Regional
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
NORTH COAST, Calif. — On Friday, a Ukiah man facing a jury trial admitted to committing a January robbery of a Ukiah bank.
Dean Michael Stevens, age 54, entered a no contest plea in Mendocino County Superior Court to the robbery, the Mendocino District Attorney’s Office reported.
A no contest plea to a felony charge is the same legally as a guilty plea, officials said.
Stevens also admitted a strike sentencing enhancement alleging a felony robbery conviction in Sonoma County Superior Court in 2015.
Mendocino County Superior Court Judge Keith Faulder accepted Stevens’ change of plea Friday afternoon.
Stevens’ trial on the charges was scheduled to begin Monday.
As part of the no contest plea agreement, the District Attorney’s Office required the defendant to agree to a 10-year state prison term.
Robbery is a violent felony so any work or good time credits earned by Stevens will be limited to no more than 15 percent of the prison time.
Formal sentencing is set for 9 a.m. Sept. 9.
The Ukiah Police Department reported that on Jan. 19 its dispatch received a report of a robbery that just occurred at the Chase Bank on State Street.
Officers responded to the bank and began an investigation, canvassing the area for the responsible subject. Within minutes of arriving at the bank, officers were provided with still photographs from the bank’s surveillance system that showed the man who committed the robbery.
A bank employee reported the male approached her bank window and verbally advised her that this was a “robbery” and to “Give me the money.” He did not show a weapon, but the employee was placed in a state of fear, based on the suspect’s words. She gave him more than $3,000 and he left the bank with the stolen money.
The Ukiah Police Department said its officers reviewed the surveillance photos and recognized the male subject from numerous prior contact as Stevens, who was known to be on Post Release Community Supervision through the Mendocino County Probation Department.
Officers researched prior contacts with Stevens and were able to identify a vehicle that Stevens had been contacted in within the prior week. A “be on the lookout” was broadcast to surrounding law enforcement agencies, advising that Stevens was wanted for the robbery. This BOLO included the identifying information for the vehicle associated with Stevens.
Just after 1:30 a.m. the following day, an on-duty Mendocino County Sheriff’s sergeant contacted the Ukiah Police Department to advise that he located the vehicle in the parking lot of the Travel Lodge on North State Street.
Ukiah Police officers arrived at that location, confirmed the vehicle matched the one associated with Stevens and also confirmed that Stevens was a registered guest at the motel.
The officers and the sergeant contacted Stevens in a motel room and searched the room and the vehicle as they are allowed to do under Stevens’ Post Release Community Supervision terms.
Authorities said the search resulted in officers locating a bag of cash, the same clothing as worn by the man who committed the robbery and other evidence that connected Stevens to the robbery. Stevens was subsequently arrested without incident and booked into the Mendocino County Jail.
District Attorney David Eyster prosecuted the case.
The law enforcement agencies that developed evidence in the case were the Ukiah Police Department, the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and the State Parole office.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
“Jennifer and I offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Officer Grewal, a devoted public servant who worked selflessly to protect his community. Our thoughts are also with the fellow officer who was seriously injured and is recovering,” Gov. Newsom said.
On Sunday, Aug. 22, while en route to assist with the Caldor fire response in El Dorado County, Officer Grewal’s patrol car was struck head-on by another vehicle, severely injuring Officer Grewal and a fellow officer.
Officer Grewal succumbed to his injuries on Thursday, Aug. 26.
Grewal, 27, served with the Galt Police Department for two and a half years and was named Officer of the Year by the department in 2020.
He was a member of the honor guard and had recently been selected to be a motorcycle officer.
He is survived by his parents, Gurdip and Jaswinder Grewal; brother, Jasdeep Grewal, and sister-in-law, Kirandeep Grewal; and sister, Naudeep Sidhu.
In honor of Officer Grewal, Capitol flags will be flown at half-staff.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
NORTH COAST, Calif. — The Redwood Trails Alliance has been created through the union of the Sonoma County Trails Council and the Redwood Empire Mountain Bike Alliance.
In November 2020 the Board of Directors of both corporations agreed to join forces and to pursue their common mission as the Redwood Trails Alliance with an initial board of directors combined from both nonprofits.
By joining forces, the new Trails Alliance will be able to increase the quality and quantity of our
local trails for more trail users while respecting the environment we visit.
Their work includes education, advocacy and trail projects which are funded by memberships, donations, and income from trail construction and training services.
Trails Alliance projects have included trail design, construction and maintenance.
The group is currently working at several Sonoma County Regional Parks, including Helen Putnam in Petaluma, Foothill in Windsor and Taylor Mt. in Santa Rosa and recently completed trail work at Napa County’s Moore Creek Park.
The new organization will be co-led by Ken Wells and Deb St. Cyr.
Wells, the alliance’s trails director, has been on trails all his life with over three decades of trail advocacy and construction experience. His efforts have been recognized with a long list of awards.
St. Cyr is the alliance’s executive director and comes to the partnership with over 20 years of volunteering with nonprofits.
Powered by a passion for the outdoors, St. Cyr stepped into the trail building and mountain bike
advocacy world after a devastating wildfire destroyed her home, community and local trail system.
The Ken and Deb partnership creates a powerful combination of organizational skills, nonprofit knowledge and trail construction experience, establishing a solid foundation to build more and better trails for all.
With the substantial experience, knowledge and resources that is now the Redwood Trails Alliance, the organization is a respected leader of the trails community in the North Bay.
The Trails Alliance recognizes the environmental and social challenges our communities face, as well as the critical role being outside provides for our mental, physical and social wellbeing.
It provides the essential link to the natural world — trails.
The Trails Alliance is committed to the creation and stewardship of a network of durable and enjoyable trails to enable people to visit our amazing landscapes.
Visit the group’s website and follow it on Instagram and Facebook.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
This effort aims to reduce the number of injury and traffic crashes on US-101 throughout Northern Division.
In 2019 and 2020, a total of 1521 crashes occurred on US-101 in Mendocino and Humboldt counties, causing 535 injuries and killing a total of 23 people.
The primary causes for these crashes were determined to be speed, reckless driving, unsafe lane change, unsafe turning movement, following too close, distracted driving, and driving under the influence, with increased injuries and deaths from occupant restraint violations.
The mission of the California Highway Patrol is to provide the highest level of safety, service, and security. This includes the prevention of loss of life, injuries, and property damage resulting from traffic crashes through enforcement, education, engineering, and partnerships.
The CHP is promoting awareness and safe driving along this major corridor route.
During the enhanced enforcement campaign, the CHP Northern Division will target US-101 in Mendocino and Humboldt counties with increased traffic safety operations to educate and, if necessary, take appropriate enforcement action on drivers who violate traffic laws along this major corridor route.
“The US-101 corridor within Northern Division represents a large portion of where traffic collisions are occurring,” said Northern Division Chief Greg Baarts. “Increased visibility, aggressive enforcement, and public education within the Areas along this corridor will contribute to improved safety for motorists traveling on US-101.”
The CHP reminds motorists to follow these basic traffic safety rules: always wear a seat belt, drive at a speed safe for conditions, eliminate distractions while driving, and always designate a sober driver.
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