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LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Northshore man was arrested early Thursday for allegedly abandoning six puppies last week.
Joseph Christian Rapp, 29, a handyman from Nice, was arrested for cruelty to animals and for abandoning the puppies, both of which are felonies, according to Sgt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff’s Deputy Mauricio Barreto arrested Rapp exactly one week after the six German Shorthaired Pointer mix puppies were found in the area of 4500 Hill Road by a Lake County Waste Solutions driver, according to sheriff’s and Animal Care and Control officials.
Brooks’ report said the driver had noticed the puppies inside a dog crate, sitting next to some residential garbage containers, on Thursday, June 28.
Barreto, who responded to the scene, found the puppies cold, emaciated and covered in feces, vomit and urine, as was the inside of the dog crate. Brooks said Barreto also noticed that one of the puppies appeared to be extremely sick and was unable to move.
The deputy took the puppies to Lake County Animal Care and Control, where Director Bill Davidson said they were tested for canine parvovirus, a disease that’s particularly deadly for puppies. Five of them tested positive for the disease.
Officials said the puppies – estimated to be about 3 months old – had been sick for an extended period of time and should have been taken to a veterinarian for treatment.
Davidson said one of the puppies died later on June 28, the healthy puppy was transferred to Lake County Animal Services for foster care and the other four remained at the shelter for treatment, under the supervision of the shelter’s director of veterinary services, Dr. Anthony Wong.
Wasson Memorial Veterinary Clinic donated fluids and other supplies to help the pups, and Lake County Animal Services provided funds to cover their care.
Davidson shared the story with Lake County News and other local media. After the articles appeared, “several very valuable tips were called in as to who the person that dumped the puppies might be,” he said Thursday.
That information was forwarded to Barreto, who had continued to pursue the case over the past week, Davidson said.
The leads Barreto received ultimately led him to Rapp, who several people had indicated was responsible for the crimes, Brooks said.
At 7 a.m. Thursday Barreto went to Rapp’s residence and contacted him, Brooks said.
During an interview with Barreto, Rapp allegedly admitted to dumping the puppies because they were sick, according to Brooks.
Brooks said Rapp told the deputy that he had planned on shooting the puppies, but he was unable to find anyone who would loan him a firearm.
Barreto arrested Rapp and took him to the Hill Road Correctional Facility, where Rapp was booked, with his bail set at $15,000. Jail records showed he remained in custody Thursday night.
A review of Lake County Superior Court records indicated Rapp had no previous local criminal cases.
Davidson said Kennel Coordinator Sara Schramm has diligently been watching the puppies every day, and on Tuesday they began eating and showing interest in food, which he said was “a very good sign.” They’ve also been moved in foster care.
However, Davidson said late Thursday afternoon one of the puppies took a turn for the worse and was taken to Wasson Memorial Veterinary Clinic for a blood transfusion.
“We’ll hope for the best,” he said.
Lake County Animal Services is holding an online fundraiser through ChipIn to help pay for the puppies’ expensive medical care.
The fundraiser is continuing until July 28 and can be found at http://lakecounty.chipin.com/parvo-pointer-pups .
As of Thursday evening, the fundraiser had brought in $755.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – On Thursday Caltrans awarded $48.5 million of state Safe Routes to School Program funds for 139 projects – including projects for four Lake County schools – to increase safety and help reduce injuries and fatalities among children in grades K-12 who walk and bicycle to school.
“Safety is Caltrans’ No. 1 priority,” said Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “We are committed to providing the highest safety possible for our children as they travel to and from school in California.”
Among the state-funded projects are new sidewalks, bicycle lanes and other safety improvements.
Caltrans chose each project based upon need, effectiveness and how quickly it could be delivered.
By improving safety, more kids are encouraged to walk and bicycle to school, resulting in healthier children while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle congestion.
More than $7 million of the funds were awarded to critical safety projects in rural counties. In addition, 82 projects totaling $28 million will create jobs and benefit at least one low-income school within each project.
In Lake County, $188,300 was awarded to construct sidewalks and curbs, and upgrade crosswalks from Austin Road between Olive Street and Locust Street for Burns Valley Elementary School students, and for Pomo Elementary School, where Arrowhead Road between Scenic Road and Vista Street will be upgraded. The total cost for both projects is $210,100.
Another $346,900 will be used to construct sidewalks and curb ramps, and install crosswalks near Kelseyville Elementary School and Mountain Vista Middle School. The Kelseyville improvements will take place on Konocti Road between Cold Creek Drive and Oak Hills Lane. Total project cost is $386,000.
In neighboring Mendocino County, $394,500 was awarded to construct sidewalks and curbs, and install bike lanes near Calpella Elementary School and The Waldorf School of Mendocino County.
Farther up the North Coast, Humboldt County received $300,000 to construct a raised crosswalk, raised medians, sidewalks and curbs near Grant Elementary School and McKinleyville High School, and $152,000 to construct sidewalks, and install crosswalks, in-pavement crosswalk lighting, LED signs, and pavement markings near Eagle Prairie Elementary School and Monument Middle School.
To date, the state and federal Safe Routes to School programs have awarded $472 million for safety projects around California’s schools.
LOWER LAKE, Calif. – A pickup caught fire along Highway 29 Thursday afternoon, igniting a small wildland fire nearby.
The pickup fire was reported shortly after 3 p.m. on Highway 29 at Hofacker Lane between Lower Lake and Hidden Valley Lake, according to the California Highway Patrol.
Minutes later, the fire had moved into nearby brush, with a large cloud of black smoke covering the roadway, the CHP reported.
Cal Fire responded with engines and a helicopter and contained the fire. Shortly after 4 p.m. the fire was estimated to have burned around two acres, based on the CHP report.
Additional details on whether there were injuries or what caused the pickup to catch fire weren’t immediately available.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A fight in Clearlake Wednesday night sent one man to a regional trauma center with several stab wounds.
The stabbing was reported at about 10:20 p.m. behind Silk’s Bar and Grill, located at 14825 Lakeshore Drive.
Clearlake Police Sgt. Martin Snyder said officers arrived to find an adult male subject with three apparent stab wounds – two to the body and one to the face.
By the time police arrived, the suspect had fled on foot, Snyder said.
Lake County Fire Protection District, which also responded, requested a REACH air ambulance to come in to transport the victim out of county, according to radio reports.
REACH 1 set down at a landing zone at the ball field at Redbud Park, which is located next to the business, just before 11 p.m. Radio traffic indicated firefighters were having issues with transport due to the crowd.
Snyder said the male victim was flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment of his wounds.
He said the name of the man was not yet being released, with the investigation ongoing.
Snyder said the stabbing victim is expected to be released from the hospital Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, “The suspect is still outstanding,” Snyder said.
He described the suspect as a white male adult in his mid 30s.
Anyone with information about the fight should contact the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251.
The incident at Silk’s was the first of a rash of assaults late Wednesday and early Thursday, with a total of three people flown out to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
A short time after the Silk’s stabbing, another assault victim was reported in the 16000 block of Main Street in Lower Lake, with a CalStar air ambulance requested to transport that subject for treatment of head trauma, radio reports stated.
At about the same time an assault was reported in the 2200 block of Diane Way in Lakeport involving a 19-year-old male subject, according to radio reports.
At 1:45 a.m. Thursday, Lakeport Police and firefighters responded to the Clearlake Club on the report of multiple assault victims down as the result of a bar fight.
The third air ambulance of the night was requested, which REACH 6 arriving at a landing zone at the old Natural High School property on N. Main Street.
The air ambulance lifted off at 2:40 a.m. for Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital with a 28-year-old male who had been injured in the fight, Lakeport Police reported.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police are seeking suspects in an early Thursday morning bar fight in Lakeport that seriously injured a Northshore man and led to what police said was a retaliatory break-in a short time later.
Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen reported that a 28-year-old man from Nice – whose name was not released – sustained head injuries in the fight, which occurred at the Clearlake Club, located at 210 N. Main St.
He said his officers have identified one possible suspect, but no arrests had been made early Thursday, with the investigation continuing.
Rasmussen said Lakeport Police units were dispatched at 1:45 a.m. to the bar on the report of an in-progress physical fight involving numerous subjects.
When they arrived officers found the victim down on the street, in the intersection of N. Main and Second streets, with what appeared to be a serious head injury, Rasmussen said.
Officers observed a crowd of at least 65 people on the street and sidewalk adjacent to the bar. Rasmussen said the crowd was hostile, with people challenging each other.
Rasmussen said the incident was not a gang fight. He said the people involved were intoxicated.
Lakeport’s officers requested emergency backup from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol, which each sent units, Rasmussen reported.
Lakeport Fire Protection District transported the fight victim to the old Natural High School property in the 800 block of N. Main Street, where a landing zone was set up.
There, the REACH 6 air ambulance arrived to transport the man to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. REACH 6 lifted off at 2:40 a.m., according to radio reports.
Rasmussen said N. Main Street between First and Third streets was closed for approximately 45 minutes while the investigation was ongoing.
Then, at 2:55 a.m., officers were dispatched to a Sixth Street residence to investigate the report of an in-progress break-in, Rasmussen said.
He said officers were familiar with the residence and knew the occupant was associated with the fight at the Clearlake Club.
Upon arrival, officers located four males and one female subject in the area of the residence, as well as two other subjects inside of the residence. Rasmussen said officers also located a broken window at the
home.
He said all of the subjects were uncooperative with investigating officers but the information developed so far indicates that the break-in was directly related to the Clearlake Club bar fight.
Rasmussen said police didn’t have sufficient information or evidence to make arrests related to the early Thursday break-in, which they’re continuing to investigate.
Anyone with information regarding one or both of the incidents is asked to contact the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – With kitten season in full swing, Lake County Animal Care and Control has many young felines needing people of their own.
Tabbies, tuxedos, a black kitten with green eyes, long haired and short haired are among the varieties of kitten that you can find at the shelter.
Thanks to the shelter’s new veterinary clinic, many of these kittens already are spayed or neutered and ready to go right to new homes.
To fill out an adoption application online visit http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control/Adopt/Dog___Cat_Adoption_Application.htm .
Lake County Animal Care and Control is located at 4949 Helbush in Lakeport, next to the Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday. The shelter is open from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Visit the shelter online at http://www.co.lake.ca.us/Government/Directory/Animal_Care_And_Control.htm .
For more information call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278.
Email Elizabeth Larson at