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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
CORRECTION: In an initial interview the veterinarian who treated the dog indicated the dog was not altered; however, Middletown Animal Hospital reported on Tuesday that the dog had in fact been neutered. The article has been corrected to reflect that fact.
CLEARLAKE OAKS, Calif. – A Clearlake Oaks man was arrested Saturday after he allegedly used a large knife to stab a dog he encountered on a morning walk.
Brian Peter Hagan, 73, was arrested shortly before 8 a.m. Saturday, March 10, by Deputy Cynthia Radoumis on felony charges of animal cruelty, making terrorist threats, possessing a dangerous weapon and misdemeanor exhibition of a deadly weapon other than a firearm.
The Saturday incident was the third time Hagan is alleged to have stabbed a dog in the past four years, officials said Monday.
Lake County Animal Care and Control Director Bill Davidson said an on-call animal control officer responded to the scene of the incident in Clearlake Oaks along with Radoumis.
Davidson said that Hagan was walking his dog Saturday morning on Hoover Street when he walked by a house with a loose pit bull.
The pit bull’s owner and Hagan reportedly exchanged words as Hagan passed. Davidson said Hagan then reportedly went on to check his mail and then walk back past the home where the dog was located.
As Hagan was passing the home again Davidson said the pit bull returned “in a threatening manner” to the end of the home’s driveway, standing at the edge of the road.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Richard Hinchcliff said the report on the case indicated that Hagan attached the knife – which was 7 and three-quarter inches long – to the end of a four and a half foot long metal pole he was using as a walking stick. Hagan allegedly used that pole with the knife to stab the dog.
The dog’s owner told the deputy that the dog wasn’t being vicious at the time it was stabbed, Hinchcliff said.
After the dog was stabbed, Hagan and the owner had another exchange, the sheriff’s office responded and Hagan was arrested, Davidson said.
The dog suffered a serious injury and was transported to Middletown Animal Hospital where it was cared for by Dr. Jeff Smith.
Smith told Lake County News that he operated on the dog – an altered male pit bull mix estimated to be about 2 to 3 years old – later that day.
The dog had an 8- to 9-inch gash across the middle of its back that was 2 to 3 inches deep and went down to the spine, Smith said. The spinal cord was not damaged.
“It was a pretty dramatic wound,” Smith said.
He said the dog went home that evening. “It did well with its surgery and it should make a recovery.”
Smith said the dog was “somewhat aggressive” and vocal while at the vet hospital.
Davidson said Hagan was involved in two previous, similar cases that involved him stabbing dogs, claiming self-defense both times.
In the first instance, in 2008, Hagan stabbed a dog in a case that was filed with the District Attorney’s Office but ultimately dismissed because the dog had been ruled aggressive, Davidson said.
The second case occurred about a year and a half ago, according to Davidson.
In the second instance, the dog was loose and animal control officials didn’t send the case to the District Attorney’s Office. “That decision was ours,” Davidson said.
He added, “This time the deputies felt there was enough to file on.”
Hagan is reportedly a convicted felon who can’t carry firearms, so he keeps a knife with him, according to the animal control report.
Hinchcliff has charged Hagan with felony animal abuse, felony threats against the dog’s owner and a misdemeanor charge for brandishing the knife at the dog’s owner.
He’s also asked for followup investigation, including photographs of the scene and the street where Hagan was walking, in part to determine if Hagan had the option to walk a different way when returning from checking his mail.
Hinchcliff indicated he’s also going to review the 2008 dog stabbing case that was dismissed against Hagan in order to find out the particulars of that incident.
Hagan remained in custody in the Lake County Jail on Monday, with bail set at $15,000, according to jail records.
Hinchcliff said Hagan is due to be arraigned at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday in Lake County Superior Court.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at
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Motorcyclists in California are fortunate to enjoy near-perfect riding conditions year round, and that beautiful weather is just one of several reasons why more than 1.2 million people in this state are licensed to ride.
As a result, it’s important to remember these motorcyclists are sharing California’s road with millions of other motorists.
“Regardless of your mode of travel, it is imperative that motorists are aware of their surroundings, abide by the state’s traffic laws, and safely share the road with others,” said California Highway Patrol (CHP) Commissioner Joe Farrow.
During the next several months, the CHP will use a federal grant to assist in reducing the number of people killed and injured in motorcycle-involved collision.
The Department continues to improve safety for everyone by placing an emphasis on the concept of sharing the road.
Enforcement and education efforts through the California Motorcycle Safety Enforcement and Education grant will continue through September 30, 2012.
Motorcycle-involved collisions have decreased significantly in California.
Statistical data retrieved from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System list the number of people killed in motorcycle-involved collisions dropped 28 percent, and the number of people injured decreased by nearly 11 percent.
The most current final figures available are from 2009.
“It’s encouraging to see so many lives have been saved, but there is more work to be done,” added Commissioner Farrow. “Without a continued focus on motorcycle safety education and enforcement, these numbers could rise as more Californians choose to use motorcycles as their vehicle of choice.”
To help get the word out and continue to reduce the number of people killed and injured annually in motorcycle-involved collisions, CHP personnel are appearing at public outreach events throughout the state, distributing informational brochures and providing traffic safety tips.
In addition, motorcycle safety and road-sharing presentations are being conducted statewide.
The CHP will also launch a media campaign to highlight the motorcycle safety message.
Funding for this program is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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A Willows woman has been arrested along with a Covelo man for allegedly taking part in the abduction of two small children last week.
Melissa Fay Britton, 45, was arrested late last week along with Leonard Dale Tuttle Jr., 30, for the abductions on Friday, March 9, of 2-year-old Randi Martinez and 5-year-old Vanessa Martinez, according to the Willows Police Department.
The girls' mother, 29-year-old Nancy Martinez, reported the girls had been taken shortly before 11 a.m. by Tuttle, her former boyfriend, police said.
Martinez and Tuttle had been in a relationship and living in Covelo until Martinez fled the week before the abductions, going to be with her family in Willows, according to police.
An Amber Alert was issued for the girls early on the afternoon of March 9. Just before 2:30 p.m. the California Highway Patrol contacted the Willows Police Department to report that as a result of the Amber Alert they had contacted Tuttle and had him in custody near Covelo.
According to police, because of the Amber Alert a motorist spotted Tuttle's white Mitsubishi Lancer northbound on Highway 101. This motorist notified CHP, whose officers contacted Tuttle, who surrendered without any resistance.
Police said the girls were recovered unharmed and later reunited with their mother.
Tuttle was transported to the Mendocino County Jail and later was picked up by a police detective who took him back to Glenn County, according to the Willows Police Department.
On Friday just after 8 p.m. the Willows Police Department arrested Britton in Willows.
Both Britton and Tuttle both were booked on felony charges of child stealing, kidnapping and conspiracy. Tuttle's bail was set at $400,000 and Britton's at $280,000.
The Willows Police Department called the Amber Alert “a prime example of law enforcement and the general public working hand in hand” to protect the community.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – A late-night fire damaged a Middletown home Sunday night.
The fire – which occurred at a residence in the 14000 block of Big Canyon Road near the intersection with Ettawa Springs Road – was dispatched at about 10:45 p.m., said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Rob Daugherty.
Firefighters arriving at the scene found the structure well involved, according to radio traffic.
Three engines, a rescue unit, two water tenders and 12 firefighters responded to the fire, Daugherty said.
Daugherty said the structure was a single story, 1,000-square-foot, wood-framed building.
It was a second residence on the property, and Daugherty said there was no one in the home at the time the fire occurred.
No injuries were reported to civilians or firefighters, Daugherty said.
Daugherty said the fire was knocked down within 20 minutes, and mop up was completed within three hours, with firefighters clearing the scene at about 2 a.m.
He credited South Lake County firefighters for their aggressive effort to save the home.
Two-thirds of the structure was destroyed, and the other one-third was heavily smoke damaged, he said.
Daugherty said the fire’s cause remains under investigation.
E-mail Elizabeth Larson at