LAKEPORT, Calif. – A bomb threat forced the evacuation of the county courthouse Monday morning as courthouse workers began their day.

At approximately 7:40 AM, Monday, May 2, 2016, the Lake County jail received a phone call claiming that a bomb was set to detonate on the 4^thfloor of the Lake County Courthouse located in Lakeport, California at 8:30 AM this morning.

Central Dispatch was immediately notified and contacted the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Lakeport Police Department, Lakeport Fire District and County of Lake Public Services department. Officers and staff of those agencies immediately responded and began a floor by floor search of the facility.

At approximately 7:45 AM employees of the State of California Courts and employees of the County of Lake, who share the Courthouse facility, were given notice to leave the building immediately. As other employees arrived to start the work week, they were directed to stage on the lawn of the Courthouse Museum Park.

Nothing suspicious was found during the search of the Courthouse. Law enforcement gave the okay for employees to return to work at approximately 8:35 AM.

This matter is currently under investigation. 

Lake County Sheriff Brian Martin says, “I sincerely appreciated the support the Sheriff’s Office received from the Lakeport Police Department, Lakeport Fire Protection District and the Lake County Public Services Department in conducting a search of the courthouse building and surrounds grounds. I also wanted to thank all of the County employees and residents for their cooperation in evacuating the building. The safety of Lake County residents is always a top priority for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.”

District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown adds, ““The County appreciates the fast multiple agency response in searching the Courthouse which allowed County staff to get back to work as quickly as possible.”

Lake County Sheriff’s Office will be investigating the threat.  Anyone with information is asked to call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office at 707-263-2690.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Sonoma County man who led a police officer on a high speed chase on a stolen motorcycle was taken into custody thanks to the work of a Clearlake Police K9.

Vincent Lee Hassenzahl, 28, of Santa Rosa was arrested late Thursday night, according to a report from Sgt. Travis Lenz.

At approximately 10:15 p.m. Thursday Officer Travis Parson and his K9 partner “Bear” were conducting routine patrol within the city when Parson observed a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle, occupied by a male driver and female passenger, traveling at a high rate of speed, as it turned off Old Highway 53 onto Ball Park Avenue, Lenz said.

Lenz said Officer Parson initiated a traffic enforcement stop on the motorcycle, which had been reported stolen to the Lake County Sheriff's Office in January.

The male driver, identified as Hassenzahl, failed to yield and accelerated to an even greater unsafe speed, as he attempted to evade Parson, according to Lenz's report.

Once on Lakeshore Drive, Hassenzahl traveled into the oncoming lane of traffic numerous times to pass vehicles ahead of him in his lane that were traveling the posted speed limit, Lenz said.

Lenz said Hassenzahl drove off Lakeshore Drive onto Pomo Road, proceeding northbound. At the intersection of Pomo Road and Arrowhead Road, Hassenzahl failed to stop at the posted stop sign, traveling through the intersection and onto Acacia Street.

Hassenzahl attempted to complete a left turn onto Sonoma Avenue, yet due to the speeds he was traveling at, was unable to do so, leaving the roadway edge before laying the motorcycle onto its side, Lenz said.

At that point, Lenz said Hassenzahl quickly got up and proceeded to run westbound on Sonoma Avenue.

Parson exited his police vehicle and deployed Bear, giving two police canine announcements, yelling at Hassenzahl to stop or he would be apprehended by the dog. Lenz said Hassenzahl did not comply with the officer's requests and kept running westbound.

Lenz said Parson deployed Bear toward Hassenzahl, with the dog giving chase and apprehending Hassenzahl after a brief foot pursuit.

Hassenzahl briefly struggled with the canine, pushing at the dog’s body with his hands as he tried to roll away from the dog’s grasp and escape. Hassenzahl’s attempt to escape the canine was futile and Officer Parson was able to detain him in handcuffs, placing him under arrest, Lenz said.

Hassenzahl has prior arrests for weapon-related offenses, resisting arrest, possession of narcotics for the purpose of sales and is a convicted felon, according to Lenz.

After being medically evaluated at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake for injuries sustained as a result of being apprehended by the police canine, Hassenzahl was booked into the Lake County Jail on charges of evading a police officer while driving in wanton and willful disregard for public safety, evading a police officer while traveling in the wrong direction of traffic, resisting arrest, possession of stolen property, possession of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia and outstanding warrants out of the Sonoma County, Lenz said.

Hassenzahl remained in custody on Saturday, with his bail set at $150,000 for the warrants, according to jail records. He is tentatively scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

Lenz said the female passenger sustained no injuries during the incident. After being questioned, she was released from the scene with no criminal charges.

The Clearlake Police Department expressed its gratitude to the community for the continued support and financial contributions to the Clearlake Police Canine Unit. Without the continued support from the community, the canine unit – which is solely funded by donations – would be nonexistent.

The Clearlake Police Department was again able to utilize a police canine to apprehend a fleeing fugitive, which aided in keeping the citizens of Clearlake as well as the involved police officers safe, Lenz said.

Anyone with information in regard to this investigation is asked to contact Officer Parson at the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251, Extension 543.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – On Thursday Clearlake Police officers closed down more illegal commercial marijuana grows in the city and seized nearly 2,300 plants.

Lt. Tim Celli, the department's acting chief, said two Clearlake men – identified as Bradley Glenn Stagg, 38, and Jose Miguel Zuniga, 20 – also were arrested during the Thursday operation.

At about 8 a.m., officers served two search warrants on four properties in the city of Clearlake that Celli said were believed to be connected.

Two of the properties were linked together located in the 3900 block of Laddell. Celli said the service of the search warrant on Laddell resulted in the seizure of 1,100 marijuana plants, with approximately 30 pounds of processed marijuana and trimmings that appeared were going to be used for a possible extraction process to make concentrated cannabis, although there were some components missing.

At the Laddell location, it was discovered that most of the house was converted for the indoor growing of marijuana. Celli said there was marijuana located throughout most of the living quarters that were in various stages of growth.

The marijuana plants inside the Laddell residence were already in bloom and had marijuana buds on them. In addition, Celli said there was hundreds of marijuana plants planted in the ground in the backyard.

Also discovered at the property was an illegal electrical connection that bypassed the electrical meter. Celli said Stagg was arrested at the site for cultivation possession of marijuana for sale and theft of utilities.

The second set of properties where Celli said officers served a second search warrant was located in the 3900 block of Manchester Avenue.

At those locations, officers seized approximately 1,193 marijuana plants in various stages of growth, Celli said.

There was an indoor growing operation at the Manchester location as well, however Celli said it appeared as though many marijuana plants had been moved to another unknown location.

He said there was evidence to suggest that there had been more of an indoor growing operation at this location at some point other than what was found.

Located on an adjacent fenced-in property – that could only be accessed from the residence property – were marijuana plants in various stages of growth. There were marijuana plants in the open and also in a “hoop house,” Celli said.

At the Manchester location officers took Zuniga into custody for cultivation of marijuana. While Zuniga was the name the man provided, Celli said it is unknown if this is his actual name.

Both residence locations were red tagged by Clearlake Code Enforcement due to dangerous mold issues as well as other code enforcement issues, Celli said.

Anyone with information related to these commercial marijuana growing operations should contact Det. Elvis Cook at 707-994-8251, Extension 315, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Both Stagg and Zuniga remained in the Lake County Jail on Thursday night, with bail for each set at $15,000, according to jail records.

Celli said the Clearlake Police Department will continue to investigate commercial marijuana operations located in the city.

He said individuals who are involved with commercial marijuana grows should be forewarned that this type of activity will not be tolerated in the city of Clearlake.

Anyone caught engaged in this type of activity – including knowingly providing properties for these types of operations – could face criminal charges related to cultivation, environmental crimes as well as civil, financial penalties. Environmental crimes will be forwarded to the California Environmental Protection Agency, Celli said.

The city currently requires that medicinal marijuana grows follow a permitting process that is only open until May 2, Celli said.

For more information visit http://clearlake.ca.us/338/Medical-Marijuana-Cultivation-Permit-App .

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department has honored two of its officers for their heroic efforts to save the lives of city residents.

Clearlake Police's acting chief, Lt. Tim Celli, presented the commendations to Sgt. Travis Lenz and Officer Trevor Franklin during the Clearlake City Council's April 14 meeting. The presentation starts at the 6:40 mark in the video above.

Ahead of the commendation presentations, Celli paused to introduce the agency's newest dispatcher, Melissa Carpenter, who at that point was halfway through her 16-week communications training. Once completed, she'll be able to work on her own in dispatch, Celli said.

Celli said Carpenter and the department's other dispatchers were being showered with gifts and goodies that week in celebration of National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, which was marked from April 10 to 16.

Celli also introduced 27-year-old Chris Kelleher, Clearlake Police's newest officer.

Kelleher has spent most of his life in the Clearlake area, previously volunteered for the Lake County Fire Protection District and worked at a local mortuary, Celli said.

Last year, Kelleher graduated from the police academy at Santa Rosa Junior College. “He said it was the best decision of his life,” Celli said.

Getting hired by the Clearlake Police Department fulfilled Kelleher's dream of working locally, as he wants to raise his two young children here, according to Celli.

At that point, Kelleher was in week five of a 16-week training, Celli said.

After the introductions, Celli presented what he said were two very special commendations to Lenz and Franklin.

First up was Lenz, honored for saving a woman who had been held hostage at gunpoint on Oct. 29, 2015.

Celli said the commendation's presentation had to be put on hold until the department received a clearance letter from the District Attorney's Office.

That's because the District Attorney's Office was completing an investigation into the incident – which involved Lenz shooting and injuring the suspect, Brenden Fanucchi – as part of the county's critical incident protocol.

In March, District Attorney Don Anderson released his findings in the case, concluding that Lenz was justified in shooting Fanucchi, as Lake County News has reported.

Anderson was on hand for the presentation to Lenz at the April 14 meeting. Celli said he had spoken to Anderson about the case, and that Anderson had agreed that Lenz should receive the award for his actions.

On the morning of Oct. 29 Lenz responded to a report of a man – later identified as Fanucchi – holding two women hostage in a garage at a residence on 18th Avenue, according to the original police and district attorney's reports.

One of the women would be let go, but Fanucchi continued to hold the second woman at gunpoint. Celli said Lenz went into the residence to talk with Fanucchi, attempting to negotiate with him for nearly a half hour.

Lenz pleaded with Fanucchi to put the gun down and let the hostage go, Celli said. Fanucchi became more hostile, demanding marijuana he had accused the woman of stealing.

Then Fanucchi began counting down in what appeared to be preparation for shooting the woman. When he reached “two,” Lenz went into the garage and shot at Fanucchi twice. Fanucchi turned his attention to Lenz, who Celli said then shot twice more, with Fanucchi collapsing.

Fanucchi was treated for gunshot wounds to his right arm, left shoulder and upper abdomen, officials reported.

Celli said Fanucchi is now awaiting trial. Fanucchi remains in custody at the Lake County Jail, with his bail set at $1 million on an attempted murder charge, according to jail records.

Lenz's decisive, immediate and valiant action saved the hostage's life, and it reflected well on Lenz, the department and his chosen profession, said Celli.

Adding that Lenz handled the situation with honor and bravery, Celli presented him with a commendation. In addition, Lenz received a badge that says “valor” and which he is able to wear on his uniform.

Celli then called forward Officer Trevor Franklin, who in March saved an elderly couple from a house fire.

Franklin arrived on scene at the burning home on 39th Avenue shortly after 1 a.m. March 23, according to the original police report.

He found a man – Troy Burnett, who later was arrested for setting fire to his family's home – on the burning front porch and led him away to safety before going around to the rear of the residence and finding Burnett's sister in the backyard.

At the same time, Burnett's 82-year-old father and 77-year-old stepmother were trapped in the house. Celli said Franklin put his own safety at risk to save the couple, first leading out the man and then going inside to find the woman on the floor and unable to get up. He then carried her from the home.

Based on statements from witnesses, Franklin was credited with saving the lives of the man and woman, who Celli said likely would have perished.

Franklin received a certificate of commendation, and like Lenz a special badge – Franklin's with a life-saving award – to wear on his uniform to signify his accomplishment.

Franklin joined the Clearlake Police Department after he graduated from the police academy in December 2012. He's a 2007 graduate of Middletown High School.

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.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Search warrants served this week by the Clearlake Police Department resulted in one arrest, and the seizure of a loaded handgun and 6,800 marijuana plants.

Lt. Tim Celli said officers served the search warrants in the 16300 block of 28th Avenue on Monday morning.

He said the search warrants were for associated residences and several properties that were involved in the cultivation of commercial marijuana.

At the main residence, officers contacted 37-year-old Ricardo Perez of Napa. Celli said Perez was the only person at the location, however, it is believed there are other individuals involved in the operation.

Celli said the search of the main residence resulted in the discovery of a loaded handgun and approximately 2,300 marijuana plants in various stages of growth.

Some of the marijuana plants were located in the backyard of the location. In addition, Celli said there were other rooms located in the residence that had indoor growing rooms set up. Only some of the rooms were in operation.

There were additional rooms added onto the garage that were set up for indoor marijuana growing with tunneled passageways leading to the additional grow rooms, according to Celli.

There also was an apparatus set up for processing and drying marijuana, numerous illegal electrical connections set up at the residence and the house had unsafe mold conditions as well. Due to the unsafe conditions located at this residence, the property was red tagged by Code Enforcement, Celli said.

As a result of the search of the properties located across the street, Celli said officers seized an additional 4,500 marijuana plants in various stages of growth.

One fenced lot, located directly across the street from the initial residence, had more than 2,000 marijuana plants already planted in the ground, Celli said.

Celli said a second residence located across the street was set up as a processing location. There were drying marijuana plants and some processed marijuana discovered at that location.

Perez was booked at the Lake County Jail for cultivation, possession of marijuana for sale, being armed during the commission of a felony, and a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition due to a prior felony conviction for possession of marijuana sales, according to Celli.

His bail was set at $15,000, and he remained in custody early Wednesday, according to jail records.

Celli said this marijuana growing operation is still under investigation as to anyone else involved. Anyone with information regarding this large scale commercial marijuana operation is encouraged to contact Det. Elvis Cook at 707-994-8251, Extension 315, or [email protected] .

The Clearlake Police Department will continue to investigate commercial marijuana operations located in the city, Celli said, adding that commercial marijuana grows will not be tolerated in the city.

If individuals are caught while engaged in commercial growing – including knowingly providing properties for these types of operations – potential risks include criminal charges related to cultivation, environmental crimes as well as civil, financial penalties. Environmental crimes will be forwarded to the California Environmental Protection Agency, Celli said.

Celli said the department urges any citizen desiring to grow medicinal marijuana to follow the permit process or risk code violations and civil penalties through the city's Code Enforcement division.

He said there is a very short time left to obtain permits for medical marijuana. Individuals desiring to grow medical marijuana in the city of Clearlake should contact Clearlake City Hall immediately.