E-QUAKE – JKB 11/17/08

A 4.4 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE WAS RECORDED OFF THE HUMBOLDT COUNTY COAST OVER THE WEEKEND.  THE QUAKE OCCURRED AT 9:43 PM SATURDAY NIGHT AND WAS CENTERED 17 MILES OFF THE COAST OF PETROLIA.  IT WAS FOLLOWED BY 5 AFTERSHOCKS THAT RANGED IN SIZE BETWEEN 2.1 AND 2.9 IN MAGNITUDE.  ALL OF THE QUAKES WERE TOO DEEP AND TO SMALL TO GENERATE ANY SIGNIFICANT WAVE ACTIVITY.

HOME INVASION ROBBERY IN FORT BRAGG – JKB 11/17/08

THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT IS LOOKING FOR 2 MEN INVOLVED IN A HOME INVASION ROBBERY IN FORT BRAGG LATE LAST WEEK.  30 YEAR OLD ANTHONY MCNEILL AND 23 YEAR OLD SHAYNE WREDE, BOTH OF FORT BRAGG, WERE IDENTIFIED AS SUSPECTS IN THE ARMED ROBBERY THAT OCCURRED AT A HOME ON HANSEN LANE AT AROUND 9:30 THURSDAY MORNING.  ACCORDING TO POLICE THE VICTIM WAS IN BED AT THE HOME OF HIS GIRLFRIEND AND GOT UP TO INVESTIGATE A NOISE IN THE LIVING ROOM.  THERE HE FOUND THE SUSPECTS OUTSIDE A SLIDING GLASS DOOR ARMED WITH A SHOTGUN AND BATON.  THEY ORDERED THE VICTIM TO OPEN THE DOOR AND FORCED HIM BACK INTO THE BEDROOM WHERE THEY DEMANDED MARIJUANA AND CASH.  10 MINUTES LATER THE SUSPECTS FLED THE SCENE WITH SEVERAL DUFFEL BAGS OF MARIJUANA.  A HALF HOUR LATER, DEPUTIES SPOTTED A CAR MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT VEHICLE AND FOUND THE STOLEN MARIJUANA AND OTHER EVIDENCE RELATED TO THE BREAK IN.  IT WAS DETERMINED THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, 27 YEAR OLD TONYA CLARK OF FORT BRAGG, HAD TRANSPORTED THE SUSPECTS TO THAT LOCATION WHERE THE MEN FLED ON FOOT.  SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR BEING AN ACCESSORY AND IS BEING HELD ON $100,000 BAIL.  MCNEILL AND WREDE ARE STILL ON THE RUN.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THEIR WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT.

LAKE COUNTY HOME INVASION UPDATE – JKB 11/17/08

MORE INFORMATION HAS BEEN RELEASED REGARDING A HOME INVASION IN HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE THAT PROMPTED AN ALL DAY SEARCH EFFORT LAST THURSDAY.  ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATORS, 30 YEAR OLD TRANSIENT CHARLES BURK AND 40 YEAR OLD MALCOLM BROWN OF GRATON, BROKE INTO THE HOME OF BURKS ADOPTIVE PARENTS ON NOBLE RANCH ROAD IN LOWER LAKE AND ASSAULTED BURKS ADOPTIVE FATHER, 52 YEAR OLD DONALD MERRILL AND HIS SON, 22 YEAR OLD DONALD MERRILL JR. AT AROUND 7:20 AM.  DURING THE ASSAULT, BURK GRABBED A RIFLE IN THE HOME AND ATTEMPTED TO SHOOT MERRILL SR, BUT WAS OVERPOWERED AS THE VICTIMS FOUGHT BACK.  THE SUSPECTS THEN FLED THE HOME IN A WHITE PICK UP TRUCK.  WHEN THEY ENCOUNTERED A RESPONDING DEPUTY ON SPRUCE GROVE ROAD, THE SUSPECTS INTENTIONALLY RAMMED THE PATROL CAR, DISABLING THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUED ON UNTIL THEY CRASHED THROUGH A GATE AND INTO A TREE.  THEY THEN FLED THE AREA ON FOOT IN SEPARATE DIRECTIONS.  DURING HIS ESCAPE ATTEMPT, BURK BROKE INTO A HOME ON RAVEN HILL ROAD, SHAVED HIS HEAD TO CHANGE HIS APPEARANCE AND CHANGED INTO CLOTHES HE FOUND IN THE HOME.  HE WAS EVENTUALLY DISCOVERED HIDING UNDER AN ENCLOSED DECK AT A HOME ON STONEGATE AT AROUND 2 PM AND HAD TO BE TASERED INTO SURRENDERING.  BROWN WAS APPREHENDED IN A FIELD NEAR HIGHWAY 29 AND ARABIAN LANE AT AROUND 4 PM.  BOTH ARE BEING HELD ON MULTIPLE CHARGES WITH BAIL SET AT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS EACH.  THE VICTIMS SUFFERED MINOR TO MODERATE INJURIES AND WERE TREATED AND RELEASED FROM ST. HELENA CLEARLAKE HOSPITAL.  INVESTIGATORS SAY BOTH SUSPECTS APPEARED TO BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF METHAMPHETAMINE AND THAT ROBBERY APPEARS TO BE THE MOTIVE FOR THE HOME INVASION.

NORTH COAST FIREFIGHTERS HELPING WITH SO CAL FIRES- JKB 11/17/08

FIREFIGHTERS FROM LAKE AND MENDOCINO COUNTIES, AND ALL ACROSS THE NORTH COAST HAVE HEADED SOUTH TO HELP OUT WITH THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FIRES THAT HAS CHARRED THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF LAND FORM THE ANAHEIM HILLS TO SANTA BARBARA.  AS OF SUNDAY NIGHT, MORE THAN 500 HOMES HAD BEEN LOST, OVER 10,000 ACRES BURNED, AND CLOSE TO 30,000 RESIDENTS HAD BEEN EVACUATED.  REPORTS COMING OUT THIS MORNING INDICATE THE FIRES MAY HAVE SPARKED BY HUMANS.  IT IS UNCLEAR IF THE FIRES WERE SET INTENTIONALLY. 

COURTHOUSE EVACUATED – JKB 11/17/08

THE LAKE COUNTY COURTHOUSE HAD TO BE EVACUATED FRIDAY MORNING BECAUSE OF A POSSIBLE GAS LEAK.  IT TURNED OUT THE STRONG ODOR OF PROPANE COULD BE SMELLED THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING BECAUSE THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WAS PULLING CARBON MONOXIDE FROM AN OVERFILLED EXHAUST PIPE ON THE ROOF OF THE BUILDING.  A TECHNICIAN FOUND A MINUTE AMOUNT OF PROPANE GAS COLLECTING IN A FIRST FLOOR STAIRWELL, BUT NOT AT AN UNSAFE LEVEL.  THE EVACUATION LASTED ABOUT A HALF AN HOUR AND EMPLOYEES AND VISITORS WERE ALLOWED TO RETURN TO THE BUILDING AFTER IT WAS VENTILATED AS A PRECAUTION. 

POT BUST – JKB 11/17/08

A LEGGET MAN WAS ARRESTED ON POSSESSION AND CULTIVATION CHARGES AFTER POLICE RAIDED TWO PROPERTIES OWNED BY HIM LAST THURSDAY.  50  YEAR OLD MATTHEW GRAVES WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY ON THURSDAY AFTER AUTHORITIES FOUND 52 POUNDS OF PROCESSED MARIJUANA, 65 GROWING POT PLANTS, 22 FIRE ARMS INCLUDING 11 ASSAULT WEAPONS, AND A FULLY AUTOMATIC MACHINE GUN, SCALES AND PACKAGING MATERIALS AS WELL AS $15,000 IN CASH.  GRAVES, A CONVICTED FELON WHO IS PROHIBITED FROM POSSESSING ANY FIREARMS, WAS RELEASED AFTER POSTING $360,000 IN BAIL.  GRAVES CAME TO THE ATTENTION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES WHEN MEMBERS OF CAMP RAIDED A GROW SITE OCTOBER 10TH THAT CONTAINED 12 MARIJUANA GARDENS WITH MORE THAN 2100 PLANTS. 

HOME INVASION ROBBERY UPDATE – JKB 11/17/08

ONE OF TWO SUSPECTS INVOLVED IN A HOME INVASION ROBBERY IN FORT BRAGG LATE LAST WEEK HAS BEEN CAUGHT.  30 YEAR OLD ANTHONY MCNEILL WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY AT A HOME ON MINNESOTA AVENUE IN FORT BRAGG SATURDAY EVENING JUST BEFORE 10 PM.  POLICE SAY MCNEILL AND 23 YEAR OLD SHAYNE WREDE, ALSO OF FORT BRAGG, WERE IDENTIFIED AS SUSPECTS IN THE ARMED ROBBERY THAT OCCURRED AT A HOME ON HANSEN LANE AT AROUND 9:30 THURSDAY MORNING.  ACCORDING TO POLICE THE VICTIM WAS IN BED AT THE HOME OF HIS GIRLFRIEND AND GOT UP TO INVESTIGATE A NOISE IN THE LIVING ROOM.  THERE HE FOUND THE SUSPECTS OUTSIDE A SLIDING GLASS DOOR ARMED WITH A SHOTGUN AND BATON.  THEY ORDERED THE VICTIM TO OPEN THE DOOR AND FORCED HIM BACK INTO THE BEDROOM WHERE THEY DEMANDED MARIJUANA AND CASH.  10 MINUTES LATER THE SUSPECTS FLED THE SCENE WITH SEVERAL DUFFEL BAGS OF MARIJUANA.  A HALF HOUR LATER, DEPUTIES SPOTTED A CAR MATCHING THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT VEHICLE AND FOUND THE STOLEN MARIJUANA AND OTHER EVIDENCE RELATED TO THE BREAK IN.  IT WAS DETERMINED THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, 27 YEAR OLD TONYA CLARK OF FORT BRAGG, HAD TRANSPORTED THE SUSPECTS TO THAT LOCATION WHERE THE MEN FLED ON FOOT.  SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR BEING AN ACCESSORY AND IS BEING HELD ON $100,000 BAIL.  MCNEILL IS BEING HELD ON NO BAIL.  WREDE ARE STILL AT LARGE.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON HIS WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE MENDOCINO COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT.

E-QUAKE – JKB 11/19/08

SOME AREA RESIDENTS WERE SHAKEN AWAKE BY A SMALL EARTHQUAKE THAT WAS CENTERED 10 MILES WEST SOUTH WEST OF LAKEPORT EARLY THIS MORNING.  THE QUAKE OCCURRED AT 3:10 AM AND REGISTERED 2.9 IN MAGNITUDE.  THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF DAMAGES OF INJURIES.

BICYCLIST IDENTIFIED – JKB 11/19/08

A BICYCLIST WHO DIED WHILE RIDING ON TALMAGE ROAD NEAR SANFORD RANCH ROAD SUNDAY AFTERNOON HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS 69 YEAR OLD BRUNO TEICHMAN OF UKIAH.  ACCORDING TO THE CHP, TEICHMAN WAS RIDING WESTBOUND ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER WHEN HE STARTED TO SWERVE FOR UNKNOWN REASONS AT AROUND 4:15 PM.  HE WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND AND A CAR TRAVELING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION STRUCK THE BICYCLE.  INVESTIGATORS DON’T BELIEVE THE VEHICLE STRUCK TEICHMAN, AND HE MAY HAVE LOST CONTROL AND FALLEN DUE TO A MEDICAL CONDITION.  THE EXACT CAUSE OF DEATH HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED.

MAN INJURED BY ILLEGAL FIREWORK – JKB 11/19/08

A LAYTONVILLE MAN SUFFERED INJURIES AND WAS CITED FOR POSSESSING POT AND AN ILLEGAL EXPLOSIVE DEVICE AFTER BLOWING UP HIS HAND WITH FIREWORKS LATE MONDAY NIGHT.  SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES WERE CALLED TO THE HOME ON NORTH ROAD AT AROUND MIDNIGHT MONDAY.  THERE THEY FOUND 33 YEAR OLD CHRISTOPHER ANDERSON INTOXICATED WITH A TRAUMA INJURY TO HIS HAND.  HE TOLD POLICE THAT HE HAD BEEN DRINKING WHEN HE DECIDED TO SET OFF SEVERAL 3 INCH FIREWORK MORTARS HE HAD GOTTEN FROM A FRIEND.  3 WERE SUCCESSFULLY FIRED, BUT THE 4TH BECAME STUCK IN THE LAUNCH TUBE AND EXPLODED, INJURING HIS HAND.  DURING THE INVESTIGATION, POLICE DISCOVERED APPROXIMATELY 12 POUNDS OF PROCESSED MARIJUANA IN THE HOME.  DEPUTIES SEIZED 10 POUNDS OF THE POT AFTER ANDERSON PRODUCED A MEDICAL RECOMMENDATION FOR MARIJUANA.  HE WAS TREATED AT THE SCENE BY MEDICS AND SIGHTED FOR POSSESSION OF EXPLOSIVES AND MORE THAN A LEGAL AMOUNT OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

DIVER’S ID CONFIRMED – JKB 11/19/08

SONOMA COUNTY AUTHORITIES HAVE CONFIRMED THAT A BODY RECOVERED FROM THE OCEAN NEAR FORT ROSS BEACH MONDAY AFTERNOON IS THAT OF 29 YEAR OLD JOHATHAN SU OF SUNNYVALE.  SU DISAPPEARED WHILE DIVING FOR ABALONE NOVEMBER 9TH.  ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES, HIS BODY WAS RECOVERED FROM THE SEA BED IN ABOUT 20 FEET OF WATER WITH HIS WEIGHT BELT STILL ATTACHED.  SU IS THE 8TH PERSON TO DIE WHILE HUNTING ABALONE OFF THE NORTH COAST THIS YEAR.

SEXUAL ASSAULTS – JKB 11/19/08

HEALDSBURG POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING 3 INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL BATTERY AND ASSAULT THAT HAVE OCCURRED DURING THE PAST MONTH, AND SAY ALL 3 COULD BE RELATED.  THE ATTACKS OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 28TH, NOVEMBER 6TH AND NOVEMBER 15TH, ALL BETWEEN 7 AND 8 PM.  THE FIRST TWO ASSAULTS TOOK PLACE NEAR MONTE VISTA AVENUE AND LUPINE WAY.  THE THIRD ATTACK OCCURRED IN THE 300 BLOCK OF HEALDSBURG AVENUE.  IN ALL 3 CASES THE SUSPECT, APPROACHED WOMEN WHO WERE WALKING ALONE AND SPOKE TO THEM IN SPANISH BEFORE GRABBING THEM.  THE SUSPECT IS DESCRIBED AS A LATINO MAN, 20 TO 25 YEARS OLD OF AVERAGE HEIGHT, CLEAN SHAVEN WITH DARK HAIR, CUT SHORT OR COMBED BACK TO APPEAR SHORT.  IN ONCE CASE THE VICTIM DESCRIBED A MOLE OR SCAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HIS FACE AND RUDDY COMPLEXION.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THESE INCIDENTS OR THE SUSPECT IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE HEALDSBURG POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HARWOOD AUCTION – JKB 11/19/08

IT WAS THE END OF AN ERA, AS ITEMS FROM THE FAMILY OWNED HARWOOD MILL IN BRANSCOMB WERE PUT ON THE AUCTION BLOCK YESTERDAY.  THE MANDATED AUCTION WAS HELD TO PAY OFF AN ESTIMATED $3 MILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT OWED TO WELLS FARGO BANK.  A LAST DITCH EFFORT TO STAVE OFF THE AUCTION BY MENDOCINO COUNTY SUPERVISOR JOHN PINCHES AND COUNTY CITIZENS FAILED.  THE 58 YEAR OLD MILL WAS FORCED TO LAY OFF WORKERS AND CLOSE IN JANUARY DUE TO A DOWNTURN IN THE HOUSING INDUSTRY. 

DOG KILL HORSES – JKB 11/20/08

COUNTY OFFICIALS HAVE STILL NOT DECIDED THE FATE OF TWO PIT BULL DOGS THAT ATTACKED AND KILLED 3 MINIATURE HORSES AND SEVERELY INJURED A 4TH IN WILLITS A WEEK AND A HALF AGO.  THE DOGS ARE CURRENTLY BEING HELD AT THE MENDOCINO COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL SHELTER.  ACCORDING TO SHELTER OFFICIALS, NO ONE HAS COME FORWARD TO CLAIM THE DOGS, WHICH WERE UNLICENSED AND UNVACCINATED, DESPITE BOTH HAVING BEEN FITTED WITH LARGE COLLARS.  THE DOGS ATTACKED THE 4 MINIATURE MARES IN THE BACK YARD OF A HOME ON EAST VALLEY STREET NOVEMBER 9TH.  THE HORSES HAD BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE REST OF THE HEARD AFTER WEANING.  TWO OF THE MARES DIED IN THE ATTACK, A THIRD WAS PUT DOWN IMMEDIATELY DUE TO THE EXTENT OF HER INJURIES AND A 4TH REQUIRED EMERGENCY VETERINARY CARE AND SURGERY TO SURVIVE.  A WORKER WAS ABLE TO GET THE DOGS AWAY FROM THE LAST HORSE AND HE TIED THEM UP.  THE HORSE OWNERS SAY THE DOGS HAD BEEN SEEN RUNNING LOOSE IN THE AREA IN THE DAYS PRIOR TO THE ATTACK. 

SUSPECT SEARCH – JKB 11/20/08

SONOMA COUNTY AUTHORITIES ARE LOOKING FOR A SANTA ROSA MAN THAT MAY BE ARMED AND DANGEROUS.  26 YEAR OLD JUSTIN JAMES FREE IS WANTED ON DRUG AND WEAPONS CHARGES STEMMING FROM A RAID ON HIS WESTSIDE HOME ON TUESDAY.  OFFICERS FOUND 143 GROWING MARIJUANA PLANTS, 7 GUNS, INCLUDING A SNIPER RIFLE, TWO ASSAULT RIFLES AND A SHORT BARRELED, PISTOL GRIP SHOTGUN.  AUTHORITIES ALSO SEIZED 12 POUNDS OF PROCESSED POT, AN UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT OF METHAMPHETAMINE PACKAGED FOR SALE AND $6000 IN CASH.  POLICE BELIEVE FREE COULD BE ANYWHERE IN SONOMA OR THE ADJACENT COUNTIES, AND MAY BE DRIVING A SIVLER 2004 FORD MUSTANG WITH CALIFORNIA LICENSE NUMBER 5GPL406.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON HIS WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY.

MURDER CONVICTION UPHELD – JKB 11/20/08

THE FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS IN SAN FRANCISCO UPHELD THE MURDER CONVICTION OF A NEVADA MAN WHO WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE BRUTAL MURDER OF AN UPPER LAKE WOMAN 6 YEARS AGO.  48 YEAR OLD PAUL JAMES SMIRAGLIA WAS SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON AFTER BEING FOUND GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER IN THE DEATH OF HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND, 43 YEAR OLD DIEDRE COLEMAN.  SMIRAGLIA WAS INVLOVED IN COOKING AND SELLING METHAMPHETAMINE IN THE CLEARLAKE AREA WHEN HE MURDERED COLEMEN BY INJECTING HYDROCHLORIC ACID IN HER EAR AND THEN BEATING HER TO DEATH WITH A HAMMER.  A WITNESS TO THE CRIME DIRECTED POLICE TO COLEMAN’S BODY A YEAR LATER.  SMIRAGLIA APPEALED CONTENDING THAT THE COURT ERRED IN PERMITTING ANOTHER EX-GIRLFRIEND TO TESTIFY ABOUT PREVIOUS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS, THAT HIS 5TH, 6TH AND 14TH AMENDMENT RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED WHEN IMPROPER INSTRUCTIONS WERE GIVEN TO THE JURY REGARDING THAT TESTIMONY, INSTRUCTION ON INTOXICATION WAS NOT GIVEN, AND THAT THE JUDGE DIRECTED THE JURY’S ATTENTION TO SPECIFIC EVIDENCE THAT WAS GIVEN IN COURT.  THE 3 APPELLATE COURT JUSTICES RULED THAT SMIRAGLIA’S CASE WAS WITHOUT MERIT AND UPHELD THE LIFE SENTENCE.

POT SEIZURES IN 2008 – JKB 11/20/08

THE CAMPAIGN AGAINST MARIJUANA PLANTING AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SAY A RECORD 5.2 MILLION MARIJUANA PLANTS WERE SEIZED DURING THE 2008 POT SEASON.  MOST OF THE CLANDESTINE WEED WAS BEING GROWN ON PUBLIC LAND.  STATE AND FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ALSO MADE 143 ARRESTS AND SEIZED 142 WEAPONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE POT GROWING OPERATIONS.  THOSE FIGURES DO NOT INCLUDE ARRESTS AND CONFISCATIONS MADE BY COUNTY AGENCIES.  ACCORDING TO FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS, MORE THAN HALF OF THE NATION’S DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED MARIJUANA IS GROWN IN CALIFORNIA.

AODP GETS GRANT FOR GANG PROGRAM – JKB 11/20/08

THE MENDOCINO COUNTY ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG PROGRAM-YOUTH SERVICES, OR AODP, HAS RECEIVED $20,000 FROM THE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S ASSET FORFEITURE FUND FOR THEIR GANG RESISTANCE IS PARAMOUNT, OR GRIP PROGRAM.  GRIP IS A SUCCESSFUL, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED GANG PREVENTION PROGRAM THAT STEERS CHILDREN AWAY FROM GANG MEMBERSHIP BY INCREASING AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE DANGERS OF GANG ACTIVITIES, BEHAVIORS AND DRUG USE.  THE GRIP PROGRAM IN MENDOCINO COUNTY IS IN IT’S 5HT YEAR OF OPERATION.  IT WAS BEGUN IN UKIAH IN 2004 AND HAS SINCE EXPANDED TO FORT BRAGG, WILLITS AND ANDERSON VALLEY.