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NORTH COAST, Calif. – A manhunt involving law enforcement agencies from around the region ended Tuesday evening with the arrest of a Lakeport man, one of two suspects taken into custody for a bank robbery and the shooting of an armored vehicle guard in Windsor earlier in the day.
Late Tuesday the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said Ivan Morales, 23, was apprehended in the Calistoga area.
Also arrested in the case was Antelope resident Serge Gutsu, 24, officials said.
Authorities said that Gutsu and Morales – both armed and wearing masks – robbed Windsor's Chase Bank shortly before 2 p.m. Tuesday, shooting an armored vehicle company guard and then fleeing in a dark-colored SUV.
Later, in Napa County, a Calistoga Police officer spotted the vehicle and a pursuit ensued during which shots were fired at the officer, Sgt. Cecile Focha of the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office reported.
The officer rammed the vehicle Gutsu and Morales were traveling in, officials said. The crash – which ended the pursuit – resulted in Gutsu suffering some injuries.
Officials said Gutsu was the first taken into custody and transported to a hospital before he was arrested and then released to be transported to Sonoma County.
Morales fled the crash scene on foot, which led to a massive manhunt involving multiple agencies in the area of Highway 128 and Petrified Forest Road, according to reports from Napa and Sonoma County law enforcement officials.
Focha said a Sonoma County Sheriff's deputy later found Morales hiding in a brushy culvert in the vicinity of the crash. He was not injured, immediately surrendered and was arrested without incident before being transported to Sonoma County.
Both Gutsu and Morales were transported to the Sonoma County Jail, according to law enforcement officials.
Focha said authorities are not discussing the men's relationship or their roles in the robbery at this time.
She said the guard from the armored car company has not been released from the hospital. Focha added that the agency is not divulging any details about his medical condition, as doing so would violate his rights as a patient.
The Napa County Sheriff’s Office is assuming the investigation of the scene in Calistoga, with assistance from Federal Bureau of Investigations, Focha said, while the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crimes Investigation Unit has the responsibility for the armed robbery in Windsor.
The Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said the information and support given to law enforcement by Napa and Sonoma County residents – from tips to bottles of water – was “instrumental in bringing these highly dangerous situations to a successful conclusion.”
Authorities are continuing to ask for additional information on the case. Call the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office Investigations Tip Line at 707-565- 2185 or submit information on the Silent Witness form on our Web site, http://www.sonomasheriff.org/silent-witness/ . Those with information can remain anonymous if they wish.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Firefighters contained a Tuesday wildland fire in the city of Lakeport that temporarily closed a portion of Highway 29 and burned a car in a small homeless camp.
The fire was first dispatched at around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday on Martin Street at Smith Street, across from the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Lakeport Fire units arriving at scene reported about a half an acre of grass burning with a nearby structure threatened, according to radio reports.
In addition to Lakeport Fire units, assistance came from Kelseyville Fire, Northshore Fire and Cal Fire, and the city of Lakeport, which provided a water tender from its nearby corporation yard, according to Lakeport Fire Chief Doug Hutchison.
The fast-moving fire headed toward the highway, with one spot jumping over it, resulting in blocked traffic. Law enforcement temporarily diverted traffic off the highway and through the city, based on witness reports.
Hutchison said the fire burned a total of two and a half acres, with one large spot on the west side of the highway.
He said pine trees on the east side of the highway had torched up, sending the fire over the roadway.
He said they had “shaky” containment around the fire within 45 minutes of dispatch, with firefighters containing it about a half hour later. Cal Fire's inmate crews helped make quick work of the fire, he said.
Hutchison said the fire burned primarily in the middle of an old walnut orchard. It damaged a structure that he said appeared to be old farmworker housing and destroyed a nearby pump house.
There also was a small homeless camp near the pine trees that burned, Hutchison said.
Two homeless adults were staying there, and their car – which had all of their belongings inside of it – burned up. Hutchison said they were not physically hurt and were referred to Red Cross for assistance.
Lakeport Fire and Cal Fire kept some units on scene for some time after the fire was fully contained as part of mop up operations, Hutchison said.
A witness told Lake County News that he saw heavy equipment working in the area shortly before the fire occurred.
However, Hutchison said he could not confirm a cause yet.
“The cause is still under investigation, officially,” he said, adding that investigators have some leads.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Lake County California Women for Agriculture group held its Spring Social on May 25 at the Ely Stage Stop barn.
This year they honored and celebrated two- and three-generation members. Those who are no longer living were honored in memoriam.
President Diane Henderson, herself a two-generation member, introduced her mother, Carolyn Henderson-Rohner and then three-generation members Marilyn Holdenried, mother-in-law Jean Holdenried in memoriam, and daughter-in law Debbi Holdenried.
Two-generation members were Toni Scully and daughter-in-law Michelle Scully; Wilda Shock and mother Jane Barnes in memoriam; Muffie Panella and mother Janice Stokes; Lori McGuire and mother Bernice Thomas in memoriam; Margaret Eutenier and daughter-in-law Kristine Eutenier; Karen Hook and mother-in-law Lucy Hook in memoriam; Jill Jensen and mother Ellen Heath in memoriam.
Unable to attend but also recognized were Sara Dorn and daughter Nellie Dorn; Karen Jones and daughter Lindee Jones; Dena Keithly, mother-in-law Loris Keithly in memoriam and daughter Jennifer Keithly; Mary O'Meara and mother Lois Suchan; Colleen Rentsch and mother Frances Seely in memoriam; and Pam Scully, another daughter-in-law of Toni Scully.
Each member was presented with a commemorative name tag listing the generations, attached to a lovely rose and garden ornament.
Husbands and friends in attendance included Toni Scully's special guest, Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, and 2016 scholarship recipients Carson Holdenried and Wyatt Jones.
The group thanked Suzanne Scholz and the Ely Stage Stop crew for preparing their venue for this lovely social.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Join the Clear Lake/Callayomi Masonic Lodge No. 183 on Sunday, July 17, for the “Best Breakfast in Lake County.”
The full, sitdown breakfast is served from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Masonic Center, located at 7100 South Center Drive in Clearlake.
Choose your breakfast from a large menu including, eggs (any style), omelets, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, hot cakes, breakfast meat, toast, juice and coffee.
The cost is $8 for adults, $4 for children ages 6-12. Children under age 6 may eat for free and are served a special “kids breakfast.”
LOCH LOMOND, Calif. – Marian Lynne Bunting entered into rest in Loch Lomond on Friday, July 1, 2016, at the age of 73.
Born in Louisiana and formerly of Cambria, Calif., Marian lived in Lake County for 34 years. She was a construction project manager.
Marian is survived by her loving brothers, Dale Bunting, Warren Bunting and John Bunting, and a sister, Patricia Masten.
Friends are warmly invited to attend graveside services at the Kelseyville Cemetery where Marian will be inurned on Monday, July 25, at 11 a.m.
Arrangements under the care of Jones & Lewis Clear Lake Memorial Chapel. Please share your loving memories of Marian by signing her online guestbook at www.jonesandlewis.com and www.legacy.com .
Marian’s family would appreciate memorial contributions to Save The Redwoods League, 111 Sutter St., 11th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104.
SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Food and Agriculture is announcing three vacancies on the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board.
The board advises the secretary on the department’s Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program, which works to ensure that consumers receive fertilizing materials that are safe, effective, and meet the quality guaranteed by the manufacturer.
As part of the Fertilizing Materials Inspection Program, inspectors and investigators located throughout the state conduct routine sampling and inspections; respond to consumer complaints; and enforce the laws and regulations that govern the manufacturing and distribution of fertilizing materials. The program is funded by fertilizer license fees and assessments.
Vacancies are available for two board positions and one public member. The term of office for board members is three years.
Members receive no compensation, but are entitled to payment of necessary traveling expenses in accordance with the rules of the Department of Personnel Administration.
The two board member applicants must hold a current fertilizing materials license or be a representative of a licensed firm; the public member vacancy is not subject to this requirement.
Individuals interested in being considered for a board appointment must submit a resume and a completed Prospective Member Appointment Questionnaire (available at www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/ffldrs )
For further information on the Fertilizer Inspection Advisory Board and vacancies, you may contact program staff at 916-900-5022.