety in rural counties.

While each of the board members was elected from a particular district, Rivero said he’s been elected to take care of the entire county’s law enforcement, and he wanted the board to give him deference in the matter, saying the people of the county entrusted law enforcement to him.

He was adamantly against the shopping center location. “You get what you pay for,” he said, adding it was “alarming” to him that the space would be offered for such a small amount. There also is a bar there and a thrift shop with too much debris, and he didn’t want to locate deputies in a strip mall.

Regarding the 12594 Acorn St. building, it’s very small and located behind the Red and White Store, with trucks often unloading groceries there, said Rivero.

The visitor center at 12580 Acorn St. was too small, with two unisex bathrooms that face the Nylander Park. Rivero said that it wouldn’t be appropriate for the community members to have to share the bathrooms with sheriff’s staff.

He said the community garden behind the building would be lost, a comment which upset Smith, who said the garden wouldn’t need to relocate as it was 20 feet from the back of the building.

Rivero said Shady Lane needs work but he needed a permanent location to house his staff.

He asked the board to do a professional appraisal of the Shady Lane property in order to move forward with acquiring a Clearlake Oaks substation.

Rivero said a substation in the town was the “last peg” in decentralizing the sheriff’s office, a process which he said was 50 years behind schedule.

He again asked the board to give him deference on his decision, saying – and again pounding his hand on the table – that he wanted facts to make a reasonable, informed decision.

Brown accused him of once again exaggerating to a point that raises the issue of credibility, and told him not to sit and lie to the board.

Rivero countered that he was appalled by Brown’s behavior every time he appeared in front of him, and pounded his fist on the table again, demanding respect.

“You get every ounce of respect you deserve,” said Brown, adding, “None.”

In reference to Fash’s comments, Farrington said the Realtor had “skin in the game” as the listing agent, and that brought bias to the process.

Farrington said he appreciated Rivero fighting for a project, but suggested they needed to work together. He said he didn’t believe that the Shady Lane property made financial sense.

Farrington added that while supervisors are elected to represent districts, their decisions impact the county as a whole.

He said the Big Oak Shopping Center owner may be offering the low lease price in order to benefit the community, and said a substation would help address issues Rivero raised about the area, including loitering and the presence of a bar.

Comstock said he’s supported having a Clearlake Oaks substation from the beginning, and wanted something that worked best for the taxpayers and citizens.

Smith said originally he had liked the Shady Lane property, but said he had concluded, “It’s way too much money for the taxpayers.”

He said he became irritated about Rivero’s community garden comments because Rivero was using items like that to make the situation look bad. Smith said he wanted to suggest they take a field trip, so everyone could see the properties and things couldn’t be misconstrued in the discussions.

“I’ve been totally honest here,” Smith said. “I agree with you if money wasn’t an issue.”

He also quoted Rivero’s statement about not wanting to put deputies in a strip mall. “That’s not open-minded is it?”

Brown asked Rivero if the community garden was insurmountable. Rivero said no, but it was a problem. Smith said the garden is only an issue if the size of the building is doubled. Rivero said the building was too small.

Supervisor Denise Rushing suggested the shopping center owner was offering the good deal because he wanted law enforcement there. She said the shopping center should be kept on the table, but she didn’t view it as a permanent solution.

Rushing said the county didn’t have the budget for the Shady Lane property. Brown said they did if they wanted to exhaust their resources.

Brown said a substation’s presence could address criminal conduct concerns Rivero had for the area, adding the whole point of the location was to reduce crime, which he suspected would result.

“You suspect wrong,” said Rivero, reporting that building materials have been stolen from the site of the Middletown substation, which is still under renovation.

Brown said there are concessions business owners make to help the community, and he suggested the county should be grateful for a legitimate motive.

The offer for the $1 a month rent is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly, said Brown, adding that if they’re 50 years behind in decentralizing the sheriff’s office then they should get going. He said the Big Oak Shopping Center offer is the best deal they’re going to see for a long time.

Rivero said his office is a professional operation, and asked if the board would be OK if a substation was placed next to a marijuana growing operation or dispensary.

Brown asked if the shopping center location was a deal breaker or not. Rivero said no.

Farrington said he wasn’t going to second guess the motives of the shopping center owner, adding the county can save money and explore options. He said he was tired of being mired down in politics.

Rivero accused Farrington of doing “a 180,” which Farrington denied.

“You’re just hostile,” said Farrington. “There is no reason to be hostile.”

Rushing said the situation “shouldn’t be this hard,” and told Rivero that the total $430,000 purchase and renovation price tag for Shady Lane was a lot of money, and she would only approve of the purchase if the appraisal came in much lower.

Rushing moved to direct staff to move forward with negotiations regarding the Big Oak Shopping Center, with the board also directing staff to bring back a proposed lease agreement for consideration at a future date. Rushing also wanted to keep the Shady Lane property on the table as a future option.

As the board was continuing to discuss particulars of their directions to staff, Rivero got up and walked out of the room.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

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Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 17 October 2012

REGIONAL: Mendocino County court levies hefty fines and penalties for abalone poachers

NORTH COAST, Calif. – A convicted abalone poacher who was sentenced recently to probation and a fine also lost his ability to get a California fishing license for the rest of his life.

Paul Chak Po Mak, 62, of Oakland, was arrested and cited by Department of Fish and Game (DFG) wardens after taking more than the bag limit of red abalone from the Mendocino County coastline. The Mendocino County Superior Court sentenced Mak to three years probation and fined him $15,000.

His early October sentencing was the latest is a series of heavy fines and penalties levied on abalone poachers in Mendocino County that included permanent fishing license revocations.

“The Department of Fish and Game and the courts recognize the serious damage that just a few individuals can do to our precious resources. Working together to investigate and prosecute serious offenders is key to success in protecting our coastline,” said DFG Captain Bob Farrell, who supervises some the investigating wardens. “In this case, significant fines and lifetime revocation of their fishing licenses should put these guys out of business permanently.”

Between April 23 and May 21, California game wardens observed Paul Chak Po Mak take 52 red abalone, and Samuel Xing Sin, 41, also from Oakland, take 32 red abalone from the Mendocino County coastline. The seasonal bag limit for red abalone is 24.

The men harvested the abalone for the purpose of unlawful sale on the black market. Both men have previous abalone poaching-related convictions in Mendocino County.

Samuel Sin was recently sentenced in a separate abalone poaching case stemming from a November 2011 arrest.

In that case, a warden contacted Sin at Agate Cove in Mendocino County where he and Xiao Chen, 31, Oakland; See Ping Bob Ng, 57, Willits; Yaowei Chen, 53, San Francisco; took 24 abalone to sell on the black market. It is unlawful to sell abalone harvested under the authority of a recreational fishing license, or to harvest abalone for commercial purposes from the wild in California.

The Mendocino County Superior Court found the following:

Samuel Sin – Guilty of conspiracy and possession of abalone for commercial sales. He was fined $35,000 put on formal probation for five years, and the court revoked his fishing license for the rest of his life.

Paul Chak Po Mak – Guilty of possession of abalone for commercial sales. He was fined $15,000, put on formal probation for three years, and the court revoked his fishing license for the rest of his life. Mak also pled no contest to his probation violation in Sonoma County for a previous abalone poaching conviction.

Xiao Chen – Guilty of possession of abalone for commercial sales. He was fined $15,000 and put on formal probation for three years, and the court revoked his fishing license for the rest of his life.

Yaowei Chen – Guilty of possession of abalone for commercial sales. He was fined $15,000 put on formal probation for three years, and the court revoked his fishing license for the rest of his life.

See Ping Bob Ng – Guilty of conspiracy and possession of abalone for commercial sales. He was fined $25,000 put on formal probation for five years, and the court revoked his fishing license for the rest of his life.

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Written by: Lake County News reports

Published: 17 October 2012