KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Lakeport's city attorney is facing legal issues of his own following a Thursday night arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol.
Steve Brookes, 53, of Kelseyville was taken into custody after 8 p.m. Thursday, as Lake County News first reported on Friday.
A California Highway Patrol report released Friday explained that the events leading to Brookes' arrest began with a crash on State Street in downtown Kelseyville.
At approximately 7:10 p.m. Thursday 41-year-old Michelle Dunia of Kelseyville, driving a 1991 Ford F-350 pickup truck, was pulling out of the gas station located at Main Street and State Street in Kelseyville when Brookes, driving a white 1998 Volvo eastbound on Main Street, crossed over into the westbound lane of traffic, striking Dunia's truck, the CHP reported.
The CHP said that Brookes then allegedly drove away from the scene and was found on Konocti Road at Oak Hills Lane in Kelseyville.
An independent witness who asked not to be named told Lake County News that she also was nearly hit by Brookes, as she was in a vehicle immediately behind Dunia's pickup at the time of the collision. Had she not stopped she said she, too, would have been hit.
She said that Brookes missed the curve across from the Two Jacks convenience store, hit Dunia's pickup, lost control and went into the dirt across the street, then recovered and ended up in front of her on the wrong side of the road. The woman alleged that he “actually squealed tires and drove away quickly” from the scene.
The witness said Michelle Dunia's husband, Todd Dunia, a sheriff's deputy who was off-duty at the time, and another man went looking for the white Volvo and found it on Konocti Road, where Brookes had reportedly collided with a stop sign.
Brookes had allegedly attempted to leave the car and was walking away from the second crash scene. The men attempted to keep Brookes there until the CHP arrived and he allegedly attempted to punch Todd Dunia, the witness reported.
The CHP said Brookes was arrested for DUI and transported to the Lake County Jail for booking. Bail was set at $5,000 and jail records showed he posted bail and was released a short time later.
CHP Officer Steve Tanguay said the crash is still under investigation by Officer Brendan Bach.
Tanguay said the investigation is looking at the alleged hit-and-run aspect of the crash, which could still be charged against Brookes, although Tanguay cautioned that it's too early to tell how the case ultimately might be charged.
Brookes cooperated with CHP and submitted to a blood test at the hospital, Tanguay said.
The blood was sent to the Department of Justice for analysis, with Tanguay adding that the results are pending.
Brookes was charged with misdemeanor DUI because Michelle Dunia and the three female juvenile passengers in the pickup were unhurt, Tanguay explained.
Brookes is the longtime city attorney for Lakeport, having served the since since April 1984, according to his contract.
City Manager Margaret Silveira said Friday she could not specifically discuss Brookes' situation.
The language in his contract – most recently updated in December 2005 – that covers possible reasons for termination.
Those could include illegal or “specific acts or conduct which brings scandal or disrepute to the City.”
The contract also stipulates that any such decision about Brookes' employment must be made by the council in closed session.
On this coming week's Lakeport City Council agenda, released Friday afternoon, a closed session performance evaluation of Brookes is scheduled.
Lake County News was unsuccessful in reaching Brookes for a comment Friday.
However, shortly after 2 a.m. Friday Brookes posted the following message on Lake County News' Facebook page in response to the initial article about his arrest: “The CHP & jail staff were competent & professional. Don't have too many and drive. If you do please learn from the experience and do not repete the bad experience. Handcuffs are not fun!!!”
In response a woman wrote, “And I hope you certainly have more to say to the lady and children you hit. And this certainly isn't a laughing matter – those kids could have been killed.”
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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