More info’s been released from police about an armed robbery outside a Burger King in Willits a couple days ago. Police say they got a call from a retired Sonoma County Sheriff’s Deputy who saw two people in a Black SUV take a bag of possible marijuana from others in the fast food joint’s parking lot. They searched for that black SUV reportedly driving erratically on Main and other streets, speeding thru Laytonville going at least 100 mph at times. They stopped at a business and jumped out, but one was caught with a police dog’s help. One person got away, but they were caught later with the help of witnesses who saw him running. Christian Flores also gave them a fake name. He was treated for minor injuries and arrested for Robbery, Conspiracy and Sales and Transportation of Cannabis. Willits police say the suspects do not appear to live in the local area.
An inmate at the Mendocino County Jail has overdosed on drugs somehow and a corrections officer became ill from their contact. The Sheriff’s Dept. reports a deputy heard an inmate speaking loudly from one of the cells sounding emotional so he went to see what was up. The 50 year old inmate said he was on a phone call that made him upset, then he suddenly passed out and started snoring loudly. The deputy called for help and opened the cell door where staff say they found a large plastic bundle. They administered NARCAN, twice, and the inmate came alive and was then taken to a hospital. During transfer he had to have 2 more doses of NARCAN. The deputy first in contact with him also had to have NARCAN after becoming ill. He was treated at a hospital and released. That bundle was tested and found to be fentanyl, a powerful opiate. The cell was then decontaminated and staff found the inmate was suicidal, but no word how he got a hold of the drug.
A couple of men have been arrested after a domestic disturbance call. Deputies got a call to a disturbance and found 48 year old Luis Parra of Hopland and 21 year old Michael Montano from Ukiah after a female called. But when they arrived the woman said nothing happened, it was only verbal. Since Parra had an active Felony Arrest Warrant he was arrested and the same for Montano who was on Felony Probation and not allowed to drink. Deputies say he reeked of booze, had red watery eyes and was slurring his speech so he too was arrested for Violation of Probation. Parra was held on $10,000.00 bail and Montano on No-Bail.
A woman from Willits busted with a billy club and burglary tools. Cops say Deanna Renfort was hauled in after a call to a damaged gate. Someone told police she also had a machete. Deputies indeed found a damaged gate at a home and a car associated with her also found nearby. They apparently knew her from previous contact, and with her found a hacksaw, wire cutters, pry bar, and other hand tools. They say the gate lock had a clean cut. They ended up finding the machete in her SUV and a 15″ long wooden stick, with metal screws sticking out of it and arrested her. She already had a couple of warrants out for her arrest, plus she’s on probation. But her bail was set at zero due to the pandemic.
A man from Ukiah driving along the road, veering off into the bike lane has been arrested. On Tuesday cops pulled Brandon Wiard over, finding he was wanted by Mendocino County Superior Court. He’s been booked into jail and held on $15,000.00 bail.
A Ukiah man’s in jail due to an active warrant he hasn’t answered to. Oscar Bernal found two days ago and detained. Dispatch let arresting patrol deputies know the guy was wanted on a warrant. Bernal is being held in jail now on $25,000.00 bail.
Even as cases surge across the state and large chunks of Calif. are back in strict stay home orders, the public health officer in Sonoma County says she’s confident hospitals can handle a surge if there are people who become seriously ill from coronavirus. The Press Democrat reports Dr. Sundari Mase saying she didn’t think it was important to close more businesses and order people to shelter in place, as hospital officials have told her they’re not close to being overrun by patients, like so many other regions. For instance yesterday we told you Trinity County had no more ICU beds. Sonoma County had two of it’s highest ever one day totals since March… this month.
A new report shows the Governor has some companies that benefitted from the CARES Act. Nine businesses connected to Governor Newsom’s PlumpJack Group got almost $3 million in loans through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. Project On Government Oversight says the governor did set up a blind trust when he took office, but his small business got a lot of money. A senior policy analyst says the governor could run into some optic’s issues. It comes as he’s already taken heat for that dinner at the French Laundry, indoors, maskless. A spokesperson for PlumpJack says the money was spread across their business and around 358 employees so they would be able to keep their jobs. He says they followed federal guidelines to pay staff and stay open during the pandemic.
Building Bridges, one of a handful of shelters for the homeless in Mendocino County is under quarantine after a COVID19 outbreak. The CEO of Redwood Community Services, the operating nonprofit for the shelter says they’re taking it seriously. The first positive test in a resident was one week ago, that person was isolated at a hotel. Then seven more residents, mostly asymptomatic, also tested positive Sunday. The ones who felt sick were being treated by Adventist Health, as we reported a couple days ago. The rest who tested positive are in quarantine.
In unanimous agreement, the Lake County Board of Supervisors voted to revise the cannabis ordinance, adding protections for certain farmland areas with outdoor gardens. The new ordinance says outdoor cultivation is no longer allowed if it’s within 1,000 feet of a farmland protection zone. They have also sent some of the new amendments over to the planning commission, waiving the first reading of the ordinance, with a second reading Tuesday. Apparently cannabis growing near other agriculture is bringing down the price of those crops, so the board said changes needed to be made whether there will be future impact or not.
Several state lawmakers have put a bill together so schools can reopen for in person learning after the holidays if they have permission from state and local public-health authorities. It’s one of the first bills this legislative session and was introduced by Democratic legislators. It needs to pass with two-thirds of the Legislature and if the Governor signs it, public schools would transition to in-person learning within two weeks after their counties are out of the purple tier. The bill would go into effect March 1st. It also calls for schools to come up with more creative ways to keep kids engaged in virtual learning until then.
Downtown Covelo is in the holiday spirit after residents got together and put up all kinds of Christmas decorations. It was organized by Jessi Alvarado, a local business owner who says she was inspired by decorations from when she was growing up. The Daily Journal reports utility poles have been wrapped in ribbon, twinkle lights have been added to the décor and holiday wreaths are all along main street. They’ve also erected a Xmas tree at Mina Burger owner Horse O’Ferrall’s property.
All schools in the Kelseyville Unified School District are closing because of some positive COVID19 test results. School offices and the district office are closed until after the winter break. The Superintendent of schools says they test everyone and some positives came back so they decided to close for the rest of the month. Those who test positive didn’t have any contact with students and they’re doing contact tracing. The superintendent sent a letter to parents about the staff who were positive. Students are going to be distance learning for the time being. The district was planning hybrid learning but the county moved to the purple tier so the schools didn’t open for in person learning as planned Nov. 30th.
