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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Police officers have arrested two Clearlake residents found in possession of an elderly man's wallet, as well as drugs and a weapon.
Richard Brandon, 37, and 48-year-old Irma Brandon were taken into custody on Thursday, according to a report from Sgt. Nick Bennett.
On Wednesday a 79-year-old Clearlake resident reported he had been shopping at the Grocery Outlet store on Olympic Drive when he left his wallet at the checkout stand, Bennett said.
When the man returned to pick it up, he discovered it missing. Bennett said the man immediately went to the Clearlake Police Department to report the theft.
Clearlake Police Det. Tomas Riley took the initial report and contacted Grocery Outlet to ascertain if the theft had been recorded on surveillance camera. It had, Bennett said.
Riley interviewed Grocery Outlet employees concerning the theft and requested their assistance should the suspects return, according to Bennett.
At 1:50 p.m. Thursday Riley received information the suspects had returned to the Grocery Outlet store, Bennett said.
Bennett said that Riley – accompanied by Det. Ryan Peterson – responded to Grocery Outlet and contacted Richard Brandon and Irma Brandon.
After being advised they had been observed on security cameras taking the victim's wallet, they admitted the theft and multiple uses of a credit card that was in the wallet as well as spending the cash that was reported to have been in the wallet, Bennett said.
While searching the suspects’ vehicle, Bennett said additional violations relating to narcotic paraphernalia and possessing a weapon with the serial number ground off were discovered by detectives.
Both suspects were booked into Lake County Jail on charges related to the theft and use of the stolen credit card as well as the drug paraphernalia and weapon charges, Bennett said.
The Clearlake Police Department reminds citizens that they need to be attentive of their valuables while in public and not leave those items unattended – whether it's a wallet on a checkout stand or a purse in a shopping cart.
Anybody with further information on this case is encouraged to contact Det. Tomas Riley at 707-994-8251, Extension 315.
SOUTH LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – After burning for eight days, the Butts Fire was fully contained on Wednesday.
Cal Fire's Sonoma-Lake Napa Unit, which is overseeing the incident, said the fire burned a total of 4,300 acres.
The Butts Fire began July 1 in Pope Valley in Napa County and later burned into southern Lake County, southeast of Middletown.
Altogether, two residences and seven outbuildings were destroyed, and at one point hundreds of residences near Berryessa Estates were threatened, necessitating evacuations and road closures that later were lifted.
Four injuries were reported during the incident, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said the fire's cause remains under investigation.
Authorities also are still working to determine the cause of the Monticello Fire in Yolo County, burning on Lake Berryessa's southeast shore near the Monticello Dam.
The fire, which began July 4, has burned 6,488 acres and was 82-percent contained on Wednesday night, Cal Fire said.
Cal Fire said five injuries have resulted from the fire.
On Wednesday, 945 personnel, 71 fire engines, 24 fire crews, five helicopters, nine dozers and eight water tenders remained assigned to the incident, according to Cal Fire.
Cal Fire said all public roadways in the fire area have been reopened. Infrastructure repair in the area is continuing and crews may be working near the roads, so the public is asked to drive cautiously.
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KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – A fire destroyed a group home for children in Kelseyville early Wednesday morning.
The fire, at a residence at 5585 Sunrise Drive, was first reported at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Initial reports on the fire from witnesses raised concerns that additional homes were threatened.
Kelseyville Fire Capt. Jim Dowdy said the structure already was well involved by the time firefighters arrived on scene.
Neighbors reported that the residence was a group home, which Dowdy confirmed, explaining that children with special needs were living there at the time.
All five of the home's occupants safely evacuated, Dowdy said, adding they were able to find accommodations nearby.
Kelseyville Fire sent its chief, three engines and a water tender, Dowdy said. Lakeport Fire's chief and an engine also responded, along with two engines and a chief came from Cal Fire and a water tender from Lake County Fire.
Dowdy said a total of 20 firefighting personnel worked the incident through the night.
He said all of the damage was confined to the home where the fire began, with no other structures damaged.
After the fire was contained, overhaul and mop up continued well into the morning. Dowdy said Kelseyville Fire crews returned to quarters after 10 a.m.
Dowdy didn't have a total loss estimate late Wednesday morning.
“The house is going to be a total loss,” he said.
The fire's cause is under investigation, Dowdy said.
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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A weedeater was the cause of a Tuesday afternoon that burned two residences and threatened several more at a Clearlake trailer park.
The fire was first dispatched just minutes after 1 p.m., with authorities receiving multiple reports from witnesses who saw black smoke that initially was believed in the area of Austin Park, but later discovered to be at Arts Trailer Park on Tuli Lane, according to Lake County Fire Battalion Chief Charlie Diener.
Radio reports indicated that when firefighters arrived on the scene within minutes, they found structures already on fire – with more threatened – and burning vegetation. Witnesses also reported that propane tanks were exploding.
Diener said he immediately requested mutual aid engines from Cal Fire, with Northshore Fire also responding.
A total of three Lake County Fire engines and a water tender, along with one Northshore Fire engine from Clearlake Oaks and four Cal Fire engines worked the incident, Diener said.
Air resources – including a helicopter from Cal Fire that initially was requested – were canceled, he said.
Radio reports indicated at one point that firefighters were concerned that the west wind was hitting the fire and causing it to run toward other structures.
Diener credited a Cal Fire engine that already was in Clearlake – and which was able to get on scene rapidly, at about the same time as the Lake County Fire units – with helping knock the blaze down quickly.
“They made a really good stop on the fire,” Diener said.
He added that the fire could easily have hit other structures. “There was a lot of potential up there.”
The fire was contained at approximately 1:35 p.m., according to reports from the scene. Diener said firefighters stayed on scene about two hours for mop up.
The structures that burned included a trailer and a small cabin-type structure, both of which were being lived in, Diener said.
Two residents were displaced by the fire but were able to find places to stay, he said.
A small amount of wildland also burned, Diener said. There were no injuries.
Diener said the rolling-type weedeater believed responsible for starting the fire had an illegal spark arrester and muffler device on it.
Fire officials urge people not to use any kind of weedeater or other vegetation cutting device after 10 a.m. during the summer season because of the potential for fires.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – A San Francisco man has been arrested for attempted murder for his part in a June 2013 home invasion and shooting in Clearlake Oaks.
Gregory Pierre Elarms, 29, was arrested on July 2 by the Lake County Sheriff's Office, more than a year after he is alleged to have taken part in a violent home invasion at the home of Ronnie and Janeane Bogner.
The Bogners' adult son, Jacob, was shot and pistol-whipped during the robbery.
Elarms is being held in the Lake County Jail on $1 million bail.
“We’re just happy. We’re just relieved,” Janeane Bogner said of Elarms' arrest in an interview with Lake County News on Tuesday.
On the morning of June 26, 2013, Elarms and four accomplices – including his half-brother, Dion Andre Davis II – are alleged to have gone to the Bogners' home after Ronnie Bogner had left for work and forced their way through the front door as Janeane Bogner fought to lock them out.
She and her two young grandchildren hid, and it's alleged that Jacob Bogner was shot through his bedroom door as he struggled to keep the suspects out of the room.
He was struck in the left leg above the knee and then pistol-whipped before the suspects took handguns and Janeane Bogners' Cadillac Escalade and fled. The totaled Escalade later was found abandoned down a steep embankment near Clearlake Oaks.
Later that same day, after they allegedly shot at Clearlake Police officers and were involved in a standoff, authorities arrested Davis, Tyler Christopher Gallon and and Sean Douglas Foss of Clearlake, and San Franciscan Jenaya Drevelyn Jelinek.
Foss was a former employee of the Bogners' company, Weed Tech.
While those four were arrested, Janeane Bogner had insisted that there had been a fifth person involved, a black male adult with long dreadlocks whose hoodie she had pulled back in the struggle at her front door.
Jacob Bogner, now 33, was flown to Enloe Medical Center in Chico where he underwent surgery for the wound to his leg.
He's got a stainless steel rod in his leg, and can't bend his leg or squat because of the longterm impact of his injury, his mother said.
Noting that her son handled the situation with courage, she added, “It’s just one more thing that Jacob’s had in his life.”
On Sept. 12, San Francisco Police officers arrested Dexter Lee Currington of San Francisco, who authorities believed at the time was the fifth suspect but who didn't exactly match Bogner's description.
Currington, Davis, Foss, Gallon and Jelinek would all be indicted in the case by a criminal grand jury District Attorney Don Anderson convened in the case last August.
However, in March Anderson dropped the case against Currington after additional investigation revealed he was not the fifth suspect, as Lake County News has reported.
Anderson said that investigators received additional information linking Elarms to the case, with witnesses also identifying him as being in the area.
He was not implicated by Currington, Anderson added. Currington was aware that Elarms was Davis' half-brother but the information he shared with detectives didn't include placing Elarms in Lake County at the time of the home invasion.
With his long dreadlocks, Elarms matches Bogner's description of the fifth suspect. He's also older than Currington, who is in his early 20s; Bogner said she had told authorities that the man she struggled with looked older than Currington.
Elarms, said Anderson, “has an extensive criminal history.”
Meanwhile, Jelinek has pleaded out in the case and will be testifying against some of her co-defendants Anderson said.
While indicted together, Anderson said the other three defendants – Davis, Foss and Gallon – are all expected to be tried separately, although plea agreements for all of them have been proposed.
“We've made offers but it's nothing they want to consider taking,” Anderson said.
The trial of Davis is tentatively scheduled to begin in August. A visiting judge is being assigned due to the Bogners' acquaintance with the local superior court judges, all of whom have recused themselves from presiding over the trials.
Davis, Foss and Gallon all face charges of attempted murder, robbery, burglary of an inhabited residence, assault with a firearm, assault with a semiautomatic firearm, grand theft of a firearm, conspiracy to commit robbery and burglary, assault with a semiautomatic weapon, the attempted murder of Lt. Tim Celli of the Clearlake Police Department, using threats of violence to deter an officer from doing their duties, vehicle theft and vandalism.
As the alleged shooter, Davis additionally is charged with personal use of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, mayhem, negligent discharge of a firearm and a felon in possession of a firearm.
All three remain in the Lake County Jail, with bail for Davis set at $1 million, and bail for Gallon and Foss each at $500,000, according to jail records.
Janeane Bogner said she, her son and her husband are all set to testify in Davis' trial in August.
Noting that she and her family continue to be fearful and no longer feel safe, she said she's not looking forward to the trial.
“You're not a victim just once,” Bogner said. “You’re a victim again and again and again until it’s over.”
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Novice grillers and master grillers alike still have time to register to compete in this year’s Grillin’ on the Green barbecue cook-off, say organizers of the event.
Groups and individuals are invited to participate in the annual fundraiser to benefit Westside Community Park from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, at the park, 1401 Westside Park Road.
Each year Grillin’ on the Green attracts a larger number of attendees who enjoy a barbecue cook-off, musical entertainment, children’s activities and a car show.
Cook-off competitors may register through Friday, July 11, by calling Cindy Ustrud, 707-263-7091.
A few competitors have signed up, according to Ustrud, but organizers are seeking additional teams and individuals.
“In our fifth year of presenting Grillin’ on the Green, the Park Committee welcomes returning barbecuers and hopes to have new grillers join the friendly contest,” said Ustrud.
There is no entry fee. Each contestant is required to provide his/her own setup and samples of the chef’s “grillin’” specialty for 300 people.
The competition will culminate in a presentation of the People’s Choice Awards.
Musical entertainment this year will be provided by the LC Diamonds.
The Park Committee also is seeking sponsorships for this year’s event. Levels of sponsor recognition are $100, $300, $500, $1,000, $3,000 and $5,000.
The committee is grateful to the Keeling-Barnes Family Foundation for once again offering a match of up to $5,000 in sponsorships.
“Thanks to the Keeling Barnes Family Foundation, additional sponsorships will double the impact," said Park Committee Chair Dennis Rollins.
Sponsors will be recognized at the Grillin’ on the Green event.
For additional information about the event and the barbecue competition, contact Rollins, 707-349-0969.
“The event is truly a fun afternoon with lots of good food supplied by our backyard barbecuers and professional grillers as well as sponsors who donate dishes to complement the meals,” said Rollins. “Families enjoy the music and dancing, the vintage cars on display, and many kids’ activities.”
All proceeds from the event will benefit the next phase of development of Westside Community Park.
Westside Community Park is a city of Lakeport recreational facility that was established 15 years ago.
The nonprofit Park Committee is developing the park in conjunction with the city of Lakeport, volunteers, and numerous contributions by individuals and businesses dedicated to constructing a recreational facility for the youth and adults of Lake County.