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NORTH COAST, Calif. – The Sonoma County Coroner’s Office said a San Rafael man shot by police officers in Petaluma on Tuesday has died.
Luis Alberto Garcia-Vara, 24, died shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday from his injuries, the agency said.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the shooting, said Petaluma Police responded to a 911 call in the 100 block of Lakeville Circle at around noon on Tuesday after a caller reported that Garcia-Vara was making suicidal threats and possibly had a gun.
Garcia-Vara was found standing in front of the apartment. The agency said officers tried to use deescalation with Garcia-Vara, who pulled a handgun from his pants pocket and pointed it at his head.
When Garcia-Vara pointed the gun toward officers shortly before 2 p.m., five of the officers fired a total of 16 rounds at him. At least one round hit him in the stomach.
Officials said Garcia-Vara was taken to a hospital for treatment but later died.
Detectives from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office continue to lead the investigation into this incident with assistance of the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety and the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office in accordance with the County-Wide Fatal Incident Protocol. The coroner’s office said evidence collection and its processing as well as interviews are still being conducted.
An independent forensic pathologist will perform an autopsy to determine Garcia-Vara’s cause of death, the coroner’s office said.
Luis Alberto Garcia-Vara, 24, died shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday from his injuries, the agency said.
The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office, which is investigating the shooting, said Petaluma Police responded to a 911 call in the 100 block of Lakeville Circle at around noon on Tuesday after a caller reported that Garcia-Vara was making suicidal threats and possibly had a gun.
Garcia-Vara was found standing in front of the apartment. The agency said officers tried to use deescalation with Garcia-Vara, who pulled a handgun from his pants pocket and pointed it at his head.
When Garcia-Vara pointed the gun toward officers shortly before 2 p.m., five of the officers fired a total of 16 rounds at him. At least one round hit him in the stomach.
Officials said Garcia-Vara was taken to a hospital for treatment but later died.
Detectives from the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office continue to lead the investigation into this incident with assistance of the Rohnert Park Department of Public Safety and the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office in accordance with the County-Wide Fatal Incident Protocol. The coroner’s office said evidence collection and its processing as well as interviews are still being conducted.
An independent forensic pathologist will perform an autopsy to determine Garcia-Vara’s cause of death, the coroner’s office said.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – The ongoing effort to locate three children whose five family members died in a crash last week is continuing, but authorities said incoming storms have halted searches along the Mendocino coast.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said it has yet to locate Devonte Hart, 15, Hannah Hart, 16, and Sierra Hart, 12, of Woodland, Wash., despite an ongoing search operation that on Wednesday enlisted multiple agencies, including Lake County Search and Rescue, to scour a stretch of coast in the Fort Bragg area.
The children’s parents, Jennifer Jean Hart and Sarah Margaret Hart, both age 38, died along with the family’s other three children, Markis Hart, 19, Jeremiah Hart, 14, and Abigail Hart, 14, when their GMC Yukon LX SUV went off a 100-foot cliff from a dirt turnout along Highway 1 at County Road 430, just south of Juan Creek in Westport last week, as Lake County News has reported.
Authorities said they still don’t know when the crash took place; the vehicle, spotted by a passerby, was found upside down on a large rock in the ocean on the afternoon of Monday, March 26.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol are leading parallel investigations into the crash, with authorities saying they believe the wreck was intentional.
A Thursday update on the search efforts from Capt. Greg Van Patten of the sheriff’s office corrected a previous statement from officials that said Jennifer and Sarah Hart were wearing their seat belts.
Investigators from the California Highway Patrol Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team have since determined, based on an inspection of the SUV, that the two women were not wearing seat-belts during the crash, Van Patten said.
Similarly, it had previously been concluded that the three children whose bodies were found on the crash scene – two on the rocky shoreline, one in the water – also had not been wearing seat belts and had been ejected from the vehicle.
Authorities continue to believe that the entire Hart family was traveling together, with the three missing children thought to have been inside of the SUV at the time of the crash, Van Patten said.
“Information obtained through interviews with family and friends indicated it was rare for the family to be apart, especially while traveling,” he said.
Van Patten said that information coupled with the other children being recovered outside of the vehicle on March 26, “supports the possibility that the missing children were swept away from the crash scene by the Pacific Ocean.”
He added, “The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office will continue to focus a majority of our resources searching with this theory in mind until other information or leads suggestion otherwise.”
On Wednesday, numerous agencies from Mendocino, Lake, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Marin and other Bay Area counties, along with 74 volunteer searchers and 10 law enforcement personnel participated in shoreline and aerial searches of the Mendocino County coastline, but the three missing children were not found, Van Patten reported.
He said the Wednesday search focused on the area from Noyo Harbor to MacKerricher State Park based upon ocean current and drift pattern analysis conducted by the US Coast Guard. A further search was conducted at the crash site and also focused to the south of that location.
Further large scale search and rescue operations are being postponed due to a pending weather event expected to bring heavy rain and winds to the Mendocino County coast for the next few days, Van Patten said.
However, he said searches of the Mendocino County coastline will continue with on-duty patrol deputies as calls for service allow until search and rescue operations can be safely resumed following the storms.
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office also issued a missing persons flier highlighting the missing children in an effort to generate leads about their whereabouts or to find people who had seen them sometime around March 26. The flier is posted below.
Any information related to the investigation can be emailed to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office email account atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 707-234-2100.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office said it has yet to locate Devonte Hart, 15, Hannah Hart, 16, and Sierra Hart, 12, of Woodland, Wash., despite an ongoing search operation that on Wednesday enlisted multiple agencies, including Lake County Search and Rescue, to scour a stretch of coast in the Fort Bragg area.
The children’s parents, Jennifer Jean Hart and Sarah Margaret Hart, both age 38, died along with the family’s other three children, Markis Hart, 19, Jeremiah Hart, 14, and Abigail Hart, 14, when their GMC Yukon LX SUV went off a 100-foot cliff from a dirt turnout along Highway 1 at County Road 430, just south of Juan Creek in Westport last week, as Lake County News has reported.
Authorities said they still don’t know when the crash took place; the vehicle, spotted by a passerby, was found upside down on a large rock in the ocean on the afternoon of Monday, March 26.
The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol are leading parallel investigations into the crash, with authorities saying they believe the wreck was intentional.
A Thursday update on the search efforts from Capt. Greg Van Patten of the sheriff’s office corrected a previous statement from officials that said Jennifer and Sarah Hart were wearing their seat belts.
Investigators from the California Highway Patrol Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team have since determined, based on an inspection of the SUV, that the two women were not wearing seat-belts during the crash, Van Patten said.
Similarly, it had previously been concluded that the three children whose bodies were found on the crash scene – two on the rocky shoreline, one in the water – also had not been wearing seat belts and had been ejected from the vehicle.
Authorities continue to believe that the entire Hart family was traveling together, with the three missing children thought to have been inside of the SUV at the time of the crash, Van Patten said.
“Information obtained through interviews with family and friends indicated it was rare for the family to be apart, especially while traveling,” he said.
Van Patten said that information coupled with the other children being recovered outside of the vehicle on March 26, “supports the possibility that the missing children were swept away from the crash scene by the Pacific Ocean.”
He added, “The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office will continue to focus a majority of our resources searching with this theory in mind until other information or leads suggestion otherwise.”
On Wednesday, numerous agencies from Mendocino, Lake, Contra Costa, San Mateo, Marin and other Bay Area counties, along with 74 volunteer searchers and 10 law enforcement personnel participated in shoreline and aerial searches of the Mendocino County coastline, but the three missing children were not found, Van Patten reported.
He said the Wednesday search focused on the area from Noyo Harbor to MacKerricher State Park based upon ocean current and drift pattern analysis conducted by the US Coast Guard. A further search was conducted at the crash site and also focused to the south of that location.
Further large scale search and rescue operations are being postponed due to a pending weather event expected to bring heavy rain and winds to the Mendocino County coast for the next few days, Van Patten said.
However, he said searches of the Mendocino County coastline will continue with on-duty patrol deputies as calls for service allow until search and rescue operations can be safely resumed following the storms.
The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office also issued a missing persons flier highlighting the missing children in an effort to generate leads about their whereabouts or to find people who had seen them sometime around March 26. The flier is posted below.
Any information related to the investigation can be emailed to the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office email account at
Email Elizabeth Larson at
040518 Hart children missing persons flier by LakeCoNews on Scribd
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office invites the community to join it for its next “Coffee with a Cop” on Friday, April 13.
The event will take place from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Adventist Health Clear Lake Medical Center's coffee kiosk, located at 15630 18th Ave., Clearlake.
Members of the sheriff’s office and the California Highway Patrol will be on hand to meet with the public.
There is no agenda or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, and get to know the men and women who protect and serve you every day.
Coffee with a Cop is an event where police and community members come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships and drink coffee.
It is a national initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, and has been implemented by many cities and towns across the country.
The goal of the program is to increase community trust, police legitimacy and partnership building. Coffee with a Cop removes the physical barriers and crisis situations that routinely define interactions between law enforcement officials and community members. Instead it allows for relaxed, informal one-on-one interactions in a friendly atmosphere.
This informal contact increases trust in police officers as individuals which is foundation to building partnerships and engaging in community problem solving.
The program aims to advance the practice of community policing through improving relationships between police officers and the community, one cup at a time.
The event will take place from 7 to 9 a.m. at the Adventist Health Clear Lake Medical Center's coffee kiosk, located at 15630 18th Ave., Clearlake.
Members of the sheriff’s office and the California Highway Patrol will be on hand to meet with the public.
There is no agenda or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, and get to know the men and women who protect and serve you every day.
Coffee with a Cop is an event where police and community members come together in an informal, neutral space to discuss community issues, build relationships and drink coffee.
It is a national initiative supported by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, and has been implemented by many cities and towns across the country.
The goal of the program is to increase community trust, police legitimacy and partnership building. Coffee with a Cop removes the physical barriers and crisis situations that routinely define interactions between law enforcement officials and community members. Instead it allows for relaxed, informal one-on-one interactions in a friendly atmosphere.
This informal contact increases trust in police officers as individuals which is foundation to building partnerships and engaging in community problem solving.
The program aims to advance the practice of community policing through improving relationships between police officers and the community, one cup at a time.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The city of Lakeport and Lakeport Disposal Co. Inc. announce that a Community Cleanup Day for city residents will take place on Saturday, April 28.
The cleanup will take place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the public parking lot north of the Fifth Street boat ramp in downtown Lakeport.
This event is limited to city of Lakeport residents and those dropping off trash and waste will be required to provide photo identification and copy of a City of Lakeport utility bill.
Household trash, televisions, electronic waste, mattresses, household furniture, unusable clothes/blankets/towels and similar materials will be accepted.
Refrigerators, hot tubs/spas, construction debris and Household Hazardous Waste will not be accepted.
For more details please see the city’s Web site at www.cityoflakeport.com, its Facebook page or contact Lakeport Disposal at 707-263-6080.
The cleanup will take place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the public parking lot north of the Fifth Street boat ramp in downtown Lakeport.
This event is limited to city of Lakeport residents and those dropping off trash and waste will be required to provide photo identification and copy of a City of Lakeport utility bill.
Household trash, televisions, electronic waste, mattresses, household furniture, unusable clothes/blankets/towels and similar materials will be accepted.
Refrigerators, hot tubs/spas, construction debris and Household Hazardous Waste will not be accepted.
For more details please see the city’s Web site at www.cityoflakeport.com, its Facebook page or contact Lakeport Disposal at 707-263-6080.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department K-9 Unit is planning its sixth annual fundraiser for Saturday, June 23.
The event will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Clearlake Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Ave.
The evening will include a barbecue dinner as well as a live auction, silent auction and raffles.
Tickets are $30 per person and are only available in advance.
The K-9 program is solely funded by donations and our fundraising efforts. The K-9 unit is a nonprofit organization.
The costs associated with acquiring a K-9 are considerable. A dog costs $10,000 to 12,000, initial training is $6,000 to $9,000, and a K-9 equipped car is $25,000 to $35,000 or, if the agency has an available car, the retrofit is approximately $6,000.00. The special handling equipment for the dogs is approximately $2,000 to $6,000.
After these initial costs, there are ongoing costs, including monthly training, recertification and upkeep costs.
The goal is to raise enough funds to maintain the high standard of training, cover the equipment needed and keep our K-9s at work in the city of Clearlake seven days a week.
The K-9 program is involved with activities including locating narcotics, assisting in the apprehension of dangerous criminals/offenders, searching for evidence and locating firearms.
It has assisted the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol whenever called upon.
The current K-9 unit has successfully apprehended several violent offenders and wanted fugitives. Its members have searched residences and businesses for possible subjects committing crimes and narcotics. The K-9 unit has also tracked violent offenders and saved countless man-hours by its ability to search areas faster.
A donation to our silent or live auctions would be greatly appreciated; all donations are tax-deductible.
To find out how to support the K-9 Program please contact Sgt. Elvis Cook at 707-349-0394, K-9 Officer Mark Harden at 707-533-7721 or K-9 Officer Chris Kelleher at 707-533-7413.
The event will take place beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Clearlake Senior Center, 3245 Bowers Ave.
The evening will include a barbecue dinner as well as a live auction, silent auction and raffles.
Tickets are $30 per person and are only available in advance.
The K-9 program is solely funded by donations and our fundraising efforts. The K-9 unit is a nonprofit organization.
The costs associated with acquiring a K-9 are considerable. A dog costs $10,000 to 12,000, initial training is $6,000 to $9,000, and a K-9 equipped car is $25,000 to $35,000 or, if the agency has an available car, the retrofit is approximately $6,000.00. The special handling equipment for the dogs is approximately $2,000 to $6,000.
After these initial costs, there are ongoing costs, including monthly training, recertification and upkeep costs.
The goal is to raise enough funds to maintain the high standard of training, cover the equipment needed and keep our K-9s at work in the city of Clearlake seven days a week.
The K-9 program is involved with activities including locating narcotics, assisting in the apprehension of dangerous criminals/offenders, searching for evidence and locating firearms.
It has assisted the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol whenever called upon.
The current K-9 unit has successfully apprehended several violent offenders and wanted fugitives. Its members have searched residences and businesses for possible subjects committing crimes and narcotics. The K-9 unit has also tracked violent offenders and saved countless man-hours by its ability to search areas faster.
A donation to our silent or live auctions would be greatly appreciated; all donations are tax-deductible.
To find out how to support the K-9 Program please contact Sgt. Elvis Cook at 707-349-0394, K-9 Officer Mark Harden at 707-533-7721 or K-9 Officer Chris Kelleher at 707-533-7413.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – USDA Rural Development said it is working to address opioid misuse in rural communities.
The agency’s California State Director Kim Dolbow Vann highlighted the key efforts under way to take on the crisis.
“Opioid misuse has led to a dramatic decrease in quality of life, especially in rural areas where access to resources may be more limited,” said Vann. “We are working hard to bring all of our assets to the table in partnership with local efforts to help combat this epidemic where it is needed most.”
USDA is reserving $5 million in the Community Facilities Grant Program for innovative projects such as mobile treatment clinics.
Rural communities, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized tribes can apply for grants up to $150,000.
Applications for Community Facilities grants funded with this National Office reserve should be submitted on or before June 4, 2018.
Priority is also available in the Distance Learning and Telemedicine, or DLT, Grant Program for applications proposing innovative projects with the primary purpose of providing opioid prevention, treatment or recovery services. Eligible proposals can receive 10 priority points on their applications.
The Fiscal Year 2018 omnibus spending bill included $20 million available in the DLT Grant Program for projects that will help rural communities fight the opioid epidemic. This funding is in addition to $29 million Congress provided for the program in the annual budget.
The application deadline for DLT Grants is June 4, 2018. Applications can be submitted electronically at Grants.gov or in hardcopy to: USDA Rural Development Telecommunications Programs, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 2844, STOP 1597, Washington, DC 20250-1597. Complete details are available on page 14245 in the April 3 Federal Register.
The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that nearly 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016. More than half of those deaths involved opioids, including prescription drugs and heroin.
In early 2018 the Institute for Telehealth was awarded a $325,665 DLT grant to purchase video conferencing equipment to provide interactive telemedicine services. The hub site is based in Placer County and impacts 32 rural sites throughout the Pacific Northwest.
This technology will allow hospital, medical clinics and nursing homes to communicate with specialists they may not have had available through traditional avenues.
USDA is an important partner to rural communities addressing the national opioid epidemic. The Department is investing in treatment facilities and services, e-Connectivity and telemedicine, and public education efforts. In addition to program investment, USDA is helping communities share information about best practices to address the crisis. Visit USDA’s Rural Opioid Misuse webpage for more information.
The agency’s California State Director Kim Dolbow Vann highlighted the key efforts under way to take on the crisis.
“Opioid misuse has led to a dramatic decrease in quality of life, especially in rural areas where access to resources may be more limited,” said Vann. “We are working hard to bring all of our assets to the table in partnership with local efforts to help combat this epidemic where it is needed most.”
USDA is reserving $5 million in the Community Facilities Grant Program for innovative projects such as mobile treatment clinics.
Rural communities, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized tribes can apply for grants up to $150,000.
Applications for Community Facilities grants funded with this National Office reserve should be submitted on or before June 4, 2018.
Priority is also available in the Distance Learning and Telemedicine, or DLT, Grant Program for applications proposing innovative projects with the primary purpose of providing opioid prevention, treatment or recovery services. Eligible proposals can receive 10 priority points on their applications.
The Fiscal Year 2018 omnibus spending bill included $20 million available in the DLT Grant Program for projects that will help rural communities fight the opioid epidemic. This funding is in addition to $29 million Congress provided for the program in the annual budget.
The application deadline for DLT Grants is June 4, 2018. Applications can be submitted electronically at Grants.gov or in hardcopy to: USDA Rural Development Telecommunications Programs, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 2844, STOP 1597, Washington, DC 20250-1597. Complete details are available on page 14245 in the April 3 Federal Register.
The National Center for Health Statistics estimates that nearly 64,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2016. More than half of those deaths involved opioids, including prescription drugs and heroin.
In early 2018 the Institute for Telehealth was awarded a $325,665 DLT grant to purchase video conferencing equipment to provide interactive telemedicine services. The hub site is based in Placer County and impacts 32 rural sites throughout the Pacific Northwest.
This technology will allow hospital, medical clinics and nursing homes to communicate with specialists they may not have had available through traditional avenues.
USDA is an important partner to rural communities addressing the national opioid epidemic. The Department is investing in treatment facilities and services, e-Connectivity and telemedicine, and public education efforts. In addition to program investment, USDA is helping communities share information about best practices to address the crisis. Visit USDA’s Rural Opioid Misuse webpage for more information.