Interim Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said that early Friday Lakeport Police Officer Jim Bell was dispatched to the Lakeport Terraces residential neighborhood to investigate multiple incidents of theft of United Stated mail from residential boxes.

During the investigation Bell discovered that mail from multiple Fairview Way addresses was found scattered throughout that street, Rasmussen said.

In addition, Rasmussen said open mail boxes were discovered on other streets near Fairview Way.

The Lakeport Police Department gathered up the discarded mail and immediately turned it over the Lakeport postmaster, Rasmussen said.

At this time it is unknown what items of US mail may be unaccounted for, he added.

Rasmussen said city residents should collect mail from their boxes as close to the delivery time as possible and not leave it overnight.

Suspects may be searching through and stealing items of mail that may contain checks, credit cards, holiday packages, personal identifying information or any other items of value, he said.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact Officer Bell at the department, 707-263-5491.

In addition, residents may also address concerns regarding security of their mail to their local US Postal Service postmaster.

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A report from Sgt. Rodd Joseph said the crashes took place between 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 1:10 a.m. Sunday.

The first crash was a single-vehicle incident at the intersection of 32^nd and Boyles avenues, Joseph said.

When officers responded there at about 10:30 a.m., Joseph said they found a black Ford Taurus off the roadway.

Joseph said that, following an investigation, officers arrested 27-year-old Jack Brown of Clearlake for misdemeanor DUI. Brown's vehicle was towed and stored while he was booked into the Clearlake City Jail. There were no injuries.

At 12:10 a.m., officers were dispatched to the intersection of 36^th and Phillips avenues for a single-vehicle collision, Joseph said.

When officers arrived on the scene, they discovered a single black Ford pickup that had been driven off the road and into the ditch, according to Joseph.

The driver, 40-year-old Kimberly Ratcliffe of Clearlake, became combative during the investigation and Joseph said she was arrested for misdemeanor DUI and felony resisting arrest.

Joseph said Ratcliffe – who was booked under the last name of Morgan – had to be placed in additional leg restraints to keep her from kicking out the patrol car windows while she was being transported to the Lake County Jail. He said the incident resulted in no injuries.

Officers came upon the third incident an hour later, at 1:10 a.m., as they were driving northbound on Highway 53, just north of 18^th Avenue, Joseph said.

By that point, the two-vehicle crash hadn't yet been reported to police, he said.

One vehicle, a red Ford Expedition, was still blocking the roadway for northbound traffic with major front-end damage. Joseph said the other vehicle, a blue Pontiac Montana minivan, had been pushed into the brush about 30 yards east of the edge of Highway 53, and had major rear end damage.

Joseph said there were injured passengers in both vehicles who were taken to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake, some by ambulance.

The Expedition's driver, 29-year-old Efrain Alvarez of Lakeport, was arrested after officers determined he was under the influence of alcohol, Joseph said.

Joseph said Alvarez was charged with felony driving under the influence of alcohol due to the injured passengers in both vehicles, and was later booked into the Lake County Jail.

The northbound lanes of Highway 53 near the intersection of 18^th Avenue were closed for well over an hour while officers conducted the investigation, Joseph said. Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene.

The arrestees appeared to have posted bail and been released since their arrests, based on jail records.

Joseph said the Clearlake Police Department wanted to remind all residents to use a designated drivers while consuming alcohol or any other intoxicating substance.

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Fifty-year-old Thomas Lennon, who has ties both to Clearlake and San Francisco, was arrested for burglary, possession of stolen property, assault on a police officer with a vehicle and evading, according to Sgt. Tim Celli.

At approximately 5:39 a.m. Thursday Officer Ryan Peterson was on routine patrol and came across a vehicle parked suspiciously in the roadway on Old Highway 53 in front of the ATT Co., located at 2510 Old Highway 53, Celli reported.

Celli said Peterson attempted to stop the vehicle for a traffic violation, but Nelson allegedly led officers on a high speed pursuit for approximately three miles through residential neighborhoods and front yards at dangerous speeds.

At one point during the high speed chase, Nelson swerved at an officer attempting to cause a collision. Celli said the officer had to make an evasive maneuver to avoid a head-on collision with Nelson.

Due to the high speeds and reckless driving officers eventually lost sight of the vehicle, but Celli said they located it, abandoned, approximately five minutes later in a vacant lot near Sonoma Avenue and Moose Trail.

When officers checked the area they initially were unable to locate the suspect. However, Celli said a search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of tools and equipment belonging to ATT. A subsequent burglary investigation was initiated and the items were discovered to have been taken in the burglary.

A short time later, a citizen called and reported to police there was a man in her yard near where the vehicle was left abandoned, Celli said.

Officers arrived on scene moments later and Celli said they took Lennon into custody and identified him as the suspect who led officers on the high speed chase.

Nelson was subsequently booked into the Lake County Jail, Celli said.

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During the public presentation portion of the meeting, acting Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen presented a commendation to “outstanding” local citizen Levi Egger, 30.

On the afternoon of Oct. 6, Lakeport Police received multiple 911 calls regarding an intoxicated, reckless driver on Lange and Lakeshore near the Lakeport Unified School District, Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said Egger – at the school to pick up his children – was one of the people reporting the driver.

Egger tried to flag down the driver, who allegedly drove by the school twice and almost ran over a person, Rasmussen said.

The driver failed to stop or pull over, and traveled back onto Lakeshore Boulevard and crashed into property owned by the Terrace Beach Homeowners Association, Rasmussen said. Throughout, Egger continued to follow the man.

Rasmussen said of Egger, “What was commendable about his actions is he never put himself or another citizen in danger.”

Egger continued to follow the driver, who stopped at a housing complex. Rasmussen said Egger reported to dispatch when and where the driver stopped, and he waited for police units to arrive and helped point out the driver to them.

Afterward, Egger went back to the Lakeport Police station, identified the suspect and helped by giving the police additional details, Rasmussen said.

“Without his actions we most likely would not have caught this individual” or positively identified him, said Rasmussen.

The Lakeport Police Department was able to make an arrest in the case, Rasmussen said.

Lake County Jail records showed that Officer Jim Bell arrested 67-year-old William Matison of Lakeport at about 3:15 p.m. Oct. 6. Matison was charged with misdemeanor drunk driving.

Rasmussen told the council that Lakeport Police expects a successful prosecution in the case.

Council member Suzanne Lyons thanked Egger for his actions.

She said the Terrace Beach property suffered about $4,000 in damage, and because of Egger's actions to catch the driver the homeowners association will be able to recoup those costs.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews , on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf and on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/user/LakeCoNews .

THIS STORY HAS BEEN UPDATED WITH THE NAMES OF THE TWO PEOPLE WHO WERE SHOT.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Sheriff's officials are investigating what appears to be a murder-suicide that occurred in Kelseyville late Sunday night.

Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said Kelseyville resident William Daniel Marty, 57, is believed to have shot his wife, 54-year-old Linda Macy Okell-Marty, before then turning the gun on himself.

At about 11:10 p.m. Sunday William Marty, who lived on Highway 175 near Wildcat Road, called 911 on his cell phone and reported to sheriff’s dispatch that he had just shot his wife and was going to shoot himself, Bauman said.

Multiple sheriff’s units responded to the residence and Bauman said rescue personnel from the Kelseyville Fire District were staged in the area, pending the deputies’ arrival to the scene.

Upon their arrival, Bauman said deputies established a perimeter around the residence and closed Highway 175 in front of the home. Deputies tried to call William Marty out of the home by public address system but got no response. Several phone call attempts to the home by dispatch also went unanswered.

Having gotten no response from inside, deputies approached the home and were able to see a man and a woman lying on a bed through a bedroom window. Bauman said both people appeared to be bleeding. The woman appeared to be deceased but the man was still moving slightly.

Bauman said deputies entered the home through an unlocked door and secured the residence. A rifle was found on the bedroom floor beside the bed where the man was lying and both people appeared to have sustained gunshot wounds.

Rescue personnel were called in and the woman was declared deceased at the scene, Bauman said.

William Marty, who was still displaying signs of life, was rushed to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake Hospital, according to Bauman. However, despite life saving efforts by Kelseyville medics and emergency room staff, Marty was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.

Throughout the night and as recent as 9 a.m. Monday detectives and crime scene technicians were on scene investigating the incident. Bauman said Lake County Animal Care and Control officers have also responded to secure multiple animals from the home.

While the motive for the apparent shootings is pending further investigation, Bauman said it appears that William Marty shot himself after calling 911 to report he had just shot his wife shortly after 11 p.m. Sunday.

An autopsy to determine the exact cause of death for both William and Linda Marty is scheduled at the Napa County Coroner’s Office Wednesday morning, Bauman said.

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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County's district attorney has released a report that concludes the shooting death of an armed man who confronted deputies in a marijuana grow in August was justified.

District Attorney Jon Hopkins issued the report in the death of 51-year-old Juan Sanchez Corona of Michoacán, Mexico, on Friday.

Corona, who was located in a large marijuana garden on Cobb Mountain, is alleged to have raised a SKS semi-automatic rifle toward deputies, according to Hopkins' report.

After Corona was told more than once to drop the weapon, Lake County Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Chwialkowski shot him twice with a Colt M-4, hitting Corona once in the forehead and once in the neck, the report said.

Hopkins concluded that Chwialkowski's belief that deadly force was necessary to prevent great bodily injury or death was reasonable under the circumstances, and that the shooting was a justifiable homicide.

The full report is published below.

IN THE MATTER OF THE DEATH OF JUAN SANCHEZ CORONA

LAKE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S FINAL REPORT

On August 4, 2010, about 6:30 am, Juan Sanchez Corona was fatally shot near Socrates Mine Road in the Cobb Mountain area of Lake County by Lake County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Christopher Chwialkowski. The Lake County District Attorney’s Office was contacted and assumed the responsibility for the criminal investigation pursuant to the Lake County Protocol for Law Enforcement Involved Fatal Incidents. At the conclusion of that investigation we have determined that the shooting was justified under the circumstances, based on the appearance that the deceased was about to shoot one or more of the officers who were at the scene. Therefore, no criminal charges will be filed against the officer who shot Mr. Corona.

Mr. Corona was in a very large marijuana garden in the area of the Bureau of Land Management property near the Calpine Geysers plants in the Cobb Mountain area. This same property and other property in the near vicinity had been the location of other illegal marijuana gardens in past years. During 2010, plants were sighted throughout the growing season, along with a person seen digging during one surveillance operation in this area. A team was organized to eradicate the illegal plants and attempt to capture any individuals tending the grow.

Early in the morning of August 4, 2010, the Law Enforcement teams began that operation before dawn. Two teams positioned themselves so that if one team happened upon any people at the grow who attempted to escape, they would be apprehended by the team in the other location. When the teams reached the garden, they attempted to determine if there was a camp associated with the garden, and while observing the area, Team 1 heard a person coughing or clearing their throat. They heard movement of a person and more coughing and waited for a period of time. Team 1, the closest, then began moving in the direction of the sounds and heard and saw a person coming toward them on a path, but he was somewhat obscured by the heavy brush.

Sgt. Chwialkowski was the point person out in front of the other four members of Team 1, and he moved to a position to intercept the man coming towards them. To his left was the Deputy who was handling the K-9 dog and so had no weapon drawn. Slightly behind him was another Deputy with a rifle at the ready, and further behind were the other two members of the team. Sgt. Chwialkowski was armed with a Colt M-4 rifle, which he had at the ready.

When Mr. Corona came into view, the law enforcement team members had no cover, as they were out in the open. Mr. Corona was about 10 feet away with his left side facing the team and Sgt. Chwialkowski called out “Police,” and took a step toward him. All of the law enforcement officers at the scene were wearing military type camouflage uniforms with clearly marked law enforcement identification. When Mr. Corona saw the officers, he turned toward Sgt. Chwialkowski and the Sgt. saw a rifle in his right hand. Sgt. Chwialkowski yelled “Drop the gun, drop the gun” and Mr. Corona began raising the gun as he pivoted toward Sgt. Chwialkowski. Mr. Corona was bringing his other hand up to the gun, and when he brought the weapon up to about thigh or waist high, Sgt. Chwialkowski believed Mr. Corona was going to shoot at them, and fearing for his safety and the safety of his team members, Sgt. Chwialkowski fired two shots at Mr. Corona. No other officers had the opportunity to shoot, and Mr. Corona did not shoot.

Mr. Corona was hit with both shots, once in the right forehead and once in the left neck, and immediately fell to the ground on top of his weapon. He was determined to be dead and no medical treatment was necessary. He was carrying an SKS semi-automatic rifle with one round in the chamber and eight rounds in the magazine. The safety was on.

Each of the other law enforcement officers in Team 1 said that they heard the command to “drop the gun” twice and the word “Police” included. Each of them believed that their own life was danger as well as the others in Team 1 when Mr. Corona turned and raised his gun. No other member of Team 1 believed they were in a position to fire at Mr. Corona, and believed that it was necessary for Sgt. Chwialkowski to shoot Mr. Corona in order to save the lives of the members of Team 1.

Three of the four members of Team 2 heard the command “Police, drop the gun, drop the gun” loudly. The fourth was by a large rock and heard a loud voice that he couldn’t understand, followed by two shots. They were estimating their location as 25 to 30 yards away to 50 yards away from the location of the shooting.

The investigation shows that the belief of the officer that deadly force was necessary to prevent great bodily injury or death was reasonable under the circumstances. This was therefore a justifiable homicide.

November 11, 2010

Jon E. Hopkins

Lake County District Attorney