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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested three individuals, one of them a former Lake County Sheriff’s deputy, during a Wednesday morning raid near Middletown.
FBI spokesman Peter Lee confirmed to Lake County News late Wednesday that the agency conducted an operation in the south county earlier in the day and made the arrests.
The three men Lee said were arrested included Eric Mendonca, 42, of Middletown; Jack David Pollack, 54, of Hidden Valley Lake; and Terry Jacksen, whose age and city of residence were not immediately available.
Lake County News independently confirmed that Mendonca was a former deputy sheriff.
Witnesses had spotted an FBI SWAT team heading toward the property Mendonca rents, located in the 18000 block of Grange Road, at about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Lee said Jacksen was arrested for felon in possession of a firearm and Pollack for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.
Mendonca was arrested for Hobbs Act robbery and conspiracy, Lee said.
The Hobbs Act is a federal charge that prohibits actual or attempted robbery or extortion, including obtaining property “under color of official right.”
The code section under which Mendonca was arrested states, “Whoever in any way or degree obstructs, delays, or affects commerce or the movement of any article or commodity in commerce, by robbery or extortion or attempts or conspires so to do, or commits or threatens physical violence to any person or property in furtherance of a plan or purpose to do anything in violation of this section shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.”
As to the specifics of the cases against the three men, Lee said the details were under seal and could not be divulged as of Wednesday.
Lake County News received information that Mendonca had been retired out of the sheriff’s office several years ago due to medical reasons and since then had been working as a butcher.
Pollack has a lengthy arrest history in Lake County, for drugs, weapons, parole and probation violations, according to jail booking records.
His most recent arrest, on Nov. 9, was for possession of a controlled substance for sale, transporting a controlled substance and being an ex-felon in possession of a firearm.
Additional details about Jacksen were not immediately available Wednesday.
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Editor’s note: A previous version of the story reported Jacksen’s last with an “o” rather than an “e,” based on a spelling provided by the FBI. The story has since been corrected.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announced Wednesday that California Congressman Mike Thompson will lead a task force to investigate new steps Congress can take now and in the future to reduce gun violence and prevent massacres like the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
“As we mourn the unspeakable tragedy in Newtown, we must respond with more than words; we must take action. We must be able to tell our children that we are doing everything in our power to prevent this from happening again,” Pelosi said.
“I am pleased to appoint Congressman Thompson to lead our task force to reduce and prevent gun violence,” Pelosi added. “He is a Vietnam veteran and an avid hunter, and he is ideally suited to lead this effort, working with the administration and in a bipartisan way, to ban assault weapons and assault magazines.”
“As a father and grandfather, I am deeply shocked and saddened by the senseless act of violence we’re mourning in Newtown,” said Thompson (D-St. Helena), whose district includes Lake County. “Something must be done, and so I am honored to be chairing a House Democratic task force on reducing and preventing gun violence.”
He added, “I am a gun owner, hunter, former co-chair of the Congressional Sportsman Caucus, supporter of the Second Amendment and a combat veteran who carried an assault rifle in Vietnam. I understand guns, their purpose and how they are used. Military-type assault weapons and assault magazines have no place on our streets or in our communities.
“We also need to consider instituting more detailed background checks and making sure appropriate mental health services are available,” he said. “As chair of this task force I will be working on these issues as part of a comprehensive approach to reduce gun violence and strengthen our nation’s gun laws while protecting law abiding citizens’ right to own legitimate firearms.”
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake Oaks man died Wednesday morning from injuries he sustained in a head-on vehicle crash near Lower Lake.
The California Highway Patrol did not release the 73-year-old man’s name Wednesday afternoon, pending notification of his family.
Also injured in the crash were Beverly Reynolds, 66, of Lower Lake – who was driving the second vehicle involved – and a 13-year-old female juvenile traveling with her, the CHP said.
A report from CHP Officer Mark Crutcher said the Clearlake Oaks man was traveling southbound on Highway 29 south of Spruce Grove Road North in a 2012 Mazda with Reynolds coming from the opposite direction in a 1999 Chrysler.
For an unknown reason, the man crossed over a set of double yellow lines and traveled into the northbound lane, Crutcher’s report said.
Reynolds saw the man’s vehicle traveling right at her and hit her brakes, but was unable to avoid the collision, Crutcher said.
The two vehicles hit head on, with the engine compartment of Reynolds’ vehicle catching fire. Crutcher said the fire was extinguished by personnel arriving on scene.
The Clearlake Oaks man was declared dead at the scene, Crutcher said.
Reynolds was flown by a REACH air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where she is being treated for major injuries, including a broken left arm and leg, according to Crutcher.
He said the young passenger, whose name was not released because of her age, was transported by ambulance to St. Helena Hospital, Clear Lake, for treatment of moderate injuries, including complaint of pain to her neck and back.
The CHP said the crash remains under investigation.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Two Clearlake men were injured last week in a fight that ensued after one of them is alleged to have broken into the other’s home.
Sgt. Nick Bennett of the Clearlake Police Department said officers took Jesus Vazquez, age unknown, into custody after he allegedly broke into the home of 23-year-old Alvaro Jimenez last Friday, Dec. 14.
On Dec. 14 officers responded to a residence located on Baylis Avenue on the report of a male subject being beaten outside of the residence. The reporting party’s husband left to assist the male, Bennett said.
When officers arrived, they located Jimenez standing outside of his residence with blood on his face and hands after what appeared to have been an altercation, Bennett said.
Bennett said Jimenez reported his residence had been broken into and pointed toward his residence. Officers approached the home and observed a trail of blood leading into it. They went inside but did not locate anyone.
After further interview of Jimenez he reported that his residence had been burglarized the previous day. Bennett said Jimenez reported that he stayed home on Dec. 14 to prevent the suspect of the burglary coming back to his residence.
On Dec. 14 Jimenez woke to find Clearlake resident Vazquez inside of his bedroom, Bennett said. Jimenez confronted Vazquez and a struggle ensued.
At one point, Vazquez retrieved a piece of rebar from the ground and began to strike Jimenez with it. Bennett said Jimenez was able to disarm Vazquez and began to strike him with the rebar.
Vazquez was last seen running from the residence. Bennett said Jimenez refused medical assistance on scene and was transported to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake by a family friend.
After checking the area, officers located Vazquez in a creek bed behind the residence. Bennett said Vazquez had a major laceration to his hand with his thumb partially severed.
Medical staff responded and transported Vazquez to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake. Due to the extent of the injuries to Vazquez’s hand, he was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital and eventually transported to Stanford Hospital for reconstructive surgery to his hand, Bennett said.
The investigation is continuing into this incident. Anyone with information in regard to this or any other case is encouraged to contact the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251.