News

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake woman was arrested this week after shooting a handgun at a Clearlake Police officer.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Police officers this week arrested two people involved in a counterfeiting operation, with police seeking additional leads from businesses that may have received counterfeit bills.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With lab results this week confirming low toxin levels in several samples taken late in June from Clear Lake and Blue Lakes, local health and tribal environmental officials are urging community members to both be aware and to use caution when recreating.

CLEARLAKE PARK, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help with identifying a male subject involved in a burglary that occurred in the Clearlake Park area earlier this week.

Telescopes in Hawaii have obtained new images of Jupiter and its Great Red Spot, which will assist the first-ever close-up study of the Great Red Spot, planned for July 10. On that date, NASA's Juno spacecraft will fly directly over the giant planet's most famous feature at an altitude of only about 5,600 miles.

UPPER LAKE, Calif. – Authorities say an Upper Lake woman died on Friday as the result of a physical assault by the father of her children.

Vanessa Yvette Niko, 35, died of her injuries at the residence where sheriff’s deputies were dispatched on Friday afternoon, according to Sgt. Corey Paulich.

Willy Tujays Timmons, 37, of Upper Lake subsequently was arrested for Niko’s murder, Paulich said.

Paulich said that at approximately 2:15 p.m. sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the 7800 block of Bridge Arbor Road in Upper Lake for a report of a physical altercation between a male and female.

The first deputy arrived on scene approximately five minutes after the initial call, Paulich said.

Shortly after arriving, that deputy made contact with Timmons and Niko through an open bedroom window of the residence, according to Paulich.

Paulich said the deputy observed Timmons assaulting Niko and was able to get Timmons to stop the assault by using verbal commands.

Timmons was placed under arrest while first aid was provided to Niko, who Paulich said succumbed to her injuries.

The scene was secured and detectives from the Major Crime Unit responded taking over the investigation, Paulich said.

Paulich said Timmons and Niko had an on-again, off-again relationship with three children in common. They also had a history of domestic violence during their relationship.

Timmons was transported to the Lake County Jail where he was booked into custody for murder, with bail set at $1 million, Paulich said.

Paulich said Niko’s official cause of death is pending an autopsy that will take place next week.