Police & Courts

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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Police officers this week discovered in a city motel room evidence of a marijuana packaging and shipping operation during a search warrant service.

Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said the discovery was made Wednesday afternoon.

At around 4 p.m. that day officers were dispatched to the Regency Inn to investigate the report of narcotics being located in a motel room by a Lake County Animal Care and Control officer, Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said Lakeport Police officers responded and met with the animal control officer, who advised that he was dispatched to the motel to take custody of two abandoned cats reported by motel management.  

The police officers began an investigation and determined that the motel manager saw two cats sitting in the window of the room on the inside of the curtains. Rasmussen said the manager believed that the occupants of the room had left and abandoned the cats so he called animal control to have them removed.  

When animal control arrived the manager let them into the room, where marijuana was observed. That's when police were called, Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said his officers conducted a protective sweep of the room to determine if there were any persons inside. No persons were located, however, extensive evidence of marijuana processing and packaging were visible throughout the room.  

The officers froze the room and completed an affidavit for search warrant which was then authorized by a Lake County Superior Court judge, Rasmussen said.

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At about 7 p.m. Wednesday, Lakeport Police's officers served the search warrant on the room and then located and seized a large quantity of evidence, according to Rasmussen's report.

Evidence seized included approximately 14 pounds of high quality marijuana bud packaged for sale and shipment, approximately 646 grams of concentrated cannabis packaged for sale and shipment, more than 32 grams of powdered cocaine, packaging supplies including numerous shipping boxes and other containers, vacuum sealing equipment and rolls of bags, detailed records of drug amounts, a weight scale and a recent shipping receipt from a US Postal Service facility in Lake County, he said.

Evidentiary items showing show who may have been in control of the room also were located, he said.

Rasmussen said information and evidence gathered during the investigation also indicates that young children were staying in the room while the drug processing and packaging was taking place.  
 
Police believe that the motel room was rented for the purpose of processing, packaging and shipping large amounts of marijuana out of the area, Rasmussen said.

Rasmussen said officers currently are following up on leads to confirm the identity of the persons, believed to be a male and female, who were in control of the operation.

When the case investigation is complete, Rasmussen said it will be forwarded to the Lake County District Attorney to seek arrest warrants for numerous charges including drug possession, transportation and sales.  

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Our family has lived in Lake County for almost four decades. During that time we have seen many sheriffs come and go. Some have been competent, some effective and some merely functional. This election we have a chance to vote for someone exceptional.

We have known Brian Martin and his family a long time. We know of their dedication to the county and to its citizens. We are also entirely convinced of their honesty and character in every situation.

Brian is one of Lake County's many youthful success stories. He has achieved and excelled, not just in our county, but in areas outside of our boundaries.

The experience of positions held in other areas has given him a greater understanding of governance and administration, as well as the knowledge of components necessary to building a successful and effective law enforcement office, responsive to the attitudes and opinions of the community it serves.

In my conversations with Brian I have come away thoroughly impressed with his caring and respectful attitude for my own opinions, his willingness to hear others, and his carefully considered ideas about law enforcement's role in insuring the peace, safety and prosperity of all of its citizens.

After all, the sheriff's office represents much more than a simple code and law enforcement branch of county government. It must work effectively and efficiently in concert with many other agencies, departments, offices, business groups and citizens. It must have the trust and support of each and every one of those groups to function effectively.

While some sheriffs believe that their primary goal is law enforcement, they consistently underplay their importance as peace-keepers and community safety personnel, as well as the importance of their responsiveness to the day-to-day needs of the community at-large.

Brian knows the importance of communication, not only with the public and business community, but within the very doors of the office itself.

He understands the importance of shift briefings to maintain the continuity of reporting of issues and citizen needs during the day and night, understanding that these briefings provide officers with greater insight into community needs and insures that people will feel their personal concerns are being cared for and met.

The resulting trust and confidence between the populace and the office increases the effectiveness of every other component of law enforcement.

Brian also understands that law enforcement isn't accomplished by driving around in a vehicle and observing or responding after the fact.

He knows that only by expanding the number of personal contacts between his officers, citizens and businesses, will the relationship between the sheriff's office and the community be enhanced and community involvement grow to result in more peaceful, safe and prosperous neighborhoods.

Right now, Lake County is suffering a gross reduction in available officers and staffing problems are the most direct component contributing to crime and unsafe conditions facing the county and our people.

Until the citizens of Lake County understand how law enforcement best practices can benefit us all, we will remain unwilling to fund the office to achieve its highest potential. I believe Brian is the best equipped to educate the community to those realities.

Finally, I trust Brian to uphold our Second Amendment rights in a thoughtful and deliberative manner.

My own experience with the current office was less than acceptable and even after completing POST 832 standards and showing an employment opportunity my request for a concealed weapon permit was summarily denied before we even got to the Live-Scan background check portion of the process. The current office would not respond to my requests for clarification of the denial.

I know Brian's office would be much more transparent and open in its relationship with the people it is sworn to serve.

Please join myself and family in voting for Brian Martin for sheriff of Lake County.
 
James BlueWolf lives in Nice, Calif.

NICE, Calif. – Come discuss your concerns with Lake County sheriff candidate Brian Martin over a root beer float this weekend.

Martin welcomes the community to join him for some sweets and treats at his meet and greet this Saturday, May 10, from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Sons of Italy hall, located at 2817 E. Highway 20 in Nice.  

There is no charge to anyone wishing to satisfy their sweet tooth and concerns.

For more information about Martin's campaign, visit his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BrianMartinForLakeCountySheriff2014 or his campaign Web site, http://martinforsheriff.com/ , and follow him on Twitter at https://twitter.com/@brian4sheriff .

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I met Brian Martin back in 2005 when he came to work for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and we became co-workers.

I worked with him when he first started as a patrol deputy and i watched him promote to sergeant, then to lieutenant.  

Having had the pleasure of working with Brian I know just how passionate he is about law enforcement, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and serving and protecting the citizens of Lake County.  

I have witnessed his courage, professionalism and the compassion he has for people, even under the most stressful, chaotic, unpleasant and dangerous of situations.

Brian is a man of high integrity with ethical and moral values that he stands behind. He treats all people with respect, and is well respected by all.

Having been a lieutenant and part of the command staff for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Brian already has experience of “being in command” and assisting the staff in running the department, after all that is part of the command staff’s responsibility.

He has experience with the department’s daily functions and knows the policies and procedures, mode of operation, rules and regulations, training protocol, administration business, etc.

He’s experienced with all the divisions of the sheriff’s office. He knows how they operate and he knows what’s functioning and he knows what’s not!

Brian has many years of law enforcement experience and training, with some of his experience and training being specific to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.

If elected as sheriff, Brian has the ability to jump right in and start healing, restoring and handling the many needs and concerns for Lake County, the citizens of Lake County and the sheriff’s department.

We can trust Brian to act promptly and in the best interest of the sheriff’s office and the citizens of Lake County.

I am confident with my vote to elect Brian Martin for Lake County sheriff!

Paula Tolle lives in Lakeport, Calif.

Recently the Lake County Democratic Committee incomprehensibly endorsed incumbent sheriff Frank Rivero. They must have been out of the county for the past four years.

This party line decision prompted Cheryl Alvord-Smart to leave the party and become an independent. It also caused me to reflect about why I'm a Democrat.

Since the days of FDR the democrats have been the champions of the working class. The party has fought for everyday Americans so that they get a fair shake. Wage equality, health care, the right to unionize and demand better working conditions are some of the values that appeal to me. They are the ideals that influence my political affiliation.

This may seem out of place when discussing an election for county sheriff. So I'll try to contextualize it.

Of the three candidates Brian Martin embodies these values the most. He does not have a war chest of political funds gained through litigious action or profits from rent collection. Brian's campaign is truly grassroots. He is able to thrive in this campaign season because the people of Lake County support him and are moving toward positive change.

When the practices of the incumbent became so ridiculous that they bordered on insane, Brian didn't merely complain or roll over. He rolled up his sleeves and got to work.

Instead of accepting the absolute collapse of integrity that is the trademark of the current sheriff, Brian did something about it.

That's what the working class does. That is American. The Lake County Democratic Committee must have lost sight of these traditional democratic values.

Therefore, I will buck the party line in this year's election. As a proud member of the party of Roosevelt I will vote for Brian Martin as Lake County Sheriff. I encourage all Lake County Democrats to do the same.

Allen Carter lives in Lakeport, Calif.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – In the wake of Undersheriff Patrick Turturici's resignation late last month, a veteran sheriff's office staffer has been appointed to the job on an interim capacity.

Sheriff Frank Rivero appointed Capt. Chris Macedo interim undersheriff, according to a Monday statement released to the media by Macedo himself.

Macedo said that Turturici, who was appointed undersheriff by Rivero on Sept. 12, 2011, resigned his position with the Lake County Sheriff’s Office on April 29 and accepted a job offer with the Yolo County Probation Department.  

The reason for Undersheriff Turturici’s resignation was his desire to be closer to his wife and son, whom still reside in San Benito County, Macedo said.

Turturici previously had been undersheriff in San Benito County from 2005 to 2010, resigning in late 2010 after losing the sheriff's race there, as Lake County News has reported.

Macedo reported that he was appointed interim undersheriff by Rivero on April 30.

Macedo will remain in the position until further notice. He reported that he will be responsible for all duties and assignments and will sit on all boards, panels and committees that Undersheriff Turturici previously performed, according to his report.

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