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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A Fort Bragg man was arrested over the weekend after he allegedly kicked in a man's door and doused him with gasoline.
Ryan Patrick Coppola, 27, was arrested on felony charges of assault with a deadly weapon, burglary, criminal threats and vandalism, and misdemeanor domestic battery, according to Sgt. John Gregore of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Gregore said that at 12:45 a.m. Saturday, March 31, sheriff's deputies were dispatched to an address on Deer Park Drive in Lower Lake on the report a male who had kicked in the front door to the residence and poured gasoline on the occupants.
When deputies arrived, the victim said he had been with some friends earlier in the night at Maynard’s Sports Bar in Lower Lake, Gregore said.
While the deputies were there, they saw Coppola, who they knew. Coppola recently had broken up with his girlfriend, who was homeless and temporarily staying at the residence in Lower Lake, Gregore said.
The man told deputies that Coppola got into a physical altercation at the bar, but neither he nor his friends were involved, according to Gregore.
After leaving Maynard’s, the victim and some friends went to his house and were sleeping in a front room of the home, Gregore said. The victim woke up to Coppola kicking in his front door and entering the residence carrying a gas can.
Coppola then allegedly started pouring gasoline on the male victim and the interior of the residence, Gregore reported. According to witnesses, Coppola said something about burning the victim.
Gregore said Coppola then noticed his ex-girlfriend lying on a couch in the home. Coppola picked her up off the couch and threw her to the floor.
The male victim said he ran outside his house and Coppola pursued him into the street. Coppola continued to chase him until a neighbor came outside to investigate the commotion. Coppola then left in an unknown direction, according to Gregore.
Gregore said deputies could smell the strong odor of gasoline coming from the victim’s clothing and the inside of his residence. Deputies were unable to locate Coppola at the scene.
Several hours later, deputies located Coppola and arrested him. Gregore said Coppola was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked. Bail was set at $25,000.
Coppola, whose arrest sheet lists his profession as jeweler, later posted bail and was released, according to jail records.
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
NICE, Calif. – Preliminary work on a roundabout near the Northshore town of Nice is under way.
The roundabout will be built at the intersection of Highway 20 and the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff, just west of Nice.
Granite Construction received a $2.6 million contract to build the roundabout, according to Caltrans spokesman Phil Frisbie.
Frisbie said the total project cost – including purchase of additional property for right-of-way – is $4.6 million.
In 2007 Caltrans identified the need for an update to the intersection to increase its safety, Frisbie said.
“At that point we realized we needed to do something,” Frisbie said.
He added, “A major issue there was the collision rate.”
The intersection’s historic collision rate was five times higher than the statewide average for similar intersections, according to Caltrans.
When addressing safety issues at intersections, Frisbie said Caltrans usually considers traffic signs and roundabouts.
“The roundabout was the best option for this intersection,” he said.
Caltrans anticipates the intersection’s new roundabout will reduce the number and severity of collisions.
Another goal is to slow traffic, especially eastbound traffic entering Nice, Frisbie said.
The agency also said the roundabout will lower vehicle emissions by lessening idle times compared to a traffic signal.
Other associated improvements will include sidewalks, enhanced drainage and median islands that will allow pedestrians to cross the highway, Caltrans reported.
Frisbie said the preliminary project work is taking place now, which has included the clearing of some nearby trees.
He said it won’t be until the middle of April that construction work impacting traffic will begin.
Once under way, the project should move quickly, he said.
“We’re expecting it to be completed by this winter,” said Frisbie.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Three cats – two tabbies and a tortie – are prepared for adoption at the county’s animal shelter this week.
Two of the cats already have been altered, which lowers the cost for adoption and expedites the process for finding them new homes.
Cats that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed and microchipped before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake .
If you're looking for a new companion, visit the shelter. There are many great pets there, hoping you'll choose them.
The following cats at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption (other cats pictured on the animal control Web site that are not listed here are still “on hold”).
Brown female tabby
This female tabby is 7 months old.
She is a domestic short hair mix with brown coloring.
Find her in cat room kennel No. 6, ID No. 32070.
‘Kitty’
“Kitty” is a female domestic short hair mix.
She is 1 year old and has dilute tortie coloring.
She already is spayed.
Kitty is in cat room kennel No. 77, ID No. 32158.
Male tabby
This male gray and black tabby is 3 years old.
He weighs 10 pounds, has a short coat and a docked tail.
He already has been neutered.
Find him in cat room kennel No. 52, ID No. 32041.
Adoptable cats also can be seen at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Cats_and_Kittens.htm or at www.petfinder.com .
Please note: Cats listed at the shelter's Web page that are said to be “on hold” are not yet cleared for adoption.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The community is urged to be aware of fire hoses and reminded not to drive over them at fire scenes, as doing so is a violation of state law.
In the last week, Lake County fire districts – including Northshore Fire Protection District and Lake County Fire Protection District – have had multiple structure fires, and in each case they have had vehicles drive over fire hoses during emergency fire operations, according to Northshore Fire Deputy Chief Pat Brown.
Brown said driving over fire hoses is a violation of California Vehicle Code.
Vehicle Code Section 21708 states: “No person shall drive or propel any vehicle or conveyance upon, over, or across, or in any manner damage any fire hose or chemical hose used by or under the supervision and control of any organized fire department. However, any vehicle may cross a hose provided suitable jumpers or other appliances are installed to protect the hose.”
Driving over fire hoses places the fire personnel and fire equipment in a very dangerous position, Brown said.
Fire hoses can operate at 300 pounds per square inch and often are the only protection fire crews have in fighting wildland and structure fires, according to Brown.
He said vehicles that drive over fire hoses can shut off the water supply, tear and damage fire hose, clamp the hose and make it explode from the pressure, make the diesel engine of the fire engine over rev and place fire personnel in very immediate danger.
Drivers of vehicles can be cited and held responsible for all damages to hoses, fire equipment and fire personnel, he said.