News

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – As the result of two separate search warrant services this week, Clearlake Police officers seized nearly 1,800 marijuana plants from two illegal grows and arrested two men.

Arrested at two different sites were Jose Ceja Lupian, 60, and Miguel Maciel Garcia, 50, according to Dt. Leonardo Flores of the Clearlake Police Department.

On Tuesday, officers with the Clearlake Police Department Investigations Unit executed a search warrant regarding the illegal commercial cultivation of marijuana for sale at the 14300 block of Woodland Drive. Flores said the were investigating a possible illegal marijuana growing operation in violation of state cannabis laws and city ordinances.

Flores said this is the third criminal investigation at this residence regarding illegal cultivation of marijuana.

In 2015 there was a homicide investigation involving the illegal commercial cultivation of marijuana for sale and in 2016 a search warrant was executed regarding the illegal commercial cultivation of marijuana for sale, he said.

During the execution of the search warrant on Tuesday, a total of 503 growing marijuana plants were located. Indicia, chemicals and materials associated with the illegal cultivation and sales of marijuana were also located and seized, Flores said.

At that time, officers contacted Ceja Lupian and took him into custody. Flores said Ceja Lupian also had an active warrant for his arrest for the 2016 case involving the illegal commercial cultivation of marijuana for sale and weapons violations at the same residence.

Then, on Thursday, Flores said officers served a search warrant in the 3900 block of Manchester Avenue.

During the execution of the search warrant, Flores said a total of 1,269 growing marijuana plants were located along with nine individual 1-pound processed marijuana bags. Indicia, chemicals and materials associate with illegal cultivation and sales were located.

Flores said officers arrested Maciel Garcia at that second site.

Anyone with information on these investigations is encouraged to contact Det. Flores at 707-994-8251, Extension 315.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Animal Control has more new dogs needing homes this week.

The available dogs are Dingo, Neptune, Piggie, Sophia, Titan and Zeus.

To meet the animals, call Clearlake Animal Control at 707-994-8201 and speak to Marcia at Extension 103 Monday through Thursday, or leave a message at any other time.

‘Dingo’

“Dingo” is described by shelter staff as a happy, friendly boy who is a true people dog.

He is 2 years old, weighs about 45 pounds, and is good with both adults and children.

Dingo likes to be by your side, has nice manners and sits for treats like a true gentleman. He also loves to play ball and probably Frisbee, too.

Shelter staff said he is great with other nice dogs, but has low confidence and prefers people. He will benefit from more socialization.

‘Neptune’

“Neptune” is 2 years old and weighs 65 pounds. He has been neutered.

Shelter staff said he is good with other dogs and children, but has not been tested with cats.

He has a mellow disposition, loves to play fetch and tug-o-war. Shelter staff said he is a “super friendly guy” who needs some leash work.

Neptune is vaccinated and ready for adoption or can go to rescue.

‘Piggie’

“Piggie” is a spayed female with a short white coat.

Shelters staff said she loves to love.

‘Sofia’

“Sofia” is a spayed female pit bull mix.

She has a short black coat with white marking.

‘Titan’

“Titan” is a 3-year-old male Catahoula mix with amazing blue eyes and weighing 70 pounds. He has been neutered.

Titan is good with other dogs and children, but has not been tested with cats.

Shelter staff said Titan needs slow introductions to men, but he’s easy to win over with treats.

He loves to play fetch and loves the water. He’s also great on a leash and loves to go for walks.

Shelter staff said Titan needs stability back in his life. He was picked up as a stray after having been unsuccessfully homed when his family had a new baby.

Titan is vaccinated and is available for adoption or can go to rescue.

‘Zeus’

“Zeus” is a male neutered mastiff mix.

He has a short black coat with white markings.

Shelter staff said he is very handsome.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – With the July 4 holiday just around the corner, Cal Fire announced one of the largest seizures of illegal fireworks in state history this week.

Following a months-long investigation, Cal Fire law enforcement officers arrested seven individuals and seized more than 49,000 pounds of fireworks over the past two weeks in connection to a large-scale illegal firework ring.

Law enforcement officers found these suspects have been illegally importing, transporting, storing, distributing and selling illegal and dangerous fireworks throughout California for more than 30 years.

Cal Fire law enforcement officers seized more than 49,000 pounds of illegal fireworks stored at locations in Copperopolis, Modesto, Salida, Hayward, Walnut Creek and Oakland. In addition a load of dangerous illegal fireworks, ready for transportation, was also discovered.

Officers also seized more than $115,000 as well as a variety of computers, cell phones, firearms and personal items.

Cal Fire was assisted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the California Highway Patrol, Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office and Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office as they served 10 search warrants in Calaveras, Stanislaus, Alameda and Contra Costa counties.

This latest enforcement action is part of Cal Fire’s broader mission to protect the public and natural resources, including fire and life safety laws.

On Independence Day, in a typical year, Cal Fire said fireworks account for two out of every five reported fires in the U.S., more than any other cause.

On average each year, fireworks in California start 18,500 fires, including 1,300 structure fires and 300 vehicle fires. These fires, on average, cause three deaths, 40 civilian injuries and $43 million in direct property damage, Cal Fire said.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s 2015 Fireworks Annual Report, U.S. hospital emergency rooms treated an estimated 11,900 people for fireworks-related injuries; 51 percent of those injuries were to the extremities and 41 percent were to the head.

Two-thirds (65 percent) of the injuries were burns; children younger than 15 years of age accounted for one-quarter (26 percent) of the estimated injuries.

Sparklers were the leading cause of fireworks injuries. More than half of the fireworks injuries incurred by children under 5 years of age were caused by sparklers.

“In California, we have a zero tolerance for the use and sale of illegal fireworks,” said Chief Ken Pimlott, director of Cal Fire. “With the increase in large, devastating fires across the state, we cannot stand by and allow this type of activity to occur, threatening not only property and natural resources, but the lives of the citizens we protect.”

With California’s stringent fireworks laws and the need for increased enforcement, education and disposal of illegal fireworks, Gov. Edmund G. Brown Jr. included a proposal in his May Budget Revision to increase funding to stop the use of illegal fireworks in California.

The administration is actively working with the Legislature on a long-term funding fix for the disposal of confiscated illegal fireworks.

Learn more about firework safety at www.ReadyforWildfire.org or https://www.fire.ca.gov.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – First responders are on the scene of a fatal wreck in the Middletown area.

The two-vehicle crash occurred in the northbound lane of Highway 29 at Butts Canyon Road just before 6:30 p.m. Thursday, according to the California Highway Patrol and radio reports.

Descriptions of the two vehicles were not immediately given.

Firefighters arriving at the scene indicated three people were injured, with injuries reported to be minor, moderate and critical.

A short time later, it was reported over the air that there was one fatality, with the Lake County Sheriff’s Central Dispatch sending a deputy for coroner’s duties. The CHP confirmed the fatality a short time later.

Authorities said extended extrication is necessary at the crash site.

At 6:45 p.m. incident command requested an air ambulance respond to the Middletown Fire Station to transport a crash victim.

REACH 6 confirmed it was responding, then just before 7 p.m. a second air ambulance also was requested to respond to the fire station.

Additional information will be published as it becomes available.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – An issue with a piece of farming equipment led to a fire in a hay field in the Scotts Valley area early Thursday afternoon.

The fire at 6920 Scotts Valley Road was first dispatched just before 12:45 p.m. Thursday, according to Lakeport Fire Chief Doug Hutchison.

A man was picking up bales of hay with a hay wagon to place in his barn when the equipment caught fire, Hutchison said.

Hutchison said he believed the fire’s cause was a mechanical issue with the baling wagon.

Resources that responded included a chief officer, three engines and a water tender from Lakeport Fire, an engine and a water tender from Northshore Fire, and from Cal Fire three engines, one crew, one dozer, one battalion chief and Copter 101 out of Willits, Hutchison said.

Hutchison said firefighters had forward progress stopped within 30 to 40 minutes of arriving on the scene.

He said the wind pushed the fire onto the neighbor’s property. “The copter went to work on that right away with the bucket and that got it stopped,” he said.

Part of the hay field burned, along with some hay and the bale wagon, Hutchison said. Firefighters managed to save some of the bales that hadn’t been picked up.

There were no injuries and no structure damage, he said.

Most of the units had been released by mid-afternoon, while Cal Fire stayed later to button up the scene, Hutchison said.

Cal Fire reported over the radio that total size was about seven acres, with the incident terminated at about 5:20 p.m.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

HIDDEN VALLEY LAKE, Calif. – A Hidden Valley Lake was destroyed in a Wednesday afternoon fire.

The fire, in the 19000 block of Mountain Meadow South, was first reported just before 2 p.m., according to Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Wink.

Wink said the first units to arrives at the scene found a single-family wood frame home fully involved.

He said no one was at home at that point – the home’s occupants had just left on errands.

South Lake County Fire, Cal Fire, Lake County Fire and Northshore Fire sent a total of 25 firefighting personnel and nine pieces of firefighter apparatus, including engines and water tenders, he said.

Northshore Fire also sent its support team, which helps with logistics, refilling oxygen bottles and doing firefighter rehabilitation, Wink said. Hidden Valley Lake Security also was on scene.

The house was a total loss, Wink said.

“It was burning very aggressively,” he said of the fire.

Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the main structure, preventing it from spreading to houses on either side, Wink said.

Wink said firefighters cleared the scene just before 6 p.m.

There were no injuries reported to any firefighting personnel or the home’s occupants, he said.

Wink said the fire’s cause is under investigation.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.