ATTEMPTED RAPE ARREST JKB 1/10/12
- A WILLITS MAN WAS ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY SEXUALLY ASSAULTING AN ELDERLY FORT BRAGG WOMAN IN HIS CARE.
POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE HOME ON CORRY STREET SHORTLY BEFORE 5 PM SATURDAY AFTER AN ALERT NEIGHBOR REPORTED HEARING A DISTURBANCE AT THE HOME. WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED THEY FOUND EVIDENCE THAT AN ELDERLY WOMAN MAY HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AND HELD AGAINST HER WILL BY HER CAREGIVER, 41 YEAR OLD PETER BUCKNER. THE WOMAN WAS TAKEN TO MENDOCINO COAST HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF INJURIES AND A SEXUAL ASSAULT EVALUATION. BUCKER WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED RAPE, FASLE IMPRISONMENT AND ELDER ABUSE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THIS INCIDENT IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE FORT BRAGG POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ARSON ARREST JKB 1/10/11
- A FORT BRAGG WOMAN WAS ARRESTED FOR PURPOSELY SETTING A FIRE AT A BOATYARD DRIVE STRIP MALL THAT DAMAGED THREE BUSINESSES EARLY SUNDAY MORNING.
THE FIRE WAS REPORTED AT 3:13 AM AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO A SUBWAY SANDWICH SHOP, A FARMERS INSURANCE OFFICE AND THE NUTONE DAY SPA. INVESTIGATORS QUICKLY DETERMINED THE FIRE TO BE INTENTIONAL AND IDENTIFIED 50 YEAR OLD JONI DEARING AS A SUSPECT. SHE WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO THE COUNTY JAIL FOR ARSON. NO MOTIVE FOR THE CRIME WAS RELEASED.
POLICE DOG KILLED BY HIT AND RUN DRIVER JKB 1/10/12
- SANTA ROSA AUTHORITIES ARE SEARCHING FOR A HIT AND RUN DRIVER WHO STRUCK AND KILLED A POLICE DOG IN LATE DECEMBER.
8 YEAR OLD BELGIAN MALINOIS BOZ DIED DECEMBER 27TH AFTER GETTING LOOSE FROM A FENCED YARD. HE WAS HIT ON PETALUMA HILL ROAD. THE DRIVER DID NOT STOP. CALIFORNIA LAW REQUIRES DRIVERS WHO STRIKE DOMESTICATED ANIMALS TO STOP AND ATTEMPT TO CONTACT AN OWNER. INVESTIGATORS ARE LOOKING FOR WITNESSES WHO MAY HAVE SEEN THE ACCIDENT. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ABOUT THE INCIDENT IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE SANTA ROSA CHP OFFICE.
FIRE AT APARTMENTS JKB 1/10/12
- A SMOKEY FIRE INSIDE A WALL LED TO THE EVACUATION OF AN APARTMENT COMPLEX ON WAUGH LANE LAST NIGHT.
THE FIRE, WHICH WAS REPORTED TO BE ALMOST ENTIRELY SMOKE, STARTED BEHIND A WALL IN A SECOND FLOOR APARTMENT SHORTLY BEFORE 7 PM. AT LEAST THREE FAMILIES HAD TO LEAVE THEIR HOMES WHILE FIREFIGHTERS TRACKED DOWN THE BLAZE. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE INCIDENT. TWO OF THE FAMILIES WERE ALLOWED TO RETURN HOME, WHILE THE RED CROSS, HELPED THE THIRD WITH OVERNIGHT ACCOMMODATIONS. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT BELIEVED TO BE CONNECTED TO SOME PIPE WELDING THAT WAS DONE BY A REPAIRMAN EARLIER IN THE DAY.
DUPLEX FIRE JKB 1/10/12
- A DUPLEX IN CLEARLAKE WAS DESTROYED BY A FIRE EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING.
FIREFIGHTERS RESPONDED TO THE BLAZE ON LOTOWANA ROAD AT 3 AM. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES, BUT THE BUILDING WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
JUDGE REJECTS PLEA DEAL IN SEX CASE JKB 1/10/12
- LAKE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT JUDGE ANDREW S. BLUM REJECTED A PLEA BARGAIN AGREEMENT YESTERDAY, FOR A FORMER LAKE COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPUTY WHO PLEADED GUILTY TO HAVING A YEAR LONG SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A 14 YEAR OLD BABY SITTER, SAYING THE AGREED TO SENTENCE WAS RIDICULOUSLY LENIENT.
39 YEAR OLD DERIK NAVARRO WOULD HAVE ONLY FACED 3 MONTHS IN JAIL, 3 YEARS PROBATION, AND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER UNDER THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT, WHICH WAS STRUCK BY THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE VICTIMS FAMILY. THE VICTIM, NOW 21, AND HER FAMILY WERE IN COURT URGING THE JUDGE TO ACCEPT THE PLEA AGREEMENT TO BRING CLOSURE TO THE CASE. JUDGE BLUM STATED THE AGREEMENT WAS NOT JUST AND THAT HE COULD NOT SIGN OFF ON A SENTENCE THAT WAS QUOTE FAR, FAR TOO LENIENT. NAVARRO NOW FACES MORE THAN A DOZEN FELONY COUNTS FOR SEXUAL CHILD ABUSE. A TRIAL DATE WILL BE SET JANUARY 17TH.
RADIO HOST ELIAS DIES JKB 1/10/12
- LONG TIME LAKE COUNTY RADIO HOST AND FELLOW BROADCASTER STEPHEN ELIAS AS DIED.
ELIAS, ALONG WITH HIS WIFE CATHERINE, HOSTED THREE PROGRAMS ON LAKE COUNTY COMMUNITY RADIO KPFZ. HE DIED UNEXPECTEDLY FROM A HEART ATTACK ON DECEMBER 29TH. A PRIVATE SERVICE FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WAS HELD ON FRIDAY. A PUBLIC MEMORIAL WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A LATER DATE.
MENDO MARIJUANA PERMITS SUSPENDED JKB 1/10/12
- MENDOCINO COUNTY MEDICAL MARIJUANA GROWING PERMITS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED PENDING THE OUTCOME OF A COURT CASE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA WHICH WILL RULE ON WHETHER ISSUING SUCH PERMITS EXCEEDS LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AUTHORITY IN SUBJUGATING FEDERAL LAW.
THE PERMITS ALLOWED MEDICAL MARIJUANA COLLECTIVES TO GROW UP TO 99 PLANTS UNDER A FEE STRUCTURE. 94 PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR THE PROGRAM LAST YEAR, GENERATING MORE THAN $660,000 FOR THE COUNTY. COUNTY COUNSEL JANINE NADEL HAS ADVISED SHERIFF TOM ALLMAN TO SUSPEND THE PERMITS THIS YEAR PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE RULING IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CASE. THE CALIFORNIA SUPREME COURT HAS UNTIL FEBRUARY 8TH TO DECIDE IF THEY WILL HEAR THE CASE OR NOT.
