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MENDOCINO COUNTY, Calif. – A Fort Bragg man who is the suspect in the Aug. 27 murder of a Fort Bragg councilman was charged on Friday with another murder as well as the attempted murder of a third man.
Aaron James Bassler, 35, has been the focus of a weeklong search after the shooting death last weekend of 69-year-old Jere Melo, as Lake County News has reported.
Bassler is believed to be still hiding in rugged forestland between Willits and Fort Bragg.
Reports from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office and the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office said that Bassler is now being charged with the murder of Matthew Coleman, and for the attempted murder of a witness who was with Melo when he was shot.
Based on evidence collected at both murder scenes, detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for Bassler in connection with the shootings, according to Mendocino County Sheriff's Capt. Kurt Smallcomb.
Coleman, 44, of Albion was found shot to death near Westport on Aug. 11, officials reported.
Smallcomb said both Melo and Coleman were shot and killed while conducting duties related to their forestry management profession.
He said Mendocino County Sheriff's detectives are continuing to collect evidence, speaking with witnesses and conferring with both the California Department of Justice Forensic Laboratory analysts and the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office.
Mendocino County District Attorney David Eyster filed a complaint Friday accusing Bassler of the murders and the attempted murder.
Eyster filed the formal complaint in the Ten Mile Division of Mendocino County Superior Court in Fort Bragg. A declaration in support of an arrest warrant also was submitted to the court.
“I believe there is sufficient evidence to accuse the suspect of both slayings,” said Eyster.
Eyster declined Friday to comment on specific evidence that investigators believe link the Melo and Coleman killings.
“This is not the time,” said Eyster.
Sheriff investigators have been consulting regularly with the District Attorney’s Office, the California Department of Justice and other allied law enforcement agencies.
Mendocino County Sheriff's Office personnel, with the assistance of officers and agents from the Fort Bragg Police Department, Willits Police Department, Ukiah Police Department, Cal Fire, California Department of Justice, California Highway Patrol, California Fish and Game, Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshall's Office, United States National Guard and the local timber industry are continuing their search efforts in an attempt to apprehend Bassler.
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LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Bay Area man suffered major injuries on Friday afternoon when his single-engine airplane crashed into a vineyard outside of Lakeport.
The crash occurred shortly before 5 p.m. in the area of George Road and Mathews Road, according to radio reports. The plane involved was a single-engine, fixed-wing Lake Amphibious craft.
The pilot – whose name officials have not yet released – had taken off from nearby Lampson Field when he crashed into the vineyard, located on private property, according to Lt. Chris Macedo of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Tom Wasson of Tom's Aircraft Enterprises at Lampson Field said he saw the crash take place.
He and a mechanic from his business went to the scene, where a retired deputy sheriff who lives in the area opened the gate into the vineyard.
When the men arrived, they found the plane's engine still running. Wasson said he then shut off the fuel and the engine.
Lakeport Fire, sheriff's personnel and the California Highway Patrol responded to the crash site.
When they arrived, Macedo said they found the pilot, described as a man in his late 70s, conscious and complaining of pain.
“The medics on scene said he had suffered from multiple fracture to the arms and legs,” and also had a large forehead laceration, Macedo said.
The pilot, who Macedo said was from San Rafael, was the plane's only occupant, Macedo said.
Macedo said a Lakeport Fire ambulance transported the pilot to Lampson Field.
Radio reports indicated that at Lampson Field the Lakeport Fire ambulance met a REACH air ambulance. After the patient was transferred to the helicopter it lifted off at about 5:30 p.m. to transport the man to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital.
The crash site was secured and Macedo said he spoke with Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board officials to notify them of the incident.
“They're going to be sending somebody out, possibly over the weekend, to take a look at it,” he said.
Federal aviation officials will make arrangements to have the plane removed from the vineyard once they've conducted the investigation, Macedo said.
The plane's N-Number is registered to a San Rafael-based corporation, Laconia LLC. According to FAA records, the plane was manufactured in 1980 and has a valid registration through Jan. 31, 2014.
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LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Following a parade through downtown Lakeport on Thursday evening, the Lake County Fair opened to waiting crowds.
The fair will run through Sunday, Sept. 4, at the fairgrounds, 401 Martin St.
Highlights will include grandstand shows and musical performances, a demolition derby, the Junior Livestock Auction on Saturday and much more.
For more information visit www.lakecountyfair.com.
The full schedule may be viewed below.
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“California’s waterways are expected to be crowded during Labor Day weekend,” stated Department of Boating and Waterways’ Acting Director Lucia Becerra. “Wearing a life jacket, avoiding alcohol and maintaining a proper lookout are the top three life-saving practices that boaters are being asked to follow for a safe and pleasant weekend.”
The Lake County Sheriff's Office is reminding all boaters that quagga inspections and stickers are very important for the health of Clear Lake, and its associated waterways.
Since the quagga ordinance was revised earlier this year, making the violation a misdemeanor instead of an infraction, and increasing the base fine from $100 to $1,000, 19 citations have been issued.
While the violation was still an infraction in 2008, 2009 and 2010, a total of 107 citations were issued, the agency said.
Technically, all persons who are cited for this misdemeanor are considered arrested and released on their promise to appear, according to sheriff's officials.
Lake County law requires mandatory screening of all water vessels prior to launching in a Lake County water body. That applies to all registered water vessels, meaning any watercraft, or jet ski, or float plane capable of being launched into a water body.
However, it does not apply to canoes, kayaks, car-top boats, float tubes, rafts, wind surfers/boards, boogey boards, non-motorized paddle boats, and non-motorized sail boats that are eight feet or less in length.
Local law also bans the disposal of live bait and any liquid that contains or has contained live bait into Lake County water bodies, and establishes any violation as a misdemeanor, with a fine of $1,000.
For additional information, call the Lake County Department of Water Resources at 707-263-2344
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office also has a zero tolerance policy and every violator is cited.
It is against the law to operate a boat, or be towed behind or alongside a boat with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 percent or more.
Designating a driver is not enough on vessels. The concept works well in cars, but drunken passengers on boats can easily fall overboard, swim near the propeller, or cause loading problems by leaning over the side or standing up in small vessels, causing them to capsize.
Everyone who drinks alcohol on board a boat is at risk. If you do drink, wear a life jacket, officials urged.
Knowing how to swim does not make you drown-proof. Statistics show that many boating fatalities involved boaters not wearing life jackets, getting knocked unconscious and going under the water. A properly fitted life jacket will help keep you float until help arrives.
So far this year, 17 drowning victims statewide have been reported to Department of Boating and Waterways. Eleven were not wearing life jackets, five were and one is unknown.
Other concerns on the water include operator inattention, which Boating and Waterways reported is the leading cause of boating accidents, contributing to 35 percent of all California boating accidents last year.
While the operator is ultimately responsible for maintaining a proper lookout, it is a good idea to designate someone else on board to help watch for other traffic, especially on a large boat or in congested areas.
Boat operators are also encouraged to familiarize their passengers with safety equipment and how to be safe aboard their boats – such as keeping hands inside the boat when near a dock, carbon monoxide dangers, propeller safety, etc.
Officials warned, “If it’s your boat, it’s your responsibility.”
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Officers will be on duty during the MEP, which begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, and continues through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 5.
“Celebrate the Labor Day weekend but remember to celebrate safely,” said CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow. “Since California enjoys such fantastic weather this time of year, our roadways may be congested with traffic and pedestrians. Many families will be out and about in our great state to enjoy the last days of summer.”
Last year over Labor Day weekend, 21 people were killed in collisions on California roadways. In addition, more than half of all vehicle occupants killed in CHP jurisdiction were not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
During the Labor Day weekend 2010, CHP officers throughout the state made 1,521 arrests for driving under the influence, which was up 7 percent from the previous year.
“End summer on a high note and drive safely, soberly and defensively,” said Farrow. “There is no excuse to for driving while intoxicated. Designate a non-drinking driver before you head out, and always ensure that everyone in the vehicle is buckled up.”
Motorists are reminded to call 911 if they see a suspected drunk driver.
To assist law enforcement, callers should be prepared to provide the dispatcher with a description of the vehicle, its location and direction of travel.
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The fire restrictions will continue through the end of fire season, according to a Thursday report.
“This summer the Mendocino National Forest has been very fortunate when it comes to wildland fire,” said Acting Forest Supervisor Lee Johnson. “We would like forest visitors to help us continue this by being safe when using fires in designated areas, complying with these fire restrictions and reporting smoke when they see it. By being aware we can all help protect the forest’s resources from human-caused wildfires.”
Under the restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal fires or stoves are prohibited on the National Forest unless in the following designated recreation sites:
Upper Lake Ranger District – Fuller Grove, Fuller Group Camp, Navy Camp, Pogie Point, Oak Flat, Sunset, Middle Creek, Deer Valley, Bear Creek, Penny Pines and Lower Nye Campgrounds.
Grindstone Ranger District – Red Bluff Recreation Area and Big Springs Day Use Area; Whitlock, Kingsley Glade, Sugarfoot Glade, Three Prong, Wells Cabin, Sugar Springs, Letts Lake, Mill Valley, Dixie Glade, Plaskett Meadows, Masterson, Little Stony, Grey Pine, Fouts Springs, Davis Flat, South Fork, Cedar Camp, Mill Creek, North Fork and Old Mill Campgrounds.
Covelo Ranger District – Eel River, Little Doe, Howard Lake and Hammerhorn Lake Campgrounds.
California Campfire Permits are not needed in the designated recreation sites listed. In all other areas of the forest, lanterns or portable stoves using gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel with be allowed as long as the person has a current California Campfire Permit with them.
California Campfire Permits may be obtained at any Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management or CAL FIRE office in California, as well as most Forest Service field employees. They may also be obtained online at www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino under passes and permits and click on recreation passes and permits.
The following activities are also prohibited as part of the fire restrictions:
Smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or in the designated recreation sites listed above.
Welding or operating an acetylene or other torch with an open flame.
Using explosives.
Possessing, discharging or using any kind of fireworks.
Forest visitors will be able to continue riding Off-Highway Vehicles (OHVs) on designated roads and trails, provided that the vehicles are equipped with the required spark arresters.
Spark arresters are also required on chainsaws being used for people filling valid personal use wood cutting permits, and may also only be used on designated roads and trails.
Temporary fire restrictions are put in place annually to protect natural resources and limit the threat of human-caused wildfires.
Similar restrictions are going into effect on neighboring forests. However, restrictions can vary by forest and visitors should check with the forest they plan on visiting for the latest fire restrictions and conditions.
For the Mendocino National Forest, the fire restrictions are formally referenced through Order Number 08-11-06.
Violation of these fire restrictions is punishable by a fine of no more than $5,000 for an individual, $10,000 for an organization, or up to six months imprisonment or both.
Fire season typically ends in late fall following a series of drenching, measurable rains in the mountains. An announcement will follow when fire restrictions are lifted.
For more information, please contact the Mendocino National Forest at 530-934-3316, or visit www.fs.usda.gov/mendocino.
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