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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lakeport Police are seeking information from the public regarding a burglary of the science rooms and lab at Clear Lake High School Thursday night.
Police officers responded to Clear Lake High School to investigate the report of an audible burglary alarm Thursday at approximately 11:45 p.m.
Officers arrived within a couple of minutes and began checking the grounds for any signs of entry.
A rear door to the gym was found standing open and officers cleared the building without finding any persons or signs of a burglary.
Officers then began checking the remainder of the school and located an open window to the science rooms and lab area.
Officers determined that persons had forced open the window and entered the room.
School staff responded and officers then gained access to the room and searched it for suspects but did not locate any though areas of the rooms had been ransacked.
A Detective was called out to investigate and spent several hours processing the scene and collecting possible items of evidence in order to identify the suspects.
The investigation remains ongoing and officers are working to identify items of property stolen in the burglary.
Lakeport police requests that anyone with information contact officers at 707-263-5491, by a private message on Facebook to @LakeportPolice or by sending an anonymous message from your cellular phone by texting the words TIP LAKEPORT followed by your message to 888777.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The curtain is about to go up on a lakeside production of one of William Shakespeare's most popular plays.
Mendocino College Lake Center and Lake County Theatre Co.'s production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” held a dress rehearsal on Thursday evening.
The play will be performed at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 30, and Sunday, July 31, next to the gazebo in Library Park.
Director John Tomlinson led the cast and crew through the run through on the full set, which was in place earlier this week.
Ed Borg, who plays Francis Flute the bellows maker, said rehearsals have been going on about six weeks, and he expects it will be a good show.
He said Tomlinson “is a real fun director,” and one he's worked with on previous shows.
City Manager Margaret Silveira dropped by to check out the rehearsal. She said the city is excited to have the play taking place in the park.
The city is allowing the actors to use a portion of the Carnegie Library for storage and changing rooms, she said.
The performances are open to the public and free. Concessions will be available for sale, with proceeds to go toward student scholarships.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Clearlake resident implicated in a July 2015 homicide took the stand on Wednesday as part of an immunity agreement to testify against the man who authorities believe actually was responsible for the crime.
David Cox, also known as “Cyclops,” was the only witness to testify on Wednesday afternoon in the murder trial of Clearlake resident Billy Raymond Mount, 36.
Mount is on trial for the fatal shooting of Steven Galvin, 40, who was walking through a Clearlake neighborhood on the afternoon of July 2, 2015, when witnesses say a small white pickup pulled up, there were two gunshots and Galvin collapsed nearby.
Police found Galvin on the ground in the front yard of a residence. When Clearlake Police Det. Ryan Peterson asked Galvin who shot him, he said “Cyclops” numerous times. Galvin died a short time later at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake.
The exchange between Peterson and Galvin was recorded on Peterson's body camera, with that footage played in court on the opening day of the trial on July 8, as Lake County News has reported: http://bit.ly/29Foev6 .
While police would take Cox into custody and interview him on the day of the shooting, they ultimately concluded that Mount had committed the murder.
Mount and Cox were acquainted, with both being skinheads. Cox has proved to be one of the prosecution's main witnesses against Mount.
On Wednesday, Cox appeared in court with his attorney, Barry Melton, who sat alongside of him in the witness box.
In a short hearing out of the presence of the jury, Cox was questioned by Deputy District Attorney Sharon Lerman and defense attorney Andrea Sullivan.
During a lunchtime meeting that day with Cox, Lerman said he disclosed he had taken two Valium along with his normal psychiatric medications, which he said was due to him having nightmares for two weeks because of having to testify in court. He confirmed he could testify, in response to Lerman's questions.
Lerman also questioned him about a new statement he made that a picture of a gun that investigators had shown to him looked like a gun Mount had shown him a few months before the shooting.
He said he was 90-percent sure it was the same gun, and he remembered it because it looked like a gun he had owned at the time. Cox said he later sold his own gun because “there was no reason to have it.”
In addition, Cox is prohibited from owning a firearm because he's a convicted felon. He has two felony burglary convictions in 2004 and a 2010 conviction for grand theft from a person, according to his testimony.
Even though Cox has given police several interviews, and testified in Mount's preliminary hearing earlier this year, he had never told the prosecution that he believed the gun Mount had shown him was similar to the one in the picture.
Sullivan successfully argued to have Cox's new statement about the similarity of the gun in the picture to Mount's gun excluded, calling it an “11th hour” disclosure that would be difficult to follow up on for the purposes of the trial. She also noted rules for barring late discovery in such situations.
“Is this even something the people intend to offer?” Judge Andrew Blum asked Lerman, who said yes.
Blum ultimately granted Sullivan's objection to the presentation of the statement, noting it had minimal probative value.
When the jury was brought in, Lerman continued her questioning of Cox, and asked him about the three immunity agreements he's signed with the District Attorney's Office. The agreements were signed in February before a second interview with Peterson, in April at Mount's preliminary hearing and again for Mount's trial.
The line of questioning explained that Cox's statements in court can't be used to prosecute him, although that doesn't mean he can't be prosecuted in the case. Lerman said the agreements are only binding if Cox testifies truthfully.
During his testimony, Cox disclosed that he suffers from schizoaffective disorder and depression, along with being bipolar. He takes medications for those conditions and also recreationally uses marijuana and methamphetamine.
He also acknowledged being a skinhead since 2008, but denied that he is a white supremacist. “It's a way of life not a state of mind,” he said. “It's about standing for what you believe in.”
Cox claimed to be a “hardcore skinhead” or a “music skinhead,” and is an aspiring rapper. He said he believes in peaceful resistance and called Martin Luther King Jr. one of his biggest heroes.
Cox acknowledged that at one point he collected Nazi paraphernalia but has since stopped, and now collects American flags “by the dozen.”
He said he met Galvin about six months before Galvin's death. “He was interested in my ideas.”
However, while he had wanted to be friends with Galvin, Cox said he believed Galvin had stolen a new cell phone and tablet from him during a gathering of friends. Later, when he confronted Galvin about it, Galvin said he would pay him for the items, not admitting to or denying taking them.
Tension between the men escalated when Galvin never paid Cox. In one incident, Cox and his girlfriend were driving through town and saw Galvin. They pulled over to talk to him and Cox said Galvin approached the car aggressively, so Cox brandished a handgun at him.
Two nights before Galvin's death, as Cox was walking through town at night, he said Galvin came up on him from the shadows. Cox said he raised his fist to defend himself, Galvin ran backwards and said he would pay him.
On the day of Galvin's shooting, Cox was at a home on Maple Street where his girlfriend lived when he encountered Mount, who was there talking to the girlfriend's uncle. Cox said he had a stern talk with Mount about reports that Mount had assaulted his own girlfriend.
“I was the aggressor in that conversation,” said Cox, who explained that he had a large Maglite flashlight in his hand during his encounter with Mount.
Within an hour, when Cox went to see friends, he was told his name was coming over the scanner and police were looking for him. He said he didn't know at that point that Galvin had been shot.
When Cox heard about the incident he said he told his girlfriend, “I think Billy just shot T-Bone for me,” which he said screwed up my life.
Cox said he did not help Mount kill Galvin although he felt 1 percent responsible for Galvin's death.
During cross examination, Sullivan asked Cox if he remembered telling the detective that Mount had called him and stated, “I seen T-Bone. I got him,” just after the detective informed Cox that Galvin had named him as being responsible for the attack on him.
Cox said he didn't remember saying it, and when Sullivan asked if he was trying to shift the blame, he said, “Maybe.”
He also went on to say that anything he said in that first interview with Peterson was either a lie or mistaken statements because he was afraid of being implicated.
Cox said he didn't know if Mount committed the shooting, and when asked if he had anything to do with pulling the trigger, Cox said no.
Sullivan also worked to establish that Cox was trying to bring Mount up as a suspect, having written his name in water on the table in the interview room, and slamming his hand down on the table next to the writing.
Cox acknowledged that part of the interview occurred before he heard Galvin was dead.
“So even before Peterson walked into the interview, you were trying to blame Billy Mount?” Sullivan asked.
“No, I wasn't,” Cox said.
Lerman countered by asking him what he had been trying to do at that point in the interview. Cox replied that, at that time, he didn't know who was responsible.
The trial is expected to continue until late in August.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
MENDOCINO NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. – Mendocino National Forest officials remind visitors to be prepared for traffic delays on the M10 road and a temporary closure on the M6 road starting Aug. 1.
Construction will occur in the following locations:
Letts Road Construction
· Start date: Aug. 1.
· Location: Roads M10, 17N02, 17N09. Between Dixie Glade Campground and Letts Lake Campground.
· Type of work: Roadway reconditioning.
· Anticipated hours of work: Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
· Traffic delays: 30 to 45 minutes.
· Expect to see warning signs in the area. Traffic control devices used on this project will include traffic cones, delineators, barricades and signage.
Trout Creek Road Construction
· Start date: Aug. 1.
· Location of work: M6 Kneecap-Cabbage Patch road.
· Type of work: Replacing a culvert located at the intersection of M6 road and Trout Creek.
· M6 road will be closed for 90 days. Barriers and signs will be placed at Low Gap (junction of M6 and M61 roads), Cabbage Patch (junction of M1 and M6 roads) and at Sunset Point intersection with M1. As a detour, use M61 and M1 roads.
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Caltrans reports that the following road projects will be taking place around Lake County and the North Coast during the coming week.
Included are Mendocino County projects that may impact Lake County commuters.
LAKE COUNTY
Highway 20
– Pavement repairs from Sayre Avenue to the Paradise Cove subdivision will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., weeknights. One-way traffic control will also be in effect from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– The Mine Restoration Project has been issued a long-term Caltrans Encroachment Permit to allow trucks to access their worksite near the Colusa County Line. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
Highway 29
– Valley fire recovery work between Middletown and Hidden Valley will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– Caltrans will be performing routine highway maintenance between Spruce Road and Spruce Lane (Hidden Valley) beginning Aug. 2. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 175
– Valley fire recovery work between Middletown and Loch Lomond will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
MENDOCINO COUNTY
Highway 1
– Striping operations between Pacific View Drive and Irish Beach Drive will begin Monday, Aug. 1. A moving lane closure will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdown.
– Shoulder paving at the northern limits of Elk will begin Friday, July 29. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 8a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
– Paving between Lille Lake Road and Happy Lane will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– Mowing operations between Pudding Creek and Blue Side Gulch will begin Monday, Aug. 1. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
– Highway repairs a quarter-mile north of Ocean Meadows Circle will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Paving between Road 430 and the Georgia Pacific Picnic Area will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
Highway 20
– Paving operations between Summer Lane and the Blosser Road will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– Striping operations between North Route 101 and a private road between postmile markers 42 and 43 will begin Monday, August 1. A moving lane closure will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
Highway 101
– Striping operations between East Side Road and Route 175 East will begin Monday, Aug. 1. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Digouts and paving work between the Hollands Lane and the end of Main Street will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect overnight from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– The city of Willits has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to repair a water main between Sherwood Road and Casteel Lane. Traffic will be restricted to one lane in each direction from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Motorists may experience minor traffic slowdowns.
– Emergency slide repairs just south of Standish-Hickey State Park will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect 24 hours per day, seven days per week. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
– Reggae on the River has been granted a Caltrans Encroachment Permit to hold an event along the State right-of-way. Onramps to Route 271 in Mendocino County at Piercy will be closed except for local traffic from Thursday, July 28 to Monday, Aug. 1. Motorists are advised to seek an alternate route.
Highway 128
– Striping operations between Flynn Creek Road and Wendling Soda Creek Road will begin Monday, Aug. 1. A moving lane closure will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate minor traffic slowdowns.
– Drainage work from Masonite Timber to approximately 1.8 miles east of the junction with Route 1 will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through July 8. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
– Utility work near Beebe Creek will begin Friday, July 29. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate five-minute delays.
Highway 162
– Paving operations between East Lane Road and the Long Valley Creek Bridge will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– Paving operations between East Lane Road and Short Creek will continue. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
Highway 175
– Mowing operations between Route 101 and the school bus turnaround point will begin Monday, Aug. 1. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
Highway 253
– Paving operations between the Anderson Creek Bridge and Slide Creek will begin Monday, Aug. 1. One-way traffic control will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 15-minute delays.
– Highway repairs from Cattle Pass to Butler Ranch will continue. One-way traffic control with a temporary signal will be in effect from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Motorists should anticipate 10-minute delays.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Police are investigating a Wednesday night shooting that claimed the life of a Clearlake man.
Stephen Wooldridge, 33, died shortly after the shooting incident involving his mother's boyfriend, who told police that it was accidental, according to Lt. Tim Celli, acting Clearlake Police chief.
Celli said that at approximately 11:17 p.m. Wednesday Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to a residence located in 16200 block of 36th Avenue for a reported gunshot victim, with the first officer arriving on scene two minutes after dispatch.
When officers arrived, they discovered Wooldridge had suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest, Celli said.
Wooldridge was conscious, alert and breathing at the time the officers arrived. There were several family members and friends at the residence as well, according to Celli.
Celli said medical personnel were requested to the scene and on arrival immediately began treating Wooldridge, who was transported to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake. Radio reports indicated he was being combative with paramedics on the way to the hospital.
Medical personnel were preparing to fly Wooldridge to an out-of-county trauma center, but Celli said Wooldridge succumbed to his injuries before he could be flown out and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Clearlake Police detectives responded to the shooting scene to take over the investigation, Celli said.
Although the shooting remains under investigation, Celli said the preliminary reports indicate that the circumstances leading to the shooting began with Wooldridge arguing with his mother over the phone.
Celli said there had been an earlier conflict that continued into the evening. Wooldridge became further upset when his mother refused to answer his phone calls, prompting Wooldridge to go to her home on 36th Avenue.
When Wooldridge arrived at the residence, he was reportedly very upset, yelling and banging on the door, and demanding entry into the home. Celli said Wooldridge eventually forced his way into the residence through the garage door.
Once inside the residence, Wooldridge was met by his mother’s boyfriend, 82-year-old Johnny Stevenson, who also resided at the home, Celli said.
Celli said reports indicate that Wooldridge was threatening Stevenson, who had armed himself with a .22-caliber rifle. Wooldridge refused to leave the residence, threatening Stevenson that he was going to beat him up. It also was reported to police that Wooldridge was challenging Stevenson to shoot him.
Celli said Wooldridge began to approach Stevenson in a threatening manner. Stevenson claimed to have cocked the firearm to warn Wooldridge from approaching him when the firearm went off, hitting Wooldridge once in the chest.
Police interviewed numerous witnesses as well as Stevenson, Celli said.
After conferring with the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, Celli said it was decided that Stevenson would not be booked into Lake County Jail at this time for Wooldridge's death.
However, Celli said the investigation remains ongoing. Once the investigation is complete, it will be forwarded to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for further review.