News 1/31/11

SHOOTING INVESTIGATION JKB 1/31/11

• THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING A BIZARRE SHOOTING INTO A HOME THAT INJURED A LAYTONVILLE WOMAN EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

ACCORDING TO THE 59 YEAR OLD VICTIM, SHE WAS ASLEEP IN HER BED INSIDER HER CABIN WHEN SEVERAL SHOTGUN BLASTS WERE FIRED THROUGH HER CLOSED FRONT DOOR AT AROUND 5:30 AM. SHE WAS STRUCK IN THE SHOULDER AND RIGHT LEG BY SOME OF THE PELLETS AND TAKEN TO HOWARD MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN WILLITS FOR TREATMENT. A SEARCH OF THE AREA FAILED TO LOCATE A SUSPECT.

INVESTIGATORS SAY, THOUGH MARIJUANA IS GROWN IN THE AREA, IT DID NOT APPEAR THE VICTIM WAS INVOLVED IN ANY GROWING OPERATIONS AND NOTHING WAS TAKEN FROM THE HOME. THE INVESTIGATION IS CONTINUING. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INCIDENT IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

BANK ROBBERY IN FORT BRAGG JKB 1/31/11

• FORT BRAGG POLICE ARE CONTINUING TO SEARCH FOR A SUSPECT WHO ROBBED THE CHASE BANK ON EAST ALDER STREET THURSDAY AFTERNOON.

THE ROBBERY OCCURRED JUST BEFORE 2 PM, WHEN THE MAN WALKED INTO THE BANK AND SHOWED A NOTE TO A TELLER WITHOUT SPEAKING A WORD. NO WEAPON WAS SEEN DURING THE ROBBERY. THE SUSPECT IS DESCRIBED AS A WHITE MALE ADULT, 6 FEET TALL WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 220 POUNDS. HE WAS WEARING A BLACK ZIP UP NYLON WINDBREAKER WITH A HOOD, A RED T-SHIRT, DARK COLORED PANTS, A BEIGE HAT WITH A SHORT BRIM AND SUNGLASSES. HE FLED THE SCENE ON FOOT WITH A LARGE SUM OF CASH IN A PLASTIC BAG. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CRIME IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE FORT BRAGG POLICE DEPARTMENT.

MISSING TEACHER FOUND JKB 1/31/11

• THE BODY OF A MISSING MARIN COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER WHO DISAPPEARED AFTER LEAVING A CRYPTIC MESSAGE ON HER CLASSROOM BLACKBOARD WAS FOUND OVER THE WEEKEND.

53 YEAR OLD DEBRA SCHMITT TAUGHT ENGLISH AT TERRA LINDA HIGH SCHOOL. HER STUDENTS TOLD POLICE THEY FOUND THE MESSAGE, THANK YOU EVERYONE ON THE CHALKBOARD WHEN THEY SHOWED UP FOR CLASS ON JANUARY 20TH. SCHMITT WAS LAST SEEN THE DAY BEFORE IN ROSS WHERE SHE LIVES. ACCORDING TO FAMILY MEMBERS, SCHMITT WAS IN THE MIDST OF A DIVORCE AND HAD LOST 3 CLOSE RELATIVES WITHIN THE PAST YEAR. HER BODY WAS FOUND NEAR A CREEK BY A SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAM SATURDAY. INVESTIGATORS SAY AN INITIAL INVESTIGATION SHOWED NO SIGNS OF FOUL PLAY.

FIRE DESTROYS MOBILE HOME JKB 1/31/11

• NO PEOPLE WERE INJURED, BUT A FAMILY DOG DIED WHEN A FIRE DESTROYED A DOUBLE WIDE MOBILE HOME IN LAKEPORT FRIDAY AFTERNOON.

THE HOME WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES BY THE TIME FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED AT AROUND 3 PM. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE BLAZE BEGAN IN THE REAR OF THE HOME AND QUICKLY SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE STRUCTURE. THE HOME WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

TWO ARRESTED IN PANHANDLING DISPUTE JKB 1/31/11

• A PANHANDLING ALTERCATION LED TO THE ARREST OF TWO MEN LAST WEEK.

POLICE SAY 23 YEAR OLD KENNETH WARHURST WAS INTOXICATED AND HAD BEEN YELLING AT PEOPLE WHILE TRYING TO PANHANDLE MONEY AT THE QUIK STOP GAS STATION ON AIRPORT PARK BLVD. AT AROUND 1:30 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING. DURING HIS AGGRESSIVE SEARCH FOR CHANGE, HE APPROACHED 54 YEAR OLD JAY BRADY OF REDWOOD VALLEY TWICE WHILE HE WAS GETTING GAS, AND THE TWO MEN GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT. DURING THE ALTERCATION, BRADY ALLEGEDLY HIT WARHURST IN THE FOREHEAD WITH THE HANDLE OF A LARGE KNIFE AND DROVE AWAY. BRADY WAS ARRESTED FOR ASSAULT WITH A DEADLY WEAPON A SHORT TIME LATER WHEN POLICE PULLED HIS CAR OVER ON HASTINGS ROAD NEAR COMMERCE BLVD AND FOUND HIM IN POSSESSION OF THE KNIFE. WARHURST WAS ALSO ARRESTED FOR THE AGGRESSIVE PANHANDLING AND PUBLIC INTOXICATION.

E-QUAKE JKB 1/31/11

• THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY COAST WAS RATTLED BY A 3.2 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE LAST NIGHT.

THE QUAKE OCCURRED AT 10:47 PM AND WAS CENTERED 7 MILES OFF THE COAST WEST SOUTH WEST OF PETROLIA. THE EVENT DID NOT REQUIRE THE ISSUANCE OF A TSUNAMI ALERT.

ATTEMPTED MURDER JKB 1/31/11

• A GARBERVILLE MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER TRYING TO SHOOT HIS STEPDAUGHTER TWICE AS SHE FLED FROM HIS HOME AFTER A HEATED ARGUMENT ON SATURDAY.

39 YEAR OLD HUGH HENSON ALLEGEDLY FIRED A .38 CALIBER REVOLVER TWICE AT THE BACK OF 23 YEAR OLD NICCOLE LANG AND SHE RAN OUT THE FRONT DOOR. BOTH SHOTS MISSED AND LANG WAS UNINJURED. POLICE SAY HENSONS WIFE AND THE MOTHER OF THE VICTIM, 47 YEAR OLD PENNY KRAUTHEIM INTERFERED WITH HENSONS AIM AS HE WAS FIRING THE GUN. RESPONDING DEPUTIES CAPTURED HENSON AFTER HE TRIED TO FLEE THROUGH THE BACK YARD, BUT WAS UNABLE TO JUMP OVER THE FENCE. INSIDE THE HOME, POLICE FOUND 5 OUNCES OF CONCENTRATED CANNABIS, AND MORE THAN 6 POUNDS OF PROCESSED MARIJUANA THAT WAS BEING PREPARED TO BE TURNED INTO HASH. HENSON WAS BOOKED INTO THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY JAIL ON A NUMBER OF CHARGES, INCLUDING ATTEMPTED MURDER, BEING A FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM, DRUG OFFENSES AND CHILD ENDANGERMENT AS THE COUPLES 7 YEAR OLD SON WAS IN THE HOME AT THE TIME OF THE SHOOTING. HE IS BEING HELD ON $500,000 BAIL. KRAUTHEIM WAS ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES AND FELONY CHILD ENDANGERMENT. SHE IS BEING HELD ON $50,000 BAIL.

GOVERNOR BROWN CUTBACKS VEHICLE FLEET KB 1/31/11

• IN HIS QUEST TO CUT GOVERNMENT SPENDING, GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN HAS ORDERED ALL STATE AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS TO IMMEDIATELY HALT NEW CAR PURCHASES AND TURN IN TAXPAYER FUNDED CARS THAT ARE NOT ESSENTIAL TO STATE BUSINESS.

THE DIRECTIVE IS DESIGNED TO CUT IN HALF THE NUMBER OF THE STATES PASSENGER CARS, TRUCKS, AND HOME STORAGE PERMITS, THAT ALLOW STATE EMPLOYEES TO USE THEIR GOVERNMENT FUNDED CARS FOR DAILY COMMUTES. BROWN SAYS THE PLAN WILL ALSO RE-LOCATE UNDERUTILIZED VEHICLES TO NEW LOCATIONS SO THE STATES VEHICLE FLEET WILL BECOME MORE EFFICIENT, AND WILL SELL OFF UNNECESSARY VEHICLES. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE STATE HAS APPROXIMATELY 11,000 VEHICLES IN ITS FLEET AND APPROXIMATELY 4500 HOME STORAGE PERMITS THAT DONT SERVE A HEALTH OR PUBLIC SAFETY FUNCTION. EARLIER THIS MONTH, BROWN ORDERED AGENCY AND DEPARTMENT HEADS TO COLLECT AND TURN IN 48,000 NON ESSENTIAL GOVERNMENT PAID FOR CELL PHONES.

LAKEPORT OPPOSES RDA ELIMINATION JKB 1/31/11

• THE CITY OF LAKEPORT HAS JOINED THE RANKS OF CITYS ACROSS THE STATE THAT HAVE OFFICIALLY OPPOSED GOVERNOR JERRY BROWNS PLAN TO ELIMINATE LOCAL REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES IN CALIFORNIA.

THE LAKEPORT CITY COUNCIL DIRECTED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR RICHARD KNOLL TO DRAFT A LETTER IN OPPOSITION OF THE PROPOSAL AT THEIR MEETING LAST TUESDAY. THE GOVERNORS PROPOSAL WOULD DIVERT $1.7 BILLION DOLLARS IN RDA MONEY TO THE STATES GENERAL FUND. AN ADDITIONAL $210 MILLION THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO LOCAL RDAS WOULD BE RE-DISTRIBUTED TO CITIES, COUNTIES AND SPECIAL DISTRICTS TO USE AS NEEDED. CRITICS CLAIM THE ELIMINATION THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES WILL BRING INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO A STANDSTILL. PROPONENTS SAY THE MAJORITY OF RDA MONEY ACROSS THE STATE IS BEING IMPROPERLY SPENT ANYWAY.

News 1/28/11

REMCO CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TO PROCEED JKB 1/28/11

• THE 9TH U.S. CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HAS RULED THAT A TRIAL JUDGE WAS WRONG IN DISMISSING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT FILED BY SCORES OF WILLITS RESIDENTS WHO CLAIM THAT POLLUTION FORM THE REMCO HYDRAULICS PLANT MADE THEM CRITICALLY ILL.

THE RULING YESTERDAY NOW CLEARS THE WAY FOR THE SUIT TO CONTINUE AGAINST REMCO AND ITS MOST RECENT OWNERS, PEPSI-AMERICAS. THE LAWSUIT AT ONE TIME INCLUDED MORE THAN 1,000 RESIDENTS, MANY OF WHOM SETTLED WITH THE COMPANY FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY EXPOSURE TO CHROMIUM AND OTHER TOXIC CHEMICALS DURING THE PLANTS 30 YEARS OF OPERATION. SEVERAL OTHER CASES WERE DISMISSED ON VARIOUS LEGAL GROUNDS INCLUDING EVIDENCE THAT WAS INADMISSIBLE IN COURT. ABOUT 160 RESIDENTS WHO REMAINED IN THE SUIT HAD THEIR CASE DISMISSED WHEN A TRIAL JUDGE RULED THE STATUE OF LIMITATIONS HAD RUN OUT ON THEIR CLAIMS IN AUGUST OF 2000. A DIVIDED 3 JUDGE PANEL ON THE 9TH CIRCUIT DISAGREED YESTERDAY, AND PLACED THE DEADLINE FOR THE FILING OF THE SUIT AT SOMETIME IN THE YEAR 2001. THE PANEL DID UPHOLD THE DISMISSAL OF ALL OF THE OTHER PLAINTIFFS.

MARIN TEACHER SOUGHT AFTER MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE JKB 1/28/11

• MARIN COUNTY AUTHORITIES ARE LOOKING FOR A SAN RAFAEL HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER WHO LEFT A MYSTERIOUS MESSAGE ON HER CLASSROOM BLACKBOARD BEFORE DISAPPEARING LATE LAST WEEK.

53 YEAR OLD DEBRA SCHMITT ALLEGEDLY LEFT THE MESSAGE, THANK YOU EVERYONE TO GREET HER ENGLISH CLASS AT TERRA LINDA HIGH SCHOOL LAST THURSDAY. SHE WAS LAST SEEN A DAY EARLIER IN ROSS, WHERE SHE LIVES. INVESTIGATORS SAY THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS SCHMITT HAD BEEN KIDNAPPED OR ATTACKED. POLICE LOCATED HER CAR, IDENTIFICATION AND PURSE AT HER HOME. FAMILY MEMBERS SAY SCHMITT, WHO HAS A SON IN THE 8TH GRADE, WAS GOING THROUGH A DIFFICULT TIME AS SHE WAS IN THE MIDST OF A DIVORCE AND HAD LOST 3 CLOSE RELATIVES IN THE PAST YEAR. AUTHORITIES ARE UNSURE IF THOSE EVENS ARE CONNECTED TO HER DISAPPEARANCE. SCHMITT IS CONSIDERED A MISSING PERSON AT RISK.

REWARD IN HIT AND RUN BICYCLE CRASH JKB 1/28/11

• TWO SONOMA COUNTY BICYCLING GROUPS ARE OFFERING A $2000 CASH REWARD FOR INFORMATION IN A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT THAT INJURED A PARTICIPANT IN THE GRAN FONDO BICYCLE RACE LAST OCTOBER.

CHP INVESTIGATORS SAY THEY BELIEVE BICYCLIST ANOUSH ZEBARJADAIN OF SAN FRANCISCO WAS INTENTIONALLY HIT BY SOMEONE DRIVING A MAROON MID 1990S FORD EXPLORER WHILE RIDING ON GRATON ROAD DURING THE RACE. EYE WITNESSES REPORTED SEEING THE VEHICLE DRIVING ERRATICALLY AND HAVING CLOSE CALLS WITH OTHER CYCLISTS MOMENTS BEFORE ZEBARJADAIN WAS STRUCK. HE SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES WHEN HE WAS HIT IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD BY THE PASSING VEHICLES SIDE MIRROR. THE SONOMA COUNTY BICYCLE COALITION AND THE NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION VELO-STREET HAVE EACH PUT UP $1000 FOR INFORMATION LEADING THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE. THE GROUPS ARE HOPING TO RAISE THE REWARD AMOUNT TO $10,000 THROUGH DONATIONS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INCIDENT IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE SONOMA COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

WILLITS MAYOR BURTON SUPPORTS RDA ELIMINATION JKB 1/28/11

• WILLITS CITY MAYOR BRUCE BURTON RAISED SOME EYEBROWS AT THIS WEEKS CITY COUNCIL MEETING WHEN HE WENT AGAINST THE PREVAILING LOCAL GOVERNMENT TIDE AND BROUGHT FORTH A LETTER IN SUPPORT OF GOVERNOR BROWNS PLAN TO ELIMINATE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCYS ACROSS THE STATE.

GOVERNOR BROWN HAS PROPOSED ELIMINATING THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AND TURNING THOSE FUNDS OVER TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS TO USE FOR OTHER PURPOSES. CRITICS CLAIM IT WILL BRING INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO A STANDSTILL FOR MANY MUNICIPALITIES. PROPONENTS SAY REDEVELOPMENT FUNDS ARE ROUTINELY BEING MISUSED. MAYOR BURTON SUGGESTED THAT EVERYONE HAS A RESON WHY THEIR PROGRAM OR STATE REVENUE SHOULD NOT BE CUT, BUT THAT ON PRINCIPAL, SOMEONE NEEDED TO STEP UP AND BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE. THE COUNCIL VOTED 3 TO 2 WITH BURTON AND HANSON IN FAVOR, AGAINST SENDING THE LETTER OF SUPPORT TO GOVERNOR BROWN.

IN OTHER WILLITS CITY COUNCIL NEWS, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE CITY HAS REDUCED ITS OPERATING EXPENSES BY HALF DURING THE PAST FISCAL YEAR. REVENUES HAD ALSO DECREASE BUT THE DROP IN GOVERNMENT SPENDING PUT THE CITY OF WILLITS IN THE BLACK BY ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS.

CASE TURNED OVER TO PROSECUTORS JKB 1/28/11

• THE INVESTIGATION INTO AN ACCIDENT THAT KILLED A 2 YEAR OLD GIRL AND SEVERELY INJURED HER MOTHER WHILE THEY WERE WALKING IN A CROSSWALK IN ROHNERT PARK LAST MONTH HAS BEEN TURNED OVER TO THE SONOMA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE FOR POSSIBLE PROSECUTION.

2 YEAR OLD CALLI MURRAY DIED AT THE SCENE OF THE DECEMBER 1ST ACCIDENT. HER 40 YEAR OLD MOTHER LING MURRY SUFFERED CRITICAL INJURIES AND FACES YEARS OF RE-HABILITATION. 18 YEAR OLD KATLYN DUNAWAY ADMITTED TO INVESTIGATING OFFICERS THAT SHE WAS USING HER CELL PHONE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, BUT POLICE HAVE NOT INDICATED IF SHE WAS TALKING ON THE PHONE OR TEXT MESSAGING. THEY COMPLETED THEIR INVESTIGATION LATE LAST WEEK AND HAVE TURNED IT OVER TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE. A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE D.A.S OFFICE SAID THE FILES WOULD BE THOROUGHLY REVIEWED BEFORE MAKING A DETERMINATION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT CHARGES WOULD BE FILED AGAINST DUNAWAY.

News 1/27/11

MORE DETAILS ON FOUND MISSING WOMAN JKB 1/27/11

• THE LAKE COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT HAS RELEASED MORE INFORMATION ABOUT A MISSING ELDERLY LOWER LAKE WOMAN THAT WAS FOUND ALIVE AND WELL LATE YESTERDAY MORNING.

85 YEAR OLD DONALDA THOMPSON HAD NOT BEEN SEEN SINCE AROUND 7 AM TUESDAY MORNING, BUT WASNT REPORTED MISSING UNTIL AFTER HER DAUGHTER RETURNED HOME FROM WORK JUST AFTER 7 PM. LOCAL AREA SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS BEGAN TO COMB THE THOMPSONS 12 ACRE PROPERTY AT AROUND 7:30 PM. S.A.R. TEAMS FROM SACRAMENTO, COLUSA, GLENN, NAPA, SONOMA, AND MENDOCINO COUNTIES TOOK PART IN THE OPERATION AS IT CONTINUED THROUGH THE NIGHT. S.A.R EXPLORERS FROM THE EAST BAY, A BLOOD HOUND TEAM FROM PLACERVILLE, THE KELSEYVILLE K-CORPS, HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICERS AND LOCAL VOLUNTEERS JOINED THE TEAMS AS THE SEARCH CONTINUED. OTHER RESOURCES FROM OTHER AGENCIES WERE EN-ROUTE TO HELP WHEN THOMPSON WAS FOUND AT 11:05 AM SITTING ON THE GROUND NEXT TO A DIRT ROAD IN THE HILLS ABOUT A MILE NORTHWEST OF HER HOME. THOMPSON, WHO HAS A HISTORY OF DEMENTIA, WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK ABOUT HER ORDEAL. ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES, SHE WAS INCOHERENT AND HAD SOME SUPERFICIAL INJURIES, BUT WAS OTHERWISE RELATIVELY UNHARMED. SHE WAS TAKEN TO SAINT HELENA HOSPITAL FOR EVALUATION AND RELEASED.

BANK ROBBERY JKB 1/27/11

• POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR TWO ARMED, MASKED MEN, WHO ROBBED THE EXCHANGE BANK IN DOWNTOWN COTATI YESTERDAY.

THE MEN ENTERED THE BANK ON OLD REDWOOD HIGHWAY JUST BEFORE 6 PM, WEARING DARK CLOTHING AND HOODED SWEATSHIRTS WITH THEIR FACES CONCEALED. THEY DEMANDED CASH AND THEN FLED IN A DARK COLORED MINIVAN. A WITNESS LATER REPORTED SEEING 3 YOUNG BLACK MEN PULL INTO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX IN THE 200 BLOCK OF WEST COTATI AVENUE IN A DARK MINIVAN AND JUMP INTO A WHITE 2 DOOR HONDA AND DRIVE AWAY. THE MINIVAN TURNED OUT TO BE STOLEN. THE SUSPECTS ARE BELIEVED TO BE BETWEEN 18 AND 25 YEARS OLD. EXCHANGE BANK IS OFFERING A REWARD OF UP TO $25,000 FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF THE ROBBERS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS CRIME IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE COTATI POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WOMAN CRUSHED BETWEEN TWO CARS JKB 1/27/11

• AN ELDERLY SANTA ROSA WOMAN WAS KILLED WHEN SHE WAS PINNED BETWEEN TWO VEHICLES IN HER DRIVEWAY YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN 85 YEAR OLD RUTH CAMILLI WALKED BEHIND A CAR THAT HAS JUST BEEN PARKED IN HER DRIVEWAY AT AROUND 2:30 PM. ACCORDING TO POLICE, THE CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS AND SHE WAS STRUCK AND PINNED AGAINST A 2ND VEHICLE PARKED IN THE STREET. INVESTIGATORS ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE IF THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY FAILED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK, OR IF THE ACCIDENT WAS DUE TO A MECHANICAL FAILURE. CAMILLI WAS TAKEN TO SANTA ROSA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, BUT DIED OF HER INJURIES. AUTHORITIES SAY THE WOMAN WAS ON HER WAY TO THE WAKE OF ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER WHO HAD DIED THE WEEK BEFORE.

MISSING PERSON IN REDWOOD VALLEY FOUND JKB 1/27/11

• ANOTHER MISSING PERSONS CASE CAME TO A HAPPY END YESTERDAY WHEN AN ELDERLY REDWOOD VALLEY MAN OUT FOR A WALK WAS FOUND AFTER A 2 HOUR SEARCH.

ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT, A 78 YEAR OLD DISABLED MAN LEFT HIS HOME FOR A WALK AT THE REDWOOD VALLEY OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL PARK AT AROUND 4:30 PM AND HAD NOT RETURNED HOME BY 6:30 PM. SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS AND MEMBERS OF THE UKIAH VALLEY ABULANCE AND REDWOOD VALLEY CALPELLA FIRE DEPARTMENT, SCOURED THE PARK AND LOCATED THE MAN NEAR THE WEST BRANCH OF THE RUSSIAN RIVER AT AROUND 10 PM. HE HAD SUFFERED AN INJURY TO HIS LEG AND BECOME DISORIENTED. HE WAS LATER RETURNED HOME SAFELY AFTER BEING TREATED FOR HIS INJURY.

LOCAL SAVES SNOWBOARDER JKB 1/27/11

• AN INJURED SNOWBOARDER HAD TO BE RESCUED AT THE SIERRA SKI RESORT IN TAHOE, BUT IT TOOK A WILLITS FIREFIGHTER AND HIS DAUGHTER TO DO IT.

THE WILLITS NEWS REPORTED YESTERDAY THAT BATTALION CHIEF CHRIS WILKES AND HIS DAUGHTER WERE ON THE SLOPES WHEN THEY HEARD A CRY FOR HELP. NOTICING THAT NO OTHER SKIERS WERE SLOWING DOWN TO HELP AND THAT THE SKI PATROL WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND, WILKES AND HIS DAUGHTER WENT TO INVESTIGATE. AFTER A BRIEF SEARCH THEY LOCATED AN OFF TRAIL SNOWBOARDER THAT HAD FALLEN THROUGH THE SNOW INTO AN 8 FOOT DEEP HOLE AND ICY CREEK. WILKES SAID HE HAD DIFFICULTY FLAGGING ANYONE DOWN WHO WOULD STOP AND HELP THEM WITH THE SNOWBOARDER, WHO WAS SHOWING SIGNS OF HYPOTHERMIA. HE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO COAX HELP FROM A RELUCTANT SKIER TO NOTIFY THE SKI PATROL AND THE VICTIM WAS TREATED AND TRANSPORTED TO SAFETY.

INMATE PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN NURSE MURDER JKB 1/27/11

• A NAPA STATE HOSPITAL PSYCHIATRIC PATIENT INMATE ACCUSED OF ROBBING AND STRANGLING A FACILITY NURSE LAST OCTOBER, PLEADED NOT GUILTY IN A NAPA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT YESTERDAY.

37 YEAR OLD JESS WILLARD MASSEY ALLEGEDLY STOLE MONEY AND JEWELRY FROM 54 YEAR OLD DONNA GROSS BEFORE STRANGLING HER TO DEATH IN AN OUTSIDE COURTYARD PATIO AREA DURING A DINNER BREAK. MASSEY WAS CONVICTED OF BURGLARY IN 1995. HE BECAME A PATIENT INMATE AT NAPA STATE HOSPITAL AFTER BEING FOUND NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY IN 1999.

3 STORY BUILDINGS FOR DOWNTOWN UKIAH APPROVED JKB 1/27/11

• ON A NARROW 4 TO 3 VOTE, THE AIRPORT LAND USE COMMISSION APPROVED A REQUEST FROM THE CITY OF UKIAH TO ALLOW 3 STORY BUILDINGS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA.

THE CITY ASKED FOR THE CHANGE IN HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS TO ACCOMMODATE THE BUILDING OF THE NEW 3 STORY MENDOCINO COUNTY COURTHOUSE THAT IS LOOKING AT TWO POSSIBLE LOCATIONS WITHIN THE AFFECTED ZONE, WHICH ARE CURRENTLY LIMITED TO TWO STORIES. THE REQUEST WAS APPROVED PROVIDED THE NEW COURT HOUSE IS DESIGNED TO ALLOW FOR THE EVACUATION OF THE BUILDING WITH THE EASE OF A 2 STORY BUILDING SHOULD THE STRUCTURE BE INVOLVED IN AN INCIDENT INVOLVING AN AIRCRAFT.

Playlist 1/27/11

BRUNO MARS-GRENADE

CHRIS BROWN-YEAH 3X

ENRIQUE IGLESIAS W/LUDACRIS-TONIGHT

KATY PERRY-FIREWORK

KESHA-WE R WHO WE R

RIHANNA W/DRAKE-WHAT’S MY NAME?

BRITNEY SPEARS-HOLD IT AGAINST ME

CEE LO GREEN-FORGET YOU

DIDDY-DIRTY MONEY-COMING HOME

EDWARD MAYA & VIKA JIGULINA-STEREO LOVE

FAR EAST MOVEMENT-ROCKETEER

FLO RIDA W/AKON-WHO DAT GIRL

LINKIN PARK-WAITING FOR THE END

PINK-F***IN’ PEFECT

PITBULL W/T-PAIN-HEY BABY (DROP IT TO THE FLOOR)

SICK PUPPIES-MAYBE

TAIO CRUZ W/TRAVIE MCCOY-HIGHER

TAYLOR SWIFT-BACK TO DECEMBER

USHER-MORE

WIZ KHALIFA-BLACK AND YELLOW

AVRIL LAVIGNE-WHAT THE HELL

CHRISTINA PERRI-JAR OF HEARTS

DAVID GUETTA W/RIHANNA-WHO’S THAT CHICK?

PLAIN WHITE T’S-RHYTHM OF LOVE

TRAIN-MARRY ME

WAKA FLOCKA FLAME-NO HANDS

DEV W/CATARACS-BASS DOWN LOW

KANYE WEST-ALL OF THE LIGHTS

KERI HILSON-PRETTY GIRL ROCK

KESHA-BLOW

MANN W/50 CENT-BUZZIN’

RIHANNA-S & M

News 1/26/11

MISSING WOMAN JKB 1/26/11

· LAKE COUNTY AUTHORITIES ARE SEARCHING FOR A MISSING ELDERLY LOWER LAKE WOMAN WHO MAY BE AT RISK.

85 YEAR OLD DONALDA THOMPSON WAS LAST SEEN AT ABOUT 7 AM TUESDAY MORNING. THOMPSON REPORTEDLY SUFFERS FROM DEMENTIA AND REQUIRES ASSISTANCE. SHE IS DESCRIBED AS A WHITE FEMALE ADULT, 4 FEET 6 INCHES TALL, 110 POUNDS, WITH GRAY HAIR AND BLUE EYES. SHE MAY BE WEARING A LONG BEIGE COAT AND IN POSSESSION OF A BROWN PURSE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON HER WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE LAKE COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

ROBBERY SUSPECTS SOUGHT JKB 1/26/11

· CLEARLAKE POLICE ARE ASKING FOR THE PUBLICS HELP IN IDENTIFYING AND LOCATING 3 SUSPECTS THAT WERE ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN THE ARMED ROBBERY OF A HOME TUESDAY AFTERNOON.

ACCORDING TO POLICE, A HISPANIC MAN, DESCRIBED AS BEING 6 FEET, 2 INCHES TALL, 280 POUNDS, WITH SHORT BLACK HAIR AND BROWN EYES APPROACHED THE OCCUPANTS OF A HOUSE ON PEONEY STREET AT AROUND 1:30 PM AND POINTED A HANDGUN AT THEM AND DEMANDED MARIJUANA. AN ALTERCATION ENSUED BETWEEN THE VICTIMS AND SUSPECT, AND THE SUSPECT FLED THE AREA ON THE BACK OF A BLACK SPORT MOTORCYCLE DRIVEN BY ANOTHER UNKNOWN SUSPECT. POLICE SAID A NEWER BLACK JEEP LIBERTY DESCRIBED BY WITNESSES AS CLEAN AND DRIVEN BY A WHITE MALE IN HIS 20S IS ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH THE CRIME. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION REGARDING THE SUSPECTS, SUSPECT VEHICLES, OR THE INCIDENT, IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE CLEARLAKE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

WOMAN CHARGED WITH TAINTED BREAST MILK JKB 1/26/11

· A RARE CASE, A HUMBOLDT COUNTY WOMAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER IN THE DEATH OF HER 6 WEEK OLD SON, WHO AUTHORITIES SAY DIED BECAUSE OF METHAMPETAMINE TAINTED BREAST MILK.

26 YEAR OLD MAGGIE JEAN WORTMAN WAS ALSO CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF FELONY CHILD ENDANGERMENT. SHE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THE CHARGES DURING AN ARRAIGNMENT YESTERDAY. PROSECUTORS SAY AN AUTOPSY ON THE INFANT SHOWED THAT HIS DEATH NOVEMBER 2ND WAS CAUSED BY METHAMPHETAMINE TOXICITY. A TOXICOLOGY SCREENING OF WORTMANS 19 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER ALSO SHOWED THE PRESENCE OF METHAMPHETAMINE IN HER SYSTEM. INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE BOTH CHILDREN INGESTED THE DRUG THROUGH WORTMANS BREAST MILK.

BOS APPROVES MORATORIUM AGAINST SMART METERS JKB 1/26/11

· THE MENDOCINO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY YESTERDAY TO JOIN 3 OTHER COUNTIES AND 11 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CITIES IN ADOPTING A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON THE INSTALLATION OF PG&ES NEW CONTROVERSIAL SMART METERS.

PG&E CLAIM THE METERS WILL ALLOW THE COMPANY AND CUSTOMERS TO MONITOR THEIR ENERGY CONSUMPTION IN REAL TIME ONLINE AND HELP SHOW WHERE SAVINGS CAN BE MADE. CRITICS CLAIM THE WIRELESS METERS COULD POSE A POTENTIAL HEALTH RISK, HAVE CAUSED POWER BILLS TO INCREASE IN AREAS WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED, AND LEAVE CONSUMERS VULNERABLE TO ONLINE COMPUTER HACKERS AND UNSCRUPULOUS MARKETERS. ACCORDING TO COUNTY COUNCIL JEANINE NADEL, THE TEMPORARY MORATORIUM WOULD BE IN EFFECT UNTIL PG&E OFFERS ITS CUSTOMERS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE WIRELESS METERS AND OR PROVIDES INFORMATION ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY AND RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH IT. PG&E OFFICIALS SAY THAT CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO WAY TO OPT OUT OF THE PROGRAM AND HAVE STATED PREVIOUSLY THAT THEY WOULD NOT HONOR MORATORIUMS IMPOSED BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO DO SO BY THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

LAW SUIT AGAINST POLICE ALLOWED TO PROCEED JKB 1/26/11

· A U.S. SUPREME COURT JUDGE HAS RULED THAT A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SANTA ROSA POLICE DEPARTMENT BROUGHT BY THE FAMILY OF A MENTALLY ILL MAN WHO WAS SHOT TO DEATH DURING A CONFRONTATION WITH POLICE IN 2007, CAN PROCEED.

THE FEDERAL JUDGE UPHELD A RULING MADE IN APRIL BY THE 9TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS THAT FOUND A JURY SHOULD DECIDE THE CASE. POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE HOME OF 30 YEAR OLD RICHARD DE SANTIS ON APIRL 9TH 2007 BY HIS WIFE, WHO TOLD DISPATCHERS THAT HER BI-POLAR HUSBAND WAS IN THE MIDST OF A MANIC EPISODE AND HAD SHOT AT IMAGINARY INTRUDERS IN THE ATTIC WITH A HAND GUN. SHE ALSO STATED THAT SHE HAD GOTTEN THE GUN AWAY FROM HIM. DE SANTIS INITIALLY COMPLIED WITH DEMANDS TO GET ON THE GROUND WHEN HE EXITED THE HOME, BUT THEN GOT UP AND RAN TOWARDS OFFICERS. AN INVESTIGATION BY THE SONOMA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE FOUND THE SHOOTING TO BE JUSTIFIED IN MAY OF 2008. DE SANTIS WIFE FILED A CIVIL RIGHTS LAW SUIT IN JUNE OF 2007, AGAINST THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, A SERGEANT, AND THE TWO OFFICERS WHO FIRED THEIR WEAPONS DURING THE INCIDENT. A JURY WILL NOW DECIDE IF THE OFFICERS COULD HAVE USED NON-LETHAL FORCE TO SUBDUE DE SANTIS.

VANDALISM ARREST JKB 1/26/11

· A DISPUTE BETWEEN ROOMMATES LED TO THE ARREST OF A UKIAH MAN ON FELONY VANDALISM CHARGES YESTERDAY EVENING.

DEPUTIES WERE CALLED TO A HOME IN THE TWIN PALMS TRAILER PARK ON NORTH STATE STREET AT AROUND 8:30 PM. WHEN THEY ARRIVED THE VICTIM, 55 YEAR OLD MELVIN WOOD, REPORTED THAT HE HAD A VERBAL ARGUMENT WITH 49 YEAR OLD MICHAEL BONACORSO WHEN HE TOLD HIM TO MOVE OUT. DURING THE ARGUMENT, BONACORSO PICKED UP A BRICK AND SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD OF WOODS VEHICLE, CAUSING AN ESTIMATED $500 IN DAMAGE. HE THEN FLED THE SCENE BEFORE POLICE ARRIVED. BONACORSO WAS FOUND AT THE PUB BAR ON NORTH STATE STREET LATER IN THE EVENING AND TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE COUNTY JAIL WITH BAIL SET AT $5000.

News 1/25/11

STABBING INVESTIGATION JKB 1/25/11

• THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING THE ALLEGED STABBING OF A MAN THAT OCCURRED NEAR COYOTE DAM AT LAKE MENDOCINO EARLY MONDAY MORNING.

DEPUTIES WERE CALLED TO THE UKIAH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER AT AROUND 1 AM WHEN THE VICTIM, 34 YEAR OLD JAMES BLESIO WAS BROUGHT IN BY FRIENDS FOR TREATMENT OF A SINGLE STAB WOUND TO HIS CHEST. HE TOLD POLICE HE WAS AT THE DAM WITH FRIENDS WHEN HE CALLED OUT TO A HISPANIC MALE WALKING NEAR THE BATHROOMS BECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE KNEW HIM. BLESIO CLAIMED THE MAN APPROACHED HIM, STABBED HIM IN THE CHEST, AND FLED THE AREA. ACCORDING TO POLICE, BLESIO LATER BECAME UNCOOPERATIVE DURING THE INTERVIEW, AND IT IS UNKNOWN WHERE EXACTLY THE ASSAULT TOOK PLACE. THE VICTIM WAS EVENTUALLY FLOWN TO SANTA ROSA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOR ADDITIONAL TREATMENT. A SEARCH OF THE AREA WHERE BLESIO CLAIMED THE STABBING OCCURRED WAS SEARCHED FOR EVIDENCE, BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. A SUSPECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED OR LOCATED. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INCIDENT IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

LAKEPORT MAN SENTENCED IN SHOOTING JKB 1/25/11

• A LAKEPORT MAN WAS SENTENCED TO 6 YEARS IN STATE PRISON AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO THE SHOOTING OF A WILLITS MAN IN LUCERNE LAST MAY.

35 YEAR OLD DANIEL SCOTT BEATY PLEADED GUILTY TO FELONY CHARGES OF ASSAULT WITH A FIREARM AND BURGLARY, IN EXCHANGE FOR CHARGES OF ATTEMPTED MURDER AND BEING A FELON IN POSSESSION OF FIREARM BEING DROPPED. ACCORDING TO PROSECUTORS, BEATY SHOT 36 YEAR OLD GLENN JENKINS 5 TIMES IN CONNECTION WITH A DRUG DEAL GONE BAD.

SPECIAL PROSECUTOR TO LOOK INTO HIT AND RUN CASE JKB 1/25/11

• A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR FROM MARIN COUNTY WILL INVESTIGATE THE HANDLING OF A FATAL HIT AND RUN CASE IN CLOVERDALE THAT THE FAMILY OF THE VICTIM CLAIMS WAS SETTLED TOO QUICKLY.

NEWLY ELECTED SONOMA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY JILL RAVICH REQUESTED THE SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR THROUGH THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE TO AVOID A CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN THE CASE. 83 YEAR OLD MIGUEL SANCHEZ WAS STRUCK CROSSING A CLOVERDALE STREET DECEMBER 27TH, BY 17 YEAR OLD MITCH CARLSON, WHO FLED THE SCENE AFTER THE ACCIDENT. CARLSON WAS ARRESTED THE SAME DAY. SANCHEZ DIED 4 DAYS LATER. IN THE WANING DAYS OF FORMER DISTRICT ATTORNEY STEPHAN PASSALAQUAS TERM, THE JUVENILE CASE WAS SETTLED 2 DAYS BEFORE SANCHEZ DIED AND BEFORE THE POLICE REPORT INTO THE ACCIDENT HAD BEEN COMPLETED. IT WAS LATER LEARNED THAT PASSALAQUAS BROTHER JOE WAS REPRESENTING CARLSON. BOTH MEN HAVE DENIED ANY SPECIAL TREATMENT. THE SANCHEZ FAMILY VOICED THEIR CONCERNS, AND RAVITCH VOWED TO LOOK INTO THE CASE. SHE ORDERED THE CLOVERDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO RE-OPEN THEIR INVESTIGATION LAST WEEK. IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE MARIN COUNTY PROSECUTOR WILL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO OVERTURN THE CURRENT SETTLEMENT STRUCK WITH CARLSON. HIS SENTENCING HAS BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL FEBRUARY 2ND.

TWO MORE ARRESTED IN MARKET ROBBERY JKB 1/25/11

• AUTHORITIES HAVE ARRESTED TWO MORE SUSPECTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE ARMED ROBBERY OF THE LAKE MENDOCINO EXPRESS MARKET THAT OCCURRED SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

AFTER VIEWING THE MARKETS SECURITY VIDEO FOOTAGE AND INTERVIEWING WITNESSES, DETECTIVES WERE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE TWO MEN AND GET A DESCRIPTION OF THEIR VEHICLE. DEPUTIES SERVED SEARCH WARRANTS ON THE HOME AND VEHICLE OF 23 YEAR OLD GENE PAYER JR OF HOPLAND ON MONDAY. THERE THEY FOUND EVIDENCE LINKING PAYER AND 18 YEAR OLD ANTHONY ROJAS OF SACRAMENT TO THE ROBBERY. BOTH WERE ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO THE COUNTY JAIL ON CHARGES OF BURGLARY AND CONSPIRACY. THEY ARE BEING HELD ON $75,000 BAIL EACH. A THIRD SUSPECT IN THE CASE, 19 YEAR OLD JEREMIAH REYES WAS ARRESTED SHORTLY AFTER THE ROBBERY OCCURRED AFTER LEADING POLICE ON A SLOW SPEED CHASE. HE REMAINS IN JAIL AND IS ALSO BEING HELD ON $75,000 BAIL.

SURFER IN CRITICAL CONDITION JKB 1/25/11

• A NOVICE BIG WAVE SURFER REMAINS IN A MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER HE NEARLY DROWNED WHEN A GIANT ROGUE WAVE SLAMMED HIM AND SEVERAL OTHER SURFERS AT MAVERICKS ON SATURDAY.

30 YEAR OLD JACOB TRETTE ALONG WITH MORE THAN A DOZEN OTHERS WERE RIDING 15 TO 18 FOOT WAVES SATURDAY MORNING, WHEN THE GROUP WAS SURPRISED BY A MUCH LARGER WAVE. TRETTE WAS FOUND FACE DOWN AND NOT BREATHING IN THE WATER. A PHOTOGRAPHER ON A PERSONAL WATERCRAFT PULLED HIM OUT OF THE SURF. AN ACCOMPLISHED SURFER FROM SAN CLEMENTE, SOURCES SAY TRETTE HAD ONLY ATTEMPTED THE WAVES AT MAVERICKS ONCE BEFORE.

STATE CONTROLLER TO REVIEW REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES JKB 1/25/11

• THE STATE CONTROLLERS OFFICE HAS ANNOUNCED THEY WILL BE LAUNCHING A REVIEW OF 18 CITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE TO SEE IF THOSE FUNDS WERE BEING USED PROPERLY.

THERE ARE 425 REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES STATEWIDE INCLUDING HERE IN UKIAH. IN HIS NEW BUDGET PROPOSAL, GOVERNOR JERRY BROWN HAS RECOMMENDED ELIMINATING THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES AND REDISTRIBUTING THEIR FUNDS FOR STATE AND LOCAL COUNTIES TO USE IN OTHER AREAS. CRITICS OF THE PLAN SAY IT WILL BRING INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO A STANDSTILL, WHILE PROPONENTS CLAIM THE REDEVELOPMENT MONEY HAS BEEN ROUTINELY MISUSED. OF THE 18 CITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES UNDER REVIEW, NONE OF THEM ARE IN LAKE OR MENDOCINO COUNTY.

News 1/24/11

ROBBERY JKB 1/24/11

• ONE SUSPECT WAS ARRESTED AND POLICE ARE CONTINUING TO SEARCH FOR TWO OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE ROBBERY OF THE HANDY MARKET ON LAKE MENDOCINO DRIVE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT, 19 YEAR OLD JEREMIAH CARLOS REYES AND TWO ACCOMPLICES, WALKED INTO THE MARKET AT 2:40 PM, BRANDISHED A WEAPON AT THE STORE CLERK AND FORCEFULLY REMOVED AN UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF CASH FROM THE REGISTER AND THE CLERKS CELL PHONE BEFORE FLEEING IN TWO SEPARATE VEHICLES. A CHP OFFICER IN THE AREA OF TALMAGE AND OLD RIVER ROAD SPOTTED THE VEHICLE BEING DRIVEN BY REYES, AND A SLOW SPEED CHASE ENSUED. REYES FINALLY PULLED OVER AT HIGHWAY 175 IN HOPLAND AND WAS ARRESTED WITHOUT INCIDENT. INSIDE THE VEHICLE POLICE FOUND A BB GUN PISTOL, THE CLERKS STOLEN CELL PHONE AND $360 CASH. HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE COUNTY JAIL AND IS BEING HELD ON $75,000 BAIL. INVESTIGATORS ARE WORKING TO IDENTIFY THE OTHER TWO SUSPECTS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INCIDENT IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

CHARGES DISMISSED AGAINST TORTURE DEFENDANT JKB 1/24/11

• CHARGES WERE DISMISSED AGAINST ONE OF THE DEFENDANTS IN THE TORTURE, AND ATTEMPTED MURDER OF A LAKEPORT MAN ON FRIDAY.

LAKE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE ARTHUR MAN GRANTED THE PROSECUTIONS MOTION TO DISMISS ALL 11 CHARGES AGAINST JOSHUA WANDREY OF ROHNERT PARK ON FRIDAY. DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ART GROTHE, FILED THE MOTION LAST WEEK SAYING THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE AGAINST WANDRY TO PROCEED WITH THE CASE, BUT THAT CHARGES COULD BE FILED IN THE FUTURE. ALL CHARGES REMAIN AGAINST WANDRYS CO-DEFENDANT IN THE CASE, THOMAS DUDNEY. HE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER, MAYHEM, TORTURE, ROBBERY AND A HOST OF OTHER CHARGES IN THE SHOOTING OF RONALD GREINER IN OCTOBER OF 2009. HIS TRIAL IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN TOMORROW.

HELICOPTER RESCUES OVER THE WEEKEND JKB 1/24/11

• THE SONOMA COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENTS HENRY 1 HELICOPTER WAS BUSY PERFORMING TWO RESCUES OVER THE WEEKEND.

IN THE FIRST ON SATURDAY EVENING, THE CHOPPER AND CREW, WHO HAD BEEN OUT LOOKING FOR A LOST MOUNTAIN BIKER IN ANNADALE STATE PARK, WERE NOTIFIED THAT TWO WOMEN HIKERS IN THE 20S HAD BECOME LOST JUST AFTER DARK. THEY WERE SPOTTED A SHORT TIME LATER WHEN THE WOMEN USED THE LIGHTS OF THEIR CELL PHONES AS BEACONS TO SIGNAL THE CREW. NEITHER HIKER WAS INJURED. THE MISSING MOUNTAIN BIKER FOUND HIS OWN WAY OUT OF THE PARK.

ON SUNDAY, THE CHOPPER CREW RESCUED TWO MEN WHO WERE INJURED AND STRANDED AFTER BEING OFF THEIR HORSES IN AN OFF TRAIL AREA NEAR BODEGA BAY AT AROUND 3 PM.. BOTH MEN SUFFERED INJURIES, ONE OF WHICH REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATION. STATE PARK RANGERS COLLECTED THE WAYWARD HORSES.

3 ARRESTED AFTER ROBBERY JKB 1/24/11

• 3 BAY AREA MEN WERE ARRESTED AFTER AN ARMED ROBBERY IN BOONEVILLE LAST WEEK.

3 MEN FROM ANDERSON VALLEY AND 1 FROM PHILO REPORTED TO SHERIFFS DEPUTIES THAT THEY WERE SOCIALIZING INSIDE A TIRE SHOP IN DOWNTOWN BOONVELLE AT AROUND 10:30 THURSDAY WHEN 3 ARMED BLACK MEN SUDDENLY ENTERED THROUGH A BACK DOOR, PISTOL WHIPPED THEM, AND TOOK MONEY, JEWELRY, CELL PHONES, 2 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA AND CAR KEYS BEFORE FLEEING EASTBOUND IN HIGHWAY 128 IN A BURGUNDY SEDAN. MULTIPLE AGENCIES WERE GIVEN A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT VEHICLE AND IT WAS SPOTTED BY A SONOMA COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPUTY TRAVELING ON SOUTHBOUND HIGHWAY 101 AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 100 MILES AN HOUR WITH ITS LIGHTS OFF. IT WAS ABLE TO ELUDE CAPTURE NEAR WINDSOR. A SHORT TIME LATER, ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE SAME AREA WAS SPOTTED TRAVELING WITH ITS LIGHTS OFF AND IT WAS PULLED OVER. INSIDE OFFICERS FOUND 4 AFRICAN AMERICAN MALE ADULTS, 3 OF WHICH MATCHED THE DESCRIPTION OF THE BOONEVILLE ROBBERS. A SEARCH OF THE AREA LOCATED THE BURGUNDY SEDAN, ALONG WITH ITEMS STOLEN DURING THE ROBBERY AND 18 POUNDS OF PROCESSED MARIJUANA. 18 YEAR OLD GARRET BONNER OF ALAMEDA, 23 YEAR OLD SHAWN FORD JR, AND 23 YEAR OLD LEON PATTERSON, BOTH OF OAKLAND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE MENDOCINO COUNTY JAIL AND CHARGED WITH ROBBERY. FORD AND PATTERSON ARE BEING HELD WITHOUT BAIL DUE TO PAROLE VIOLATIONS. THE DRIVER OF THE SUSPECT VEHICLE WAS DETERMINED NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN THE ROBBERY AND RELEASED.

REDWOOD VALLEY MARIJUANA BROKER ARRESTED JKB 1/24/11

• A REDWOOD VALLEY MAN SUSPECTED OF BEING A MARIJUANA BROKER WAS ARRESTED AT HIS HOME ON THURSDAY.

MEMBERS OF THE MENDOCINO MAJOR CRIMES TASK FORCE SERVED A SEARCH WARRANT ON THE HOME OF 44 YEAR OLD SHANNON WILLIAMS IN THE VINEYARD OAK HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ON UVA DRIVE. AGENTS FOUND A HANDGUN IN WILLIAMS TRUCK, ANOTHER HANDGUN AND 15 RIFLES INSIDE THE HOME AND 188 POUNDS OF PROCESSED MARIJUANA PACKAGED IN 1 POUND BAGS. WILLIAMS HAD BEEN UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND AUTHORITIES ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY WHOM HE WAS BROKERING FOR. WILLIAMS WAS BOOKED INTO THE COUNTY JAIL AND RELEASED AFTER POSTING $50,000 BAIL.

HIGH SPEED CHASE JKB 1/24/11

• A UKIAH MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER LEADING POLICE ON A HIGH SPEED CHASE THROUGH DOWNTOWN UKIAH FRIDAY NIGHT.

UKIAH POLICE OFFICERS ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER THE DRIVER, LATER IDENTIFIED AS 32 YEAR OLD TIMOTHY DAVIS, AFTER A CITIZEN REPORTED HIM DRIVING ERRATICALLY ON BUSH STREET AT AROUND 10:20 PM. HE FLED AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 70 MILES AN HOUR OVER NUMEROUS DOWNTOWN STREETS, RUNNING STOP SIGNS, RED LIGHTS AND ALLEGEDLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT NEAR THE MCDONALDS ON NORTH STATE STREET DURING THE CHASE. ONE OF THE TIRES ON HIS TRUCK BLEW OUT NEAR LAKE MENDOCINO DRIVE AND HE CONTINUED DRIVING ON THE RIM DOWN PORTLOCK AVENUE, UNTIL HE CRASHED THROUGH A FENCE ON THE DEAD END ROAD. HE AND A FEMALE PASSENGER ABANDONED THE VEHICLE AND FLED ON FOOT. DAVIS WAS TRACKED DOWN IN A NEARBY TRAILER PARK AND ARRESTED FOR DUI AND POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE. THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT DID NOT REPORT ON THE FEMALE PASSENGERS STATUS.

News 1/21/11

TWO RESCUED AFTER TRUCK PLUNGES OVER CLIFF JKB 1/21/11

• TWO PEOPLE WERE RESCUED AFTER THEIR TRUCK PLUNGED OVER A CLIFF AND INTO A RAVINE IN SONOMA COUNTY LATE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

A CITIZEN WHO SAW THE TRUCK LEAVE THE ROADWAY FLAGGED DOWN SHERIFFS DEPUTIES AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT AT AROUND 4:45 PM. THE CRASH OCCURRED ON HIGHWAY 1 NEAR VALLEY FORD ROAD WEST OF BLOOMFIELD. THE SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT USED ITS HENRY 1 HELICOPTER AND A LONG LINE RESCUE CREW TO REACH THE VEHICLE, THAT HAD COME TO REST SOME 300 FEET BELOW THE ROADWAY. AN ADULT MALE WAS AIRLIFTED TO SANTA ROSA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, WHILE AN ADULT FEMALE WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE. ACCORDING TO POLICE, THEIR INJURIES DID NOT APPEAR TO BE LIFE THREATENING. THE NAMES OF THE PEOPLE INVOLVED HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED. THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

MAN ARRESTED AFTER THREATENING TO BLOW UP BANK JKB 1/21/11

• A UKIAH MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER THREATENING TO BOMB THE WELLS FARGO BANK ON SOUTH STATE STREET LATE WEDNESDAY MORNING.

43 YEAR OLD CASEY GIBSON ALLEGEDLY WALKED INTO THE BANK SHORTLY AFTER 10 AM AND TOLD AN EMPLOYEE THAT HE WAS GOING TO PLACE BOMBS AROUND THE BANK WITH THE INTENTION OF GETTING MONEY. HE THEN LEFT AND POLICE WERE CALLED. OFFICERS LOCATED GIBSON LATER IN THE AFTERNOON AND HE STATED THE THREAT WAS A JOKE. POLICE WERE NOT AMUSED AND ARRESTED GIBSON ON CHARGES OF ATTEMPTED ROBBERY, BURGLARY, CRIMINAL THREATS AND MAKING A BOMB THREAT. HE IS BEING HELD ON $75,000 BAIL.

METH BUST JKB 1/21/11

• A PROBATION SEARCH IN NICE ON WEDNESDAY RESULTED IN THE ARRESTS OF TWO PEOPLE AND THE SEIZURE OF A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF METHAMPHETAMINE.

THE SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED ON THE SINGLE WIDE MOBILE HOME AT AROUND 4:30 PM. TWO PEOPLE WERE DETAINED WITHOUT INCIDENT WHILE THE HOME WAS SEARCHED. OFFICERS LOCATED MORE THAN 16 GRAMS OF METHAMPHETAMINE AS WELL AS EVIDENCE OF SALES. BOTH RESIDENTS WERE BOOKED INTO THE COUNTY JAIL AND ARE BEING HELD WITHOUT BAIL. THEIR NAMES HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED PENDING FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

SEARCH FOR MISSING HUMBOLDT COUNTY GIRL JKB 1/21/11

• THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT IS SEARCHING FOR A MISSING 12 YEAR OLD GIRL WHO MAY HAVE RUN AWAY FROM HOME.

BECAUSE OF HER AGE AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT SHE MAY BE IN THE COMPANY OF AN OLDER MALE TEEN, AUTHORITIES ARE TREATING THE DISAPPEARANCE VERY SERIOUSLY AND ARE TRYING TO LOCATE HER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 12 YEAR OLD CATHERINE FODE, WHO GOES BY THE NAME KATIE WAS LAST SEEN IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON OF JANUARY 12TH AT HER HOME. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE GIRL MAY BE EN-ROUTE TO VISIT HER BIOLOGICAL FATHER IN LINCOLN CITY OREGON OR ACQUAINTANCES IN THE FORTUNA AREA. FODE IS DESCRIBED AS BEING 5 FEET 5 INCHES TALL, 150 POUNDS, WITH BLACK HAIR AND GRAY BROWN EYES. SHE MAY BE TRAVELING OR ASSOCIATED WITH A 17 OR 18 YEAR OLD MALE WHO GOES BY THE NAME DAKOTA TODD. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON FODE OR TODDS WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

FORK INCIDENTS JKB 1/21/11

• TWO INCIDENTS INVOLVING THE USE OF A FORK AS A WEAPON OCCURRED OVER A TWO DAY SPAN IN UKIAH EARLIER THIS WEEK.

IN THE FIRST, POLICE WERE CALLED TO A LOCATION NEAR EAST GOBBI STREET AND SOUTH ORCHARD AVENUE ON A REPORT OF A FIGHT INVOLVING A FIREARM JUST BEFORE MIDNIGHT SUNDAY. WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED THEY SPOTTED THE 18 YEAR OLD SUSPECT WALKING AWAY FROM THE AREA CONCEALING BOTH HANDS IN HIS CLOTHING. HE REFUSED THEIR COMMANDS AT GUNPOINT TO STOP, AND THREW AN OBJECT INTO A NEARBY YARD AS HE CONTINUED TO FLEE. OFFICERS USED PEPPER SPRAY AND CHASED HIM DOWN WAUGH LANE ON FOOT. HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY MOMENTS LATER WHEN HE RAN INTO AN APARTMENT COMPLEX. THE OBJECT HE DISCARDED TURNED OUT TO BE A FORK AND WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE WEAPON HE HAD BRANDISHED DURING THE FIGHT. ON MONDAY NIGHT, ANOTHER 18 YEAR OLD MAN WAS TREATED AT THE UKIAH VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER AFTER BEING STABBED IN THE FOOT WITH A FORK DURING A FIGHT WITH HIS BROTHER.

CAR HITS OFFICE BUILDING JKB 1/21/11

• A RURAL COMMUNITIES HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION EMPLOYEE WAS LUCKY TO ESCAPE WITHOUT SERIOUS INJURY WHEN A CAR PLOWED INTO THE BUILDING AND DESTROYED HIS OFFICE YESTERDAY MORNING.

INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE AN ELDERLY MALE DRIVER ACCIDENTALLY PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE WHILE APPROACHING THE FRONT OF BUILDING, LOCATED BEHIND THE SENIOR CENTER, IN 8:20 AM ACCIDENT. THE CAR JUMPED THE A CURB, AND CLIPPED A TREE BEFORE HITTING THE BUILDING WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 25 AND 30 MILES AN HOUR. IT PLOWED THROUGH THE FRONT WALL, DESTROYING AN OFFICE, DESK, AND METAL FILING CABINET. THE OFFICE WORKER WAS REPORTEDLY PINNED AGAINST HIS DESK BUT ABLE TO FREE HIMSELF AND PUT OUT A FIRE THAT STARTED AFTER THE ACCIDENT. HE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE DRIVER, ALSO WAS TREATED FROM MINOR INJURIES.

SENTENCING HEARING POSTPONED JKB 1/21/11

• THE SENTENCING HEARING FOR A CLOVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT INVOLVED IN A FATAL HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT THAT WAS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY HAS BEEN POSTPONED PENDING FURTHER INVESTIGATION.

17 YEAR OLD MITCH CARLSON ADMITTED TO HITTING 83 YEAR OLD MIGUEL SANCHEZ AS HE WAS CROSSING MAIN STREET IN A CROSSWALK DECEMBER 27TH. HE THEN DROVE AWAY FROM THE ACCIDENT. HE LATER TOLD POLICE HE WAS TOO SCARED TO STOP. SANCHEZ DIED 4 DAYS LATER. PROSECUTORS HOWEVER, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF OUTGOING DISTRICT ATTORNEY STEPHAN PASSALACQUA REACHED AN AGREEMENT IN THE CASE TWO DAYS BEFORE SANCHEZ DIED AND BEFORE THE POLICE REPORT INTO THE CRASH WAS FINISHED. IT WAS LATER LEARNED THAT PASSALACQUA BROTHER, AN ATTORNEY OUT OF HEALDSBURG WAS REPRESENTING CARLSON. BOTH PASSALACQUAS HAVE DENIED ANY SPECIAL TREATMENT IN THE CASE. NEWLY ELECTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY JILL RAVITCH IS LOOKING INTO THE QUICK SETTLEMENT IN THE CASE AND HAS ASKED TO CLOVERDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO RE-OPEN ITS INVESTIGATION, WHICH THEY HAVE AGREED TO DO. CARLSONS SENTENCING HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 2ND.

UKIAH APPROVES COSTCO NEGOTIATING AGREEMENT JKB 1/21/11

• THE UKIAH CITY COUNCIL HAS UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE SIGNING OF AN EXCLUSIVE NEGOTIATING AGREEMENT WITH COSTCO.

THE AGREEMENT REPLACES THE LETTER OF INTENT SIGNED LAST MAY. AND STIPULATES THAT COSTCO WILL PAY $3.50 PER SQUARE FOOT FOR THE 15.33 ACRES OF PROPERTY LOCATED OFF AIRPORT PARK BLVD. IT IS THE SAME PRICE THAT UKIAHS REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY PAID FOR THE PARCEL. ACCORDING TO CITY OFFICIALS, THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY IS NOW MOVING FORWARD WITH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS TO THE AREA THAT COSTCO HAS REQUESTED, INCLUDING UPGRADED TRAFFIC MITIGATION MEASURES.

LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR RESIGNS JKB 1/21/11

• SAYING HE HAD NOT BEEN ABLE TO MEET THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS EXPECTATIONS, LAKE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR BRENT SIEMER RESIGNED ON WEDNESDAY.

SIEMER WAS THE SUBJECT OF A CLOSED SESSION PERFORMANCE EVALUATION CONDUCTED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON TUESDAY EVENING. HE TENDERED HIS RESIGNATION AT 8 AM THE NEXT DAY, EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. SIEMER HAD BEEN AN EMPLOYEE WITH THE COUNTY SINCE 2008. THE BOARD WILL DISCUSS HIS REPLACEMENT AT THEIR MEETING NEXT TUESDAY.

News 1/20/11

MISSING BOY FOUND JKB 1/20/11

• A CLEARLAKE BOY WHO WAS REPORTED MISSING ON TUESDAY EVENING WAS FOUND SAFE AND SOUND.

THE 10 YEAR OLD BOY LEFT THE AREA WHERE HE LIVED ON IS BICYCLE IN THE LATE AFTERNOON. HE WAS REPORTED MISSING AT AROUND 6 PM. AN EXTENSIVE SEARCH BY THE CLEARLAKE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND MEMBERS OF THE VOLUNTEERS IN POLICING LOCATED THE BOY IN A NEARBY APARTMENT COMPLEX APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR LATER, AND HE WAS RETURNED TO HIS FAMILY.

AMBER ALERT UPDATE JKB 1/20/11

• A STATEWIDE AMBER ALERT REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR A 4 YEAR OLD BOY WHO WAS ALLEGEDLY KIDNAPPED FROM STANISLAUS COUNTY TUESDAY NIGHT.

ACCORDING TO POLICE 27 YEAR OLD JOSE ESTIBAN RODRIGUEZ ABDUCTED JULIANI CARDENAS WHILE HE WAS WITH HIS GRANDMOTHER IN THE GARAGE OF A HOME IN PATTERSON. THE BOYS MOTHER AND RODRIGUEZ HAD BEEN TOGETHER FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS, BUT SHE STATED THAT SHE HAD NOT SEEN HIM FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS. INVESTIGATORS SAY RODRIGUEZ, WHO HAS AN EXTENSIVE CRIMINAL HISTORY, IS NOT THE BOYS FATHER AND THE MOTIVE BEHIND THE ABDUCTION IS UNKNOWN. RODRIGUEZ WAS LAST SEEN DRIVING A SILVER TOYOTA COROLLA WITH A CALIFORNIA LICENSE PLATE NUMBER OF 6HBW445. POLICE SAY RODRIGUEZ HAS TIES TO SEVERAL LOCATIONS IN NORTHERN AND CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CONTACT LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OR THE STANISLAUS COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

URSULINE FINANCE DIRECTOR FOUND DEAD JKB 1/20/11

• THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS AT URSULINE HIGH SCHOOL IN SANTA ROSA, AND THE HUSBAND OF SONOMA COUNTY SUPERVISOR SHIRLEE ZANE, WAS FOUND DEAD IN THE BACK YARD OF HIS HOME ON TUESDAY.

A FAMILY MEMBER FOUND THE BODY OF 56 YEAR OLD PETER KINGSTON JUST BEFORE 5 PM. INVESTIGATORS SAY IT APPEARS HIS DEATH WAS THE RESULT OF A SUICIDE. KINGSTON WAS IN CHARGE OF THE FINANCES FOR THE URSULINE CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOR GIRLS. THE SCHOOL ANNOUNCED IN THE FALL THAT IT WOULD CLOSE ITS DOORS FOR GOOD AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR BECAUSE IT DID NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO STAY OPEN. SOURCES CLOSE TO KINGSTON SAID HE HAD TAKEN THE NEWS OF THE CLOSURE VERY HARD.

WILLITS MAN MURDER TRIAL TO BEGIN IN VIRGINIA JKB 1/20/11

• THE 2ND DEGREE MURDER TRIAL OF A WILLITS MAN WHO CLAIMS HE HELPED HIS FRIEND COMMIT SUICIDE IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN VIRGINIA NEXT MONTH.

25 YEAR OLD PETTY OFFICER 2ND CLASS PAUL STEPHEN BRICKER IS ACCUSED OF STABBING 45 YEAR OLD CHIEF PETTY OFFICER GERARD CURRAN TO DEATH AT A VIRGINIA BEACH PARK IN JULY OF 2009. ACCORDING TO BRICKER, CURRAN ASKED HIM TO HELP HIM COMMIT SUICIDE AND MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A HOMICIDE SO HIS WIFE AND FAMILY WOULD NOT FORFEIT ANY BENEFITS. BRICKER TOLD POLICE HE REFUSED AT FIRST, BUT FINALLY AGREED WHEN CURRAN BECAME MORE INSISTENT. THE TWO MEN SPENT NEARLY A MONTH SCOUTING LOCATIONS AND PLANNING THE EVENT BEFORE MEETING IN THE PARK ON JULY 29TH. BRICKER TOLD INVESTIGATORS CURRANS WIFE WAITED ON A NEARBY PARK BENCH WHILE CURRAN STRANGLED HIMSELF UNCONSCIOUS. BRICKER THEN STATED HE STABBED CURRAN ONCE IN THE CHEST, GRABBED SEVERAL ITEMS TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE A ROBBERY AND LEFT. ACCORDING TO A CORONERS REPORT, CURRAN HAD NO DEFENSIVE WOUNDS ON HIS BODY. BRICKERS TRIAL WILL BEGIN FEBRUARY 16TH.

CLOSURE CONSIDERATION OF DOWNTOWN POST OFFICE ANNOUNCED JKB 1/20/11

• AFTER MONTHS OF SPECULATION, THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE HAS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED THAT THEY ARE CONSIDERING CLOSING THE DOWNTOWN UKIAH POST OFFICE AND CONSOLIDATING OPERATIONS WITH THE POSTAL CARRIER ANNEX ON SOUTH ORCHARD AVENUE.

UKIAH MAYOR MARI RODIN MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OFFICIAL AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT, SAYING WORD WAS RECEIVED FROM THE POSTAL SERVICE IN A LETTER TO THE MENDOCINO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. ACCORDING TO A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE POSTAL SERVICE, PUBLIC MEETINGS WOULD BE SCHEDULED AS REQUIRED PRIOR TO CLOSING THE DOWNTOWN LOCATION.

COUNTY ADVISED TO CONTRIBUTE MORE TO RETIREMENT JKB 1/19/11

• A CONSULTANTS REPORT HAS ADVISED COUNTY OFFICIALS TO INCREASE THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MENDOCINO COUNTY EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION BY MORE THAN $4 MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR.

IN COMPILING AN ACTUARIAL ON THE COUNTYS OBLIGATIONS, BUCK CONSULTANTS OF NEW YORK IS ADVISING THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTE $13,166,000 DOLLARS THIS YEAR TO THE RETIREMENT ACCOUNT, DUE IN PART TO A NEGATIVE INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE FROM 2 AND 3YEARS AGO WHEN THE COUNTY DID NOT CONTRIBUTE ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH THE OBLIGATION. IF APPROVED, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT WOULD REPRESENT MORE THAN 19% OF THE COUNTYS PAYROLL. AT THEIR MEETING LAST NIGHT, THE RETIREMENT BOARD OPTED NOT TO MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHETHER THEY WOULD ENCOURAGE SUPERVISORS TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATION OR NOT.

SMART METER MEETINGS IN UKIAH JKB 1/20/11

• A PG&E SMART METER REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE IN UKIAH TODAY AND TOMORROW TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIAL NEW METERS AND THEIR PLANNED INSTALLATION IN MENDOCINO COUNTY.

ACCORDING TO THE UTILITY COMPANY, THE WIRELESS SMART METERS ALLOW CONSUMERS TO OBSERVE THEIR ENERGY USAGE THROUGH REAL TIME ONLINE MONITORING, AND CAN HELP CONSUMERS TRACK AND REDUCE THEIR ENERGY CONSUMPTION. CRITICS HOWEVER, SAY THE NEW METERS CAN LEAD TO HIGHER POWER BILLS, INTERFERE WITH COMMUNICATION DEVICES, COULD POSE POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS AND CAN LEAVE CONSUMERS VULNERABLE TO COMPUTER HACKERS AND UNSCRUPULOUS ONLINE MARKETERS. THERE ARE CURRENTLY ABOUT 12,000 SMART METERS IN USE STATEWIDE, AND PG&E SAYS THEY WILL CONTINUE INSTALLING THE DEVICES DESPITE THE MORATORIUMS IN 3 COUNTIES AND 11 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA CITIES. THE MEETINGS IN UKIAH WILL TAKE PLACE FROM 1 TO 5 PM TODAY AND TOMORROW FROM 9 AM TO 1 PM AT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING, IN CONFERENCE ROOM B.

News 1/19/11

AMBER ALERT JKB 1/19/11

• A STATEWIDE AMBER ALERT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR A 4 YEAR OLD BOY WHO WAS ABDUCTED FROM PATTERSON CALIFORNIA, SOUTH OF MODESTO LAST NIGHT.

THE VICTIM, JULIANI CARDENAS IS DESCRIBED AS A HISPANIC MALE CHILD, 3 FEET 6 INCHES TALL, WEIGHING 40 POUNDS WITH BROWN EYES AND BLACK HAIR. HIS ABDUCTOR IS DESCRIBED AS A 27 YEAR OLD HISPANIC MALE ADULT, 5 FEET 9 INCHES TALL, 180 POUNDS, WITH BROWN EYES AND BLACK HAIR. HE WAS LAST SEEN DRIVING A YELLOW TOYOTA COROLLA WITH A CALIFORNIA LICENSE PLATE OF 6HBW445. POLICE BELIEVE HE MAY BE ENROUTE TO SAN JOSE OR FARTHER NORTH. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE VICTIM, SUSPECT, OR SUSPECT VEHICLE IS ASKED TO CALL LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT IMMEDIATELY.

CO-DEFENDANT TESTIFIES FOR PROSECUTION AT PRE-LIM JKB 1/19/11

• A CO-DEFENDANT IN THE DOUBLE HOMICIDE OF A MAINE COUPLE, TESTIFIED FOR THE PROSECUTION YESTERDAY, AGAINST THE OTHER DEFENDANT IN THE CASE.

28 YEAR OLD ELIJAH MCKAY AND 30 YEAR OLD ROBBY ALAN BEASLEY HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH THE MURDERS OF 32 YEAR OLD FRANK MADDOX AND HIS 40 YEAR OLD WIFE YVETTE. THEIR PARTIALLY DECOMPOSED BODIES WERE FOUND AT THE BOTTOM OF AN EMBANKMENT OFF MORGAN VALLEY ROAD IN LOWER LAKE LAST MARCH. MCKAY TESTIFIED THAT HE SOLD BEASLEY AN UNREGISTERED HANDGUN THAT HE BELIEVES WAS USED TO SHOOT AND KILL THE COUPLE. HE ALSO TESTIFIED THAT BEASLEY HAD PLANNED ON SCARING THE MADDOXS AT GUNPOINT ON THE NIGHT OF JANUARY 22ND BECAUSE HE BELIEVED THEY HAD BEEN INVOLVED IN THE THEFT OF MARIJUANA FROM HIS APARTMENT. MCKAY THEN TESTIFIED THAT HE HELPED BEASLEY DISPOSE OF EVIDENCE. MCKAY TOLD THE COURT THAT HE DECIDED TO SPEAK WITH INVESTIGATORS IN DECEMBER AFTER HIS GIRLFRIEND SAID SHE HAD BEEN THREATENED WITH ARREST AND TOLD THAT THEIR YOUNG SON WOULD BE TAKEN FROM HER. HE SAID HE RECEIVED NO DEALS REGARDING HIS OWN TRIAL IN THE DOUBLE MURDER IN EXCHANGE FOR HIS TESTIMONY. THE PRELIMINARY HEARING IS CONTINUING TODAY.

PASTOR FACES NEW CHARGES IN SEX CASE JKB 1/19/11

• A FORMER ARCATA PASTOR FACING SEX ABUSE CHARGES WAS JAILED AGAIN LAST WEEK CHARGED WITH MORE CRIMES RELATED TO TWO CASES.

DINO CARDELLI IS ACCUSED OF THE RECURRING SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 14, LEWD AND LASCIVIOUS ACTS WITH A MINOR AND ORAL COPULATION WITH A MINOR INVOLVING TWO VICTIMS IN TWO SEPARATE CASES. HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THOSE CHARGES AND WAS RELEASED AFTER POSTING A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS BAIL. HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY LAST WEEK AND CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTING TO DISSUADE A WITNESS, AND 25 MISDEMEANOR COUNTS OF WILLFULLY DISOBEYING A COURT ORDER. PROSECUTORS CONTEND THAT CARDELLI USED A THROW-AWAY CELL PHONE AND A FALSE FACEBOOK PAGE TO CONTACT ONE OF THE VICTIMS AT LEAST 25 TIMES BETWEEN OCTOBER 10TH 2010 AND JANUARY 6. CARDELLI PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THOSE CHARGES YESTERDAY. HE IS BEING HELD IN THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY JAIL ON $750,000 BAIL.

HIT & RUN INVESTIGATION JKB 1/19/11

• THE CLOVERDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AT THE REQUEST OF THE SONOMA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, HAS REOPENED ITS INVESTIGATION INTO THE HIT AND RUN DEATH OF 83 YEAR OLD MIGUEL MIKE SANCHEZ.

SANCHEZ DIED 4 DAYS AFTER BEING HIT BY A PICK UP TRUCK WHILE CROSSING NORTH MAIN STREET IN A CROSSWALK AT AROUND 9:40 AM DECEMBER 27TH. ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS, THE ACCIDENT THREW SANCHEZ ONTO THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK. HE THEN LANDED APPROXIMATELY 20 FEET FROM WHERE HE WAS INITIALLY HIT. AUTHORITIES SAY THE DRIVER, 17 YEAR OLD MITCH CARLSON, DROVE AROUND SANCHEZ LYING ON THE GROUND AND LEFT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT TO DRIVE TO CLOVERDALE HIGH SCHOOL WHERE A BASKETBALL PRACTICE WAS BEING HELD. EYEWITNESSES WERE ABLE TO GIVE POLICE A DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUCK AND CARLSON WAS ARRESTED A SHORT TIME LATER AT THE HIGH SCHOOL. HE TOLD INVESTIGATORS HE HAD BEEN TOO SCARED TO STOP. THE CLOVERDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT DROPPED THEIR INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT WHEN THE SONOMA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE, UNDER STEPHAN PASSALACQUA, ADVISED THEM THAT THE CASE HAD BEEN SETTLED IN JUVENILE COURT TWO DAYS BEFORE SANCHEZ DIED DECEMBER 31ST. NEWLY ELECTED DISTRICT ATTORNEY JILL RAVITCH, WHO TOOK OFFICE JANUARY 3RD, ANNOUNCED SHE WOULD CONDUCT A THOROUGH REVIEW OF HOW THE CASE WAS HANDLED, FOLLOWING CRITICISM VOICED BY THE SANCHEZ FAMILY.

SMART METER MEETINGS IN UKIAH JKB 1/18/11

• A PG&E SMART METER REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE IN UKIAH OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE CONTROVERSIAL NEW METERS AND THEIR PLANNED INSTALLATION IN MENDOCINO COUNTY.

ACCORDING TO THE UTILITY COMPANY, THE WIRELESS SMART METERS ALLOW CONSUMERS TO OBSERVE THEIR ENERGY USAGE THROUGH REAL TIME ONLINE MONITORING, AND CAN HELP CONSUMERS TRACK AND REDUCE THEIR ENERGY CONSUMPTION. CRITICS HOWEVER, SAY THE NEW METERS CAN LEAD TO HIGHER POWER BILLS, INTERFERE WITH COMMUNICATION DEVICES, COULD POSE POTENTIAL HEALTH RISKS AND CAN LEAVE CONSUMERS VULNERABLE TO COMPUTER HACKERS AND UNSCRUPULOUS ONLINE MARKETERS. MORATORIUMS AGAINST THE METERS HAVE BEEN ENACTED IN SAN FRANCISCO, SANTA CRUZ, AND MARIN COUNTIES AS WELL AS THE CITIES OF SEBASTOPOL, BERKELEY, COTATI, FAIRFAX, SANTA CRUZ, PIEDMONT, SCOTTS VALLEY, CAPITOLA, WATSONVILLE, SAUSALITO, AND SAN ANSELMO. THERE ARE CURRENTLY ABOUT 12,000 SMART METERS IN USE STATEWIDE, AND PG&E SAYS THEY WILL CONTINUE INSTALLING THE DEVICES DESPITE THE MORATORIUMS. THE MEETINGS IN UKIAH WILL TAKE PLACE FROM 1 TO 5 PM TOMORROW AND ON FRIDAY FROM 9 AM TO 1 PM AT THE COUNTY ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING, CONFERENCE ROOM B.

COUNTY ADVISED TO CONTRIBUTE MORE TO RETIREMENT JKB 1/19/11

• ACCORDING TO A CONSULTANTS REPORT, THE COUNTY IS BEING ADVISED TO BUMP THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MENDOCINO COUNTY EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION BY MORE THAN $4 MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR.

IN COMPILING AN ACTUARIAL ON THE COUNTYS OBLIGATIONS, BUCK CONSULTANTS OF NEW YORK IS ADVISING THE COUNTY CONTRIBUTE $13,166,000 DOLLARS THIS YEAR TO THE RETIREMENT ACCOUNT, DUE IN PART TO A NEGATIVE INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE FROM 2 AND 3YEARS AGO WHEN THE COUNTY DID NOT CONTRIBUTE ENOUGH TO KEEP UP WITH THE OBLIGATION. IF APPROVED, THE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF THIS YEARS CONTRIBUTION WOULD REPRESENT MORE THAN 19% OF THE COUNTYS PAYROLL. THE RETIREMENT BOARD WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING ON THURSDAY TO DISCUSS THE REPORT.

NEW AMMUNITION LAW STRUCK DOWN JKB 1/19/11

· THE FRESNO SUPERIOR COURT RULED YESTERDAY THAT CALIFORNIAS NEW AMMUNITION REGULATION LAW THAT WOULD HAVE BANNED MAIL ORDER AMMUNITION SALES AND REQUIRED ALL PURCHASES OF HANDGUN AMMUNITION TO BE REGISTERED, IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

JUDGE JEFFREY HAMILTON FOUND THE LAW UNCONSTITUTIONALLY VAGUE ON ITS FACE AND ISSUED AN INJUNCTION AGAINST ITS ENFORCEMENT. MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFF TOM ALLMAN SUPPORTED THE LAWSUIT, FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION AND THE CALIFORNIA RIFLE AND PISTOL FOUNDATION. THE RULING COMES JUST DAYS BEFORE LAW WERE TO GO INTO EFFECT NEXT MONTH. FOR NOW AT LEAST, MAIL ORDER AMMUNITION SALES TO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS CAN CONTINUE AND SALES OF HANDGUN AMMUNITION NEED NOT BE REGISTERED UNDER THE LAW. ACCORDING TO LEGAL ANALYSTS, THE STATE IS LIKELY TO APPEAL YESTERDAYS RULING.