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Clearlake man dies from injuries sustained in assault; police say they have a suspect
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man who was attacked earlier this month has died of his injuries.
Edward Alden, 44, died on Monday night, according to Det. Tim Alvarado of the Clearlake Police Department.
Alvarado told Lake County News on Tuesday that the investigation into who is responsible for Alden’s death is moving forward.
“We have a suspect and we are pursuing further leads,” Alvarado said, adding that police were not releasing many details of the investigation at this time.
Police and firefighters were dispatched to 4780 West 40th Ave. just before 12:30 a.m. Sunday, June 17, where they found the severely injured Alden, according to the original police report.
Reports from the scene indicated Alden was unconscious from having been kicked in the head during a fight earlier that night, as Lake County News has reported.
Alden was transported by REACH air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where he died, Alvarado said.
Anyone with information regarding this case to contact Det. Alvarado at 707-994-8251.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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Update: Police continue search for escaped attempted murder suspect
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Police officers were working through the night in their effort to locate a Lakeport man who allegedly tried to shoot another person during a Friday evening fight.
Raymond Richard Casillas, 22, of Lakeport, remained at large early Saturday morning, according to Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
Rasmussen said Casillas is wanted for attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, being a felon in possession of a firearm and violating parole.
Casillas allegedly was involved in a fight that Rasmussen said occurred in the area of Central Park Avenue and Shady Oak Street.
Rasmussen said Lakeport Police units, assisted by units from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol, were dispatched at approximately 7:30 p.m. to the Central Park and Shady Oak area on the report of a physical fight involving 10 subjects.
As officers and deputies were en route, dispatch advised that several callers were reporting hearing gunfire, Rasmussen said.
When Lakeport Police, CHP and sheriff’s deputies arrived on scene they immediately detained numerous subjects – including Casillas – and began an investigation, Rasmussen said.
Casillas was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car, Rasmussen said.
Investigators determined that Casillas had attempted to shoot another subject several times during the fight. Rasmussen said the alleged victim was able to push the firearm away and escaped unharmed.
Rasmussen said officers located the firearm Casillas is alleged to have used during the fight, a loaded modified rifle, and other associated evidence, at a residence in the 800 block of Central Park Avenue.
A knife also was found in the driveway, Rasmussen said.
A witness told Lake County News that canned tomatoes were being thrown throughout the fight.
Rasmussen confirmed that police collected canned food and beer cans allegedly used during the fight.
“We have collected numerous items of evidence,” he said.
At around 8:45 p.m., while the investigation was still ongoing and officers were interviewing people at the scene, Casillas escaped with the assistance of a female subject identified Dana Rochelle Hueners, 21, of Lakeport, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said Hueners was located in the area a short time later by CHP and arrested for being an accessory to a felony and assisting in an escape from custody.
She was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital to be checked out for injuries she received in the fight before being taken to the Lake County Jail for booking, according to Rasmussen.
Casillas is an American Indian adult, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 169 pounds, with long black hair worn in a pony tail and brown eyes.
Rasmussen said Casillas was dressed in gray shorts, a light-colored shirt and a black hooded sweatshirt. He also had a bleeding lip from the fight and was handcuffed behind his back when last seen by police.
“We have some belief that he could have been picked up and transported to the Redwood Valley or Ukiah area,” Rasmussen said, adding that Hueners may have made phone calls to arrange a ride for Casillas out of county.
The public is asked not to contact Casillas if located, but to immediately call 911 and report the information to the police.
Rasmussen said police are continuing to work the case throughout the night.
Anyone with information about the fight – including pictures or video – can contact the Lakeport Police Department at
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Police seek suspect in Friday night Lakeport fight; wanted for attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon
THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH ADDITIONAL DETAILS.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is asking for the community's help in finding a male suspect involved in a fight Friday evening in which shots were allegedly fired.
Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said his officers are looking for Raymond Casillas, 22.
He is wanted for attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon, a felon in possession of a firearm and violating parole, Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said Casillas allegedly was involved in a fight that occurred at about 7:30 p.m. in the area of Central Park Avenue and Shady Oak Street.
Lakeport Police officers – assisted by the California Highway Patrol – arrived on the scene and detained several suspects after witnesses reported shots were fired, Rasmussen said.
Police also located a firearm, according to Rasmussen.
Casillas was detained but despite being handcuffed he escaped on foot, Rasmussen said.
That's because a female subject – who later was arrested – helped him get out of a patrol car when officers were not nearby, according to Rasmussen.
“She was located by CHP units who were assisting us close to the area of the crime,” said Rasmussen.
Rasmussen described Casillas as an American Indian male adult, 5 feet, 11 inches tall, 169 pounds, with long black hair that he was wearing in a pony tail.
He also was wearing gray shorts, a light-colored shirt and a black hoodie, Rasmussen said.
Casillas had a bleeding lip and was handcuffed with his hands behind his back, according to Rasmussen.
Immediately after the fight police believed Casillas was somewhere between 11th Street to the north or Sixth Street to the south, and between Highway 29 to the west and Forbes Street to the east.
Rasmussen said eight police units were in the area conducting a search.
“We don't have a confirmed perimeter around him,” said Rasmussen.
As the night progressed, police received a report of Casillas near the library, but Rasmussen said they were unable to locate him.
“At this point he could still be in Lakeport but we believe he may have been transported out of the area,” said Rasmussen.
He said Casillas may have been picked up and taken to Redwood Valley or Ukiah, and suggested that the woman who helped Casillas get out of the car may have made phone calls to get him a ride.
If he's seen, do not approach him but call 911 immediately.
John Jensen contributed to this report.
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Sheriff's Marine Patrol Unit to take part in 'Operation Dry Water'
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office Marine Patrol Unit will be participating in Operation Dry Water this coming weekend, with Marine Patrol deputies out in force specifically looking for signs of boaters operating boats while impaired.
Operation Dry Water was launched in 2009 by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA) in partnership with the United States Coast Guard and has been a highly successful effort to draw public attention to the hazards of boating under the influence (BUI) of alcohol and drugs, the sheriff's office reported.
Held in June just prior to the July 4 holiday, Operation Dry Water is a national weekend of BUI detection and enforcement aimed at reducing the number of alcohol and drug-related accidents and fatalities and fostering a stronger and more visible deterrent to alcohol and drug use on the water.
Operation Dry Water is coordinated by NASBLA, in partnership with the states, the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies.
In 2011, all 50 states and 6 U.S. Territories participated in Operation Dry Water. Over that three-day weekend there were 43,777 vessels and 97,648 boaters contacted by law enforcement, 325 BUI arrests made, and 4,370 citations and 8,763 warnings issued for safety violations.
U.S. Coast Guard 2011 data reveal that alcohol was a primary contributing factor in 16 percent of fatalities from recreational boating accidents, the sheriff's office reported.
Operating a boat with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher is against federal law and California State laws.
Alcohol can impair a boater’s judgment, balance, vision, and reaction time. It can increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion.
Sun, wind, noise, vibration, and motion – “stressors” common to the boating environment – intensify the effects of alcohol, drugs, and some medications.
Alcohol consumption can result in an inner ear disturbance that can make it impossible for a person suddenly immersed in water to distinguish up from down.
Impairment can be even more dangerous for boaters than for motor vehicle drivers, since most boaters have less experience and confidence operating a boat than they do driving a car. Boaters average only about 110 hours of boating per year.
A three-year field evaluation by the Southern California Research Institute, completed in 2010, validated a battery of tests for marine use that are now the basis for efforts to implement a National Marine Field Sobriety Test standard.
Combined with chemical tests using blood, breath, and urine samples, these validated ashore and afloat tests give marine law enforcement officers an impressive arsenal in their ongoing efforts to enforce BUI laws.
Persons found to be boating under the influence can expect to incur severe penalties. If a boat operator is BUI, the voyage may be terminated, the boat may be impounded and the operator may be arrested. Penalties vary by state, but can include fines, jail, loss of boating privileges, even loss of driving privileges.
Alcohol is also dangerous for passengers. Intoxication can lead to slips, falls overboard and other dangerous accidents.
It is illegal in every state and territory to operate a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. BUI laws pertain to all boats, from canoes and rowboats to the largest ships.
While boating, it's important to observe other basic safety precautions, including wearing a life jacket.
In 2011, 70 percent of those who died in a boating accident drowned; 84 percent of those who drowned were not wearing a life jacket.
Boat operator instruction is a significant factor in avoiding and surviving accidents. Only 11 percent of fatalities in 2011 occurred on boats where the operator was known to have received boating safety instruction.
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