CLEARLAKE, Calif. – As efforts move forward at the county level to work on updating local ordinances to allow for permitting medical marijuana cultivation, law enforcement continues to deal with the illegal side of cultivation.

On June 7, the Board of Supervisors held a discussion of Article 72 of the Lake County Code, passed by voters as Measure N in 2014.

A county Medical Marijuana Ad Hoc Committee that includes two supervisors – Rob Brown and Anthony Farrington – along with Sheriff Brian Martin, District Attorney Don Anderson and several other key department heads proposed a series of changes centering in particular around permitting to be in line with new state rules.

The board has sent consideration of those updates to the Lake County Planning Commission, which will hear them next on July 14.

That discussion came just a few weeks after Clearlake Police officials updated the Clearlake City Council on the latest developments regarding the criminal aspects of marijuana cultivation in the city so far this year.

Police say their activities are separate from a marijuana permitting process the city put in place with an updated ordinance earlier this year.

The presentation begins at the 3:51 minute mark in the video above.

Clearlake Police were joined before the Clearlake City Council for the May discussion by District Attorney Don Anderson, who shared information he gathered during a trip earlier this year to Colorado, where marijuana has been legalized for recreational use.

At the Clearlake City Council meeting Anderson would offer cautions about the potential drawbacks of full marijuana legalization, concerns similar to those he would raise before the supervisors weeks later.

“Marijuana has been a large topic of discussion over the last several years,” said Lt. Tim Celli, Clearlake Police's acting chief.

Earlier this year Celli had shared goals of reducing violent crime in the city, and he said there is a direct connection between such violent crime and marijuana.

Due to ambiguous laws and some procedural issues, there was not an assertive effort for marijuana enforcement in the city over the last several years, said Celli, who reported that he met with District Attorney Don Anderson and other agencies to clarify procedural concerns.

As a result, he said his agency is now confident in its procedures to be able to deal with marijuana lawfully and efficiently.

He said they're playing catchup, with more than 500 grows in the city last year.

Since March, there have been more than 20 search warrants obtained for illegal grows, leading to the seizure and eradication of close to 30,000 plants – or nearly two plants for every Clearlake resident, he said.

Celli estimated the street value of the plants seized by that time was more than $40 million. “That money is not staying in our community.”

He emphasized that the department is only pursuing commercial marijuana grows, which are illegal under the city's tightened cultivation restrictions which were adopted earlier this year and which require a permitting process.

He said it will take time to see the results of the enforcement, although some changes already are being seen.

Clearlake Police Det. Ryan Peterson said large scale illegal marijuana operations are related to cartels and other criminal organizations from outside of the area that have heard it's OK to grow in Clearlake.

That has led not just to neighborhood blight and property damage, but to crime. By this time last year, Peterson said there had been four homicides in the city, all directly related to marijuana cultivation.

“This year we've had zero homicides, period, in the community,” he said, knocking on the wooden podium.

Peterson showed a number of pictures as part of a Power Point to illustrate the kinds of indoor grows they've eradicated. He said the grows had very hot lights that were not properly wired and could have started fires, and that the grows were drawing heavily on the water infrastructure, especially in the city's Avenues area.

“So this is extreme danger to our community,” he said.

The residences used for grows have been entirely converted on the inside, with only a mattress or a bed for the person supervising them. Peterson said black mold and spores from the grows get into the walls and can impact unsuspecting families who may later move into them.

Hoop houses also are commonly used, with Peterson explaining that they help growers get up to three crops a season. Chemicals used in the grows are so dangerous that if some of them get onto a person's skin and absorb into it, the person could die.

He also showed pictures of the many weapons seized during the grow eradications, as growers try to protect their crops.

“If I'm a criminal I'm going to let you do all the work,” before trying to steal the plants, he said.

One place that was eradicated had more AR-15 ammunition than the entire Clearlake Police Department, including a 100-round barrel clip. They also found an AR15 converted to fire automatically, so it was a machine gun.

Peterson also showed a picture of a UHaul truck police pulled over earlier in May that was filled with marijuana plants.

Safety concerns associated with the grows are numerous, from children playing in contaminated dirt to illegal taps into electrical power. At one grow, they were concerned that officers could have been electrocuted.

“It all about the money,” said Peterson, noting that officers have found money orders – some as large as $10,000 – being sent to Mexico.

He said the department has seized the funds and is starting asset forfeiture proceedings on almost $30,000.

Peterson became emotional as he showed pictures of bullet holes in a door of a home where a family had been robbed in February. The gunshots had passed children and hit a door behind which the parents were hiding. The father was shot in the face – he survived – and his wife was wounded in the arm.

“Those children could have been the victims,” said Peterson.

He also showed a quarter pound of rock cocaine and black tar heroin, and about 20 grams of methamphetamine seized during the marijuana operations, explaining that those other illicit drugs are commonly seen in connection to the illegal grows.

Peterson said police have contacted people from associated with the grows who are from areas including New York, Arizona and New Mexico who have been told it's OK to grow in Clearlake because the city doesn't care.

“Well, we do care,” Peterson said.

Referring to the department's goal of violent crimes, Peterson – who has been a police officer in Clearlake for nine years – said he hopes this year they will have no murders.

“That's a sobering presentation,” said Vice Mayor Gina Fortino Dickson.

Celli then introduced Anderson, who shared information he obtained while visiting Colorado, which has legalized recreational use of marijuana.

Anderson explained that California will have a measure on the November ballot for full legalization. He said the city must pass ordinances restricting dispensaries and manufacturing of marijuana byproducts – such as honey oil – or those activities will be allowed by state law, which he said is “going to be a disaster.”

Anderson said he didn't think many counties in Colorado took such local control seriously, and when state law allowing full legalization went into effect “all hell broke loose.”

Anderson visited nine different Colorado judicial districts encompassing 18 different counties in 15 days.

He said he had been hoping for a “nice, rosy picture,” with crime going down and revenues going up.

However, he said violent crimes such as homicides, home invasions and robberies skyrocketed. He attributed that to marijuana being a “cash money operation” because the federal government doesn't allow growers and dispensaries to put their money into the bank.

Contrary to the belief by many that legalization wipes out the black market, Anderson said in Colorado the black market – run by gangs and organized crime – has only gotten stronger.

“That, I believe, is what we have to look forward to” once laws go into effect fully legalizing marijuana, he said.

Anderson said the black market price of marijuana has skyrocketed, growing as much as three times compared to the cost before legalization.

He said medical marijuana is the cheapest, is tax free and sold on a controlled basis. Then there is recreational marijuana, which is taxed and regulated at a higher price.

The third tier is the black market, which goes for the same prices as the recreational marijuana but without the regulations. He said it's the most lucrative for growers.

Anderson explained that the black market is thriving because of the 15-percent tax implemented by the state of Colorado and the additional 10 percent taken by local governments. The black market doesn't pay those taxes.

He said there also is an increase in marijuana usage among children, who are now getting bored with the drug and turning to heroin for excitement, which is fueling a rise of overdoses.

Further explaining the economics of the black market, Anderson said permitting commercial grow sites can cost up to $10,500, which is another reason the black market is thriving in Colorado. The same will be true in California, Anderson said, if the November ballot measure passes.

He said the black market is being run by dangerous and violent people, including the Mexican mafia and cartels.

There also has been a proliferation of homeless and transients, many coming from as far away as Florida because they hear they can smoke all the marijuana they want and get rich in the industry, only to find out that all of the jobs are taken by locals, he said.

Anderson said there also has been a dramatic increase in driving under the influence of marijuana, which he said poses a problem.

In Colorado there is a device that law enforcement is using to determine the marijuana levels in a person's system, but that device hasn't yet been approved in California. As it is, Anderson said getting convictions for driving under the influence of marijuana is extremely difficult.

Anderson visited a dispensary in Colorado that he said was clean, modern and well run. He recounted looking at the edibles section, which had gummy candies and candy bars, the latter divided into eight squares, each being an adult dose. He said there have been incidences of children getting ahold of the edibles and eating them like normal candy, which has resulted in hospitalizations and some deaths.

He said honey oil is getting more popular, and some areas are implementing rules that processing must include carbon dioxide, not butane, which can lead to explosions. If marijuana is legalized in California, Anderson said the city will need to decide if it will allow honey oil processing at all or only using the safe method.

He said he visited Durango, a city of 17,000 people with 15 dispensaries, all of which are very cooperative with law enforcement due to heavy regulation.

At a dispensary in Aurora, the owner told Anderson that monthly income was $600,000, half of which was profit.

He said very little crime is associated with the dispensaries because of heavy regulation and surveillance.

Anderson also raised the issue of the high concentration of THC in marijuana, which is very potent and becoming more so. He said that high THC makes some people violent, irrational and delusional, and has led to serious crimes.

He said a man who went on a shooting rampage at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs was out of his mind due to high THC marijuana, but did not give the source for that statement.

“What I'm trying to relay to you is, things are not going to get better. Things are going to be much worse,” Anderson said.

He said there are some positives, including more money from taxes which mainly goes to schools, “which I find kinda ironic.” In California, those taxes would go to regulation and law enforcement.

On the plus side, the environmental crimes by growers now are almost negligible, he said.

Councilwoman Joyce Overton asked if the city can ban it. Anderson said they can forbid it. Overton replied by saying she had visited Durango and felt the dispensaries there are run better.

Fortino Dickson asked why the black market is more lucrative, citing the belief that it's supposed to go away due to legalization.

Anderson, who said he believe the black market issues will be worse in California, pointed again to the 25 percent taken by state and local governments in Colorado.

In California there will be different licenses for different steps – growers, testers, distributors and dispensaries – and each person in the process will want their cut, including government. Growers will be able to get more on the black market than selling legally, he said.

Fortino Dickson asked about the benefit for purchasers on the black market. “That I can't answer you,” Anderson said.

Celli explained that states surrounding Colorado don't have legal marijuana, thus Colorado has become the black market for them, just as Clearlake has become a black market source for other areas.

Anderson was asked about the federal stance on marijuana. He said federal authorities don't differentiate between recreational and medicinal, although they won't enforce their laws any longer even on very large grows, so they're out of it, although not on paper.

He also was asked about the device to test for marijuana levels in a person's system, and why it wasn't approved in California yet. He said the device isn't as accurate as a breathalyzer and bureaucracy causes it to take a long time to get such things in place.

When asked how officers will deal with marijuana DUI, Celli said officers are trained in recognition.

Asked about the influence on children, Anderson said, “It's bad,” noting that it's not just the influence of marijuana but boredom by children who want to do something illegal, so they are going to harder drugs.

Peterson added regarding the black market that people will still buy illegally if they can get a product legally. He referred to a television show about illegal moonshiners as an example.

He added that illegal growers also have less overhead.

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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A group of new young officers are filling out the ranks of the Lakeport Police Department, which thanks to the new hires has now reached full staffing, according to the department's chief.

Over the last several years the department has struggled to keep its staffing up in the face of retirements and officers leaving for more pay at other agencies.

But following a series of recruitments – including one in which the department sought out trainees interested in attending the academy – Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said he now has a full crew.

The newest officer to join the force is Joseph Medici, 27, who was sworn in at a Monday morning ceremony at Lakeport City Hall.

Medici comes from Orange County, and graduated from the Fullerton College Police Academy in May 2014, Rasmussen said.

Medici's mother, Linda Martin, stepfather Rick Martin and grandfather James Medici traveled from Southern California to celebrate his swearing in, with his mother pinning on his new badge.

Prior to the Lakeport Police Department hiring him, Medici worked as a code enforcement officer for the North County Transit District in San Diego County, Rasmussen said.

Shortly before Medici started, Victor Rico joined the Lakeport Police force.

Rico, 25, had worked for the Lake County Sheriff's Office for a deputy prior to moving to the police department, Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen introduced Rico to the Lakeport City Council at its May 17 meeting, with his parents and little brother on hand for his public debut.

Rico – born and raised in Lake County, and a Lakeport resident – is fluent in Spanish. Rasmussen said Rico is the department's only bilingual officer.

With the hiring of Medici and Rico, the Lakeport Police Department is now at full staff, based on the 12 officers in this fiscal year's budget, said Rasmussen.

That number also includes two police officer trainees, Dale Hoskins, 24, and Andrew Welter, 23, who are attending the police academy in Windsor. Rasmussen said both young men have been doing well in the academy, and are set to graduate in August.

While the department is now fully staffed, its ranks could still see another increase. That's because later this month the Lakeport Unified School District Board is expected to approve its budget, which includes a full-time school resource officer, Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said that agreement also will go to the Lakeport City Council, which will be asked to cover the position during the months when school isn't in session.

Rasmussen said he expects both the board and the council to approve the agreement.

If they do, Rasmussen said his agency would be budgeted for 13 full-time sworn officers when the 2016-17 fiscal year budget goes into effect in July.

In addition to the new sworn officers, Rasmussen said the Lakeport Police Department has brought on a police intern, Natalie Sylar.

Sylar, a 2011 Clear Lake High School graduate, is attending California State University, Chico, he said.

“She will be with us learning about policing until school starts in the fall,” Rasmussen 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.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is asking for the community's help in identifying who is responsible for vandalism that occurred in the downtown sometime late last week and earlier this week.

The agency reported that between June 9 and 13 someone vandalized three new sidewalk trees paid for by the city on Third Street between N. Main and Park streets.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491, send a private message on Facebook or by sending us an anonymous message through your cellular telephone by texting the word TIP LAKEPORT followed by your message to 888777.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Police Officers arrested four suspects believed to be involved in the commercial cultivation of marijuana and seized more than 5,000 marijuana plants as a result of serving search warrants at residences located on 37th and 38th avenues.

On Thursday at approximately 8 a.m. teams of Clearlake Police officers simultaneously served four search warrants, two of which were located in the 15800 block of 38th Avenue and the other two were located in the 15700 block of 37th Avenue, according to Lt. Tim Celli.

The properties located on 38th Avenue were connected to each other. As a result of the service of the two search warrants on 38th Avenue, Celli said officers seized 685 marijuana plants, a loaded shotgun and approximately $7,000 in cash pending judicial asset forfeiture.

Arrested at the 38th Avenue properties were 25-year-old Tanya Ayala, 44-year-old Vicente Ayala and 40-year-old Isabelle Beltran-Vega of Clearlake, Celli said.

Celli said Vicente Ayala and Tanya Ayala were charged with cultivation, being armed in the commission of a felony, possession of marijuana for sale and conspiracy. Beltran-Vega was charged with resisting arrest after she attempted to run from the property when officers initially arrived.  

Officers served a search warrant at a location in the 15800 block of 37th Avenue. As a result of that search warrant, Celli said 141 mature, budding marijuana plants were seized.

Police arrested 39-year-old Clearlake resident Arturo Olmedo for possession of marijuana for sale and cultivation, Celli said.

At a second location in the 15700 block of 37th Avenue, officers seized 4,237 marijuana plants in various stages of growth from the backyard and two garages located on the property. The garages were converted for indoor growing, Celli said.

In addition, Celli said two pit bull dogs were impounded by Clearlake Animal Control.

The suspect was not contacted during the search warrant service, but has been identified, Celli said.

The investigation into this grow site is ongoing. Anyone with information related to these illegal marijuana growing operations is asked to contact the Clearlake Police Department Investigations Unit at 707-994-8251. 

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Service of search warrants this week resulted in the arrests of three out-of-county residents on charges related to illegal marijuana cultivation in the city of Clearlake.

On Wednesday Clearlake Police officers served search warrants on properties located on Second and Third avenues that were involved in the commercial cultivation of marijuana, according to Lt. Tim Celli.

The two grow sites were within 50 yards of each other, but are not believed to be connected, he said.

At a location in the 16500 block of Second Avenue officers seized 643 marijuana plants in various stages of growth. Some of the plants were near mature with large marijuana buds, according to Celli.

Celli said there was no one found at this location, however, two canines were impounded by Clearlake Animal Control.

A possible suspect later drove by this location and once he saw officers on scene, he sped away in an off-road truck toward areas where the patrol cars were unable to follow, Celli said.

Celli said the suspect has not been identified, and the only description was a Hispanic male, between 25 and 30 years old, last seen driving north toward Third Avenue in a late model, lifted Chevy Silverado truck. 

Officers also served a search warrant in the 16400 block of Third Avenue. At this location, three suspects identified as 56-year-old Timothy Bones out of Humboldt, 19-year-old Thomas Christie also out of Humboldt and 30-year-old Redlands resident Ade Wijaya-Karre were arrested for cultivation, possession of marijuana for sale, armed during the commission of a felony and conspiracy, according to Celli.

Both Christie and Wijaya-Karre admitted they were hired to trim marijuana, Celli said.

At this location, investigators seized 495 marijuana plants in various stages of growth along with drying marijuana and a thirty gallon container full of marijuana buds. In addition, Celli said a loaded handgun and a “billy club” also were seized.

Celli said the three suspects were contacted in a motor home located on the property. An apparent sewer line from the motor home appeared as though it was draining into the ground. It did not appear there were any legal connections, Celli said.

Employees from Lake County Environmental Health were contacted, however, Celli said a representative was unable to respond during the time officers were on scene.

Code Enforcement also was requested to scene and will follow up with Environmental Health for possible additional charges, Celli said.

Anyone with information regarding either of these grow sites is asked to Call Det. Elvis Cook at 707-994-8251, Extension 315.

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff's Office has identified a Kelseyville man who appeared to have drowned while swimming in Clear Lake last week.

Walter Patrick Hoertkorn, 69, died while swimming near a Kelseyville area home on Thursday, June 2, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Brooks said a witness told authorities that Hoertkorn had jumped off a boat dock and was swimming toward a residence, about 50 yards away, when he suddenly appeared to start struggling at about the halfway point and went down.

“He was located by one of the boat deputies with the use of their side scan sonar,” said Brooks. “The spot was marked and then the dive team was brought in for the recovery.”

While it appears that Hoertkorn drowned, the official cause of death is pending autopsy results, Brooks said.

Hoertkorn was a Navy veteran who had worked as a certified public accountant and later for the Kelseyville Post Office, retiring in 2003, according to his obituary.

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.