A new California law requiring officers to reveal their gender identity is on hold. The data is supposed to be submitted to a state anti-discrimination board when police report information about the people they pull over in traffic stops. The Peace Officers Research Association of California and other organizations sued, saying their members should share their identity on their own terms. A judge ruled yesterday to pause the requirements as the legal challenge plays out in court.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors is seeking applicants to fill one vacancy on the Cannabis Ordinance Task Force. Interested applicants must live in Southern Lake County. The voluntary appointment would have to be approved at the Board of Supervisors meeting on February 27th. Pick up an application at the Lake County Courthouse or online at www.lakecountyca.gov
The Lake County Board of Supervisors is looking for a few residents to fill multiple seats on the Building Board of Appeals. To be on the board you must live in Lake County and have experience in building construction. It’s a two year term, completely voluntary, and the board is looking to fill 5 general membership seats and two alternates. Grab an application at the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport or online at Lake County C A dot GOV.
A Colusa man will be sentenced next month after being accused of shooting at transients. Glenn Prasad entered a no contest plea to the charge of assault with a firearm, a felony. The court accepted the plea and told Prasad he is no longer allowed to own, purchase, or possess any firearms, ammunition, or body armor. Prasad has been accused of shooting at transients with an assault style rifle in Clearlake Oaks. The judge set a sentencing date for February.
If you ever wanted to fight wildfires, now is your chance. There are two recruiting events this week for the 2024 wildland fire OC program. There’s an in person event from 10am to 3pm today in Chico, and another tomorrow in Willows, also from 10am to 3pm. The Mendocino National Forest is looking to fill spots on the 9 on call / organized crew Wildland Fire Type 2 Hand Crews. OC crews help put out wildfires both locally and nationally. The training provides basic fire courses over 10 days. Finish and you’ll be a certified Firefighter Type 2. You don’t need experience, you just need to get registered, which you can do at the in-person events today and tomorrow or Register online before February 1st.
Snarled traffic in Willits was caused by a downed tree. The tree fell early Tuesday morning after being beaten by rain and gusty winds for days. Willits Police responded to a report of the tree down on South Main Street blocking the northbound lanes. Deputies from the MCSO, crew from the Public Works Department, and Caltrans were called in to help remove the tree. While they were in the process of removing the debris, there was a report of a crash in the area. No one was injured and Little Lake Fire responded to help remove the crash and direct morning traffic around the scene.
Arson is suspected after 4 fires on the same Gualala property. Mendocino County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a fire at a large property on Old Stage Road around 11pm Friday. Crews put out a fire that was burning an outbuilding and a modular home. No one was in the home at the time. Then on Saturday, deputies responded around 8:30pm for a structure fire at the same location. This time crews put out a fire in a large 5th wheel travel trailer. By 11pm Fire Crews were on their way back to the property for a 3rd fire. This time another modular home was burning. On Monday, just after 2am, deputies returned to the property for another report of a fire, this time in a large sailboat. Arson investigators with the Ukiah Valley Fire Authority report they collected evidence the fires were intentionally set. No one was injured in any of the fires and no suspects have been found so far. Anyone with information is asked to call the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
FLOCK Cameras helped catch another car thief. Ukiah Police Department chased down a red Honda Civic on Friday that was stolen from a parking lot on South State Street. While one officer was taking the owner of the car’s report, another officer was reportedly in a high speed chase with the stolen Civic down Highway 101 in Hopland. The chase reached speeds of over 100 miles an hour and was eventually called off by CHP for public safety reasons. According to a news release, the UPD got an alert later that day from the FLOCK license plate reading camera system. It spotted the Honda Civic on North State Street at Garrett Drive. UPD caught up with the stolen vehicle, being driven by Juan Montiel, who avoided the police until he got back to the same parking lot he stole the Civic from. Police were finally able to arrest Montiel after a short standoff. He was booked on several charges. The registered owner was reunited with his car a short time later.
Police in Fort Bragg are taking on the Fentanyl crisis. The Police Chief announced the formation of the Fort Bragg Community Task Force on Fentanyl Monday night at the city council meeting. The task force will be run under the guidance of Project Right Now. The project works to rehabilitate local youth who struggle with substance use disorder. The new task force will be made up of about a dozen community members with differing backgrounds. According to the California Department of Public Health, Mendocino County is facing a higher trend of overdoses related to fentanyl compared to the rest of California. The new task force plans to meet quarterly.
