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CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said a Clearlake man was arrested on Sunday night after he led a deputy who was trying to pull him over on a vehicle chase.

Ronald Raymond Antoni, 65, was arrested in the case, according to Lt. Corey Paulich.

At 9:20 p.m. Sunday, a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy was patrolling in the Clearlake area when he heard a radio broadcast related to a possible intoxicated driver in a green Honda Civic, Pauliich said.

Paulich said that as the deputy was traveling on Highway 53 near Olympic Drive, he observed the green Honda make a U-turn in the intersection of Olympic Drive and Highway 53.

The deputy passed the vehicle and pulled off the roadway. The driver of the green Honda, later identified as Antoni, pulled off the roadway in front of the deputy, Paulich said.

The deputy approached the vehicle on the passenger side and attempted to contact Antoni. As the deputy attempted to open the passenger door, Paulich said Antoni drove off south on Highway 53.

The deputy began to follow the Honda but did not activate his lights or siren as he was still attempting to determine if the driver was impaired. Paulich said Antoni continued to Polk Avenue, where he made an illegal U-turn and ended up going off the roadway.

Paulich said the deputy activated his lights and siren and attempted to stop the vehicle. Antoni did not stop and continued driving north on Highway 53.

Antoni passed several vehicles over double-yellow lines, reaching speeds of 80 miles per hour. Paulich said Antoni made another U-turn in the area of Ogulin Canyon Road and traveled south on Highway 53, continuing to cross the double-yellow lines into oncoming traffic.

Paulich said Antoni turned onto 18th Avenue, entering the Adventist Health Emergency Room parking lot. With the assistance of officers from the Clearlake Police Department and California Highway Patrol, Antoni was taken into custody.

Antoni told the deputy he did not stop because he was frightened and attempting to go to the hospital. Paulich said Antoni admitted to consuming a few alcoholic beverages and recently smoking methamphetamine.

Paulich said Antoni was booked into custody at the Lake County Jail on charges of evading, reckless driving, resisting and DUI. He remains in custody with bail set at $35,000.

The Clearlake Police Department also arrested Antoni for DUI on Friday, Paulich said.

The pursuit with Antoni was the second in two days that had involved a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy. On Saturday afternoon, Miranda Leeann Ellingwood Estrella, 37, of Nice, was arrested following a chase in the Kelseyville area, as Lake County News has reported.

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – Officials said Tuesday that a single case of novel coronavirus has been confirmed in Napa County, with the patient under isolation at Queen of the Valley Medical Center.

A second patient with symptoms is under investigation at the hospital, according to the report.

Neither of the patients is a resident of Napa County, officials said.

Officials could not clarify whether the newly confirmed case in Napa County is in addition to, or counted among, eight cases – including two from separate repatriation flights – confirmed statewide as of Feb. 12, according to the California Department of Public Health, or CDPH.

CDPH told Lake County News that approximately 150 persons in California have been tested for the virus.

The case reported in Napa County is so far the closest confirmed case to Lake County, where Public Health Officer Dr. Gary Pace – in his most recent report to the Board of Supervisors last week – said that the virus so far hasn’t been detected.

Napa County reported that the two patients arrived at the Queen of the Valley on Monday from Travis Air Force Base in Solano County. The patients were flown to Travis AFB from Japan, where they were under quarantine on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

Among the cruise ship passengers flown to Travis AFB, seven were identified as needing testing or hospitalization. Officials said five of the seven patients were sent to local hospitals in Solano County.

Due to a limited number of isolation beds in Solano County, two patients were transferred to Queen of the Valley in Napa, officials said.

“There is minimal risk for Napa County residents from the arrival of these two patients at the Queen of the Valley,” said Napa County Public Health Officer Karen Relucio, MD. “They are in isolation, and are receiving medical care and undergoing testing.”

Amy Herold, M.D., chief medical officer at Queen of the Valley, said the hospital is working closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Napa County Public Health to care for the two patients.

“Out of caution, the patients are being monitored in special isolation rooms that have negative pressure to minimize the risk of exposure,” Herold said. “We are following established infection control protocols and working closely with our partners at CDC and Napa County Public Health to ensure the safety and well-being of our caregivers, patients and visitors.”

Herold added, “Our hospital is equipped to handle the virus. Our caregivers are well prepared; they have received training, have practiced for these scenarios and are wearing protective equipment to minimize their risk of exposure. No hospital operations are impacted.”

The confirmed case of novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, tested positive for the virus in Japan but has not experienced any symptoms associated with the virus so far, according to the Napa County report.

Officials said the patient under investigation for COVID-19 tested negative for the virus while in Japan but is experiencing symptoms. The patient is being tested at Queen of the Valley.

Both patients are under federal quarantine. The city and state of origin for both patients is not known at this time, officials said.

Symptoms of novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

Typically, human coronaviruses cause mild-to-moderate respiratory illness. Symptoms are very similar to the flu, including runny nose, headache, cough, sore throat, fever, and/or shortness of breath.

Older adults and people with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk for severe disease.

Anyone who has recently traveled from China, or has come in close contact with someone who traveled from China, and develops a fever and lower respiratory symptoms, such as a cough or shortness of breath within 14 days after leaving the area, should first call their health care provider and share travel history and symptoms before visiting the clinic or emergency room. Healthcare providers should call Napa County Public Health immediately.

Tips to protect yourself and others

No additional precautions are recommended at this time beyond the simple daily precautions that everyone should always take, such as:

– Washing hands with liquid soap and water, and rubbing for at least 20 seconds;

– Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing; and

– Staying home if you are sick.

Since flu activity will continue to remain high during this flu season, and symptoms of coronavirus are similar to the flu, health officials also recommend getting a flu shot to protect yourself and others from the flu.

For the latest updates, go to the CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus website at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html .

LAKEPORT, Calif. – Sutter Lakeside Hospital has welcomed its newest chief administrative officer.

Scott Knight, previously the assistant administrator of Sutter Tracy Community Hospital, has taken on the role, according to Sutter Health.

Knight’s appointment became effective on Feb. 3.

“Scott is committed to serving the community, as he demonstrated by serving on the boards of both the Tracy and Ripon Chambers of Commerce,” said Julie Petrini, president and CEO of hospitals, Sutter Health Bay Area. “I know Scott is eager to bring this passion for community to his new role at Sutter Lakeside.”

Knight succeeds Dan Peterson, Sutter Lakeside’s CAO since February 2017.

Peterson has been selected to serve as chief executive officer of Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital.

Knight earned his bachelor’s degree in business management from Brigham Young University and a master’s degree in Health Care Administration from the University of Washington, Sutter Health reported.

He has a broad health care background in finance, revenue cycle, planning, business development, marketing and community relations, operations and administration, according to the hospital’s report.

While at Sutter Tracy, Knight provided leadership for nonnursing operations and business development. During his tenure, Sutter Tracy received patient safety awards from various organizations, and in 2020 was awarded a CMS 5-star rating – the highest ranking possible – for overall performance on quality measures including readmission rates, safety of care and patient experience.

Over the past two decades, Knight has held a number of posts in health care organizations around the West Coast.

He’s previously worked for Tenet Healthcare in Manteca, Kaiser Permanente in the Central Valley area, Renown Health of Reno, PaceHealth of Vancouver, Washington, Highline Medical Center, University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle and Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Reno, according to his LinkedIn page.

Peterson introduced Knight to the Lakeport City Council earlier this month.

At the same time, Peterson reported that Sutter Lakeside has been awarded a four-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for the fourth year in a row.

Sutter Lakeside was among six hospitals to get the four-star rating.

“That’s the highest rating of any critical access hospital in the state,” Peterson said, adding he’s very proud of that rating and the community can be proud of it, too.

“I have been really proud to work at Sutter Lakeside,” said Peterson, adding he’s appreciated working with the city.

During his tenure, Peterson has served on the Lakeport Economic Development Advisory Committee and taken part in the Lake County Chapter of California Women for Agriculture’s 2017 AgVenture class.

Peterson told the council he was excited to introduce Knight, who has worked for Sutter Health for a number of years.

He said Sutter Lakeside will be in good hands with Knight.

Knight said he’s excited to be in Lakeport, and his family – including his wife and four children – are looking forward to being involved in the community.

“I’m grateful to be part of Sutter Health and be part of the hospital here,” as they take the hospital into the future, Knight said.

He added, “My wife says we’re getting a boat,” noting he’s never had one before.

City Manager Margaret Silveira welcomed Knight and said they will look forward to working with him.

She also thanked Peterson, who she said they will miss, for his work for the city.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – The Middletown Area Town Hall had a changing of the guard on Thursday, with the addition of two new board members and the selection of this year’s board leadership.

MATH had been scheduled to hold an election at its January meeting but held off as the result of concerns over nominations, vetting of candidates, election protocol and public noticing.

As a result, the election was rescheduled for the Feb. 13 meeting,

The results of the secret ballot were announced at the end of the meeting by Chair Sally Peterson.

Elected to the two open seats were Lisa Kaplan and Rosemary Cordova, with 80 and 70 ballots, respectively, cast in their favor, Peterson said.

David Thurber received 33 ballots and Claude Brown 26 ballots. Peterson said they will be alternates.

The new board then elected its officers for this year.

Tom Darms was elected chair, with Peterson to serve as vice chair. Secretary Paul Baker said he was willing to continue in the role for another year.

MATH’s next meeting is at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 12, at the Middletown Senior and Community Center.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.m. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake City Council this week will hold a midyear budget workshop and consider a staff proposal for relocating the city’s Public Works corporation yard.

The council will meet beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, in the council chambers at Clearlake City Hall, 14050 Olympic Drive, for a workshop on the 2019-20 midyear budget review and adoption of a resolution to amend the budget.

The council also will hold a closed session to discuss existing litigation involving Pacific Gas and Electric Corp., one potential case of litigation and negotiations involving property at 2890 Old Highway 53 owned by the Clearlake Redevelopment Successor Agency.

The open portion of the meeting will begin at 6 p.m.

On Thursday staff will take to the council a review of plans and a request for direction regarding the proposed Public Works corporation yard.

Consulting City Engineer David Swartz’s report to the council explains that the city’s corporation yard currently is located on the city’s airport property, which is deemed as valuable property for commercial development.

“The site facilities, namely the Public Works office, and shop are antiquated and in many respects beyond their useful lives to be an asset to the department. Additionally, the sharing of some of the facilities with Animal Control significantly limits the department from performing many operations that are vital to the department’s efficient operation,” he wrote.

Swartz’s report, on page 40 of the agenda packet published below, suggests moving the corporation yard to a site on the 21.25-acre property the city owns on Ogulin Canyon Road.

“This area is well suited, as it is an industrial area with similar type uses as would resemble the operations of the department,” he explained.

He said there are two areas located on the property which are flat enough to consider development: the hilltop and a portion of the hill bottom.

“Staff has conducted several visits to the site, to assess the opportunities and constraints with developing a new corporation yard on this property. After consideration of several factors, chief among which includes the access roadway to the hilltop, and the amount of land area that could reasonably be developed, we prepared a site plan in the best available location for consideration and discussion by the City Council,” Swartz wrote.

The council will further discuss that site plan on Thursday.

In other business, the council will consider a resolution adopting the official right-of-way map for the streets and roads within the city limits.

Also on Thursday’s agenda, the council will get a presentation by Clearlake Animal Control of February’s adoptable dogs, meet new Clearlake Police Department office assistant Katelind Brown, receive the Clearlake Police Department Annual Report, hear the Lake County Tourism Improvement District’s progress report and also get an update from Jim Steele on the Senior Summit.

On the meeting's consent agenda – items that are not considered controversial and are usually adopted on a single vote – are warrant registers; receipt and filing of the minutes of the Jan. 8 meeting of the Lake County Vector Control District Board; receipt and filing of the January meeting minutes; the second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 237-2020 to amend Section 9-1.4, Subsections (a) and (b) of Chapter 9 of the Clearlake Municipal Code adopting the 2019 California Building Standards Code; and the second reading and adoption of Ordinance No. 238-2020, an ordinance amending Chapter VIII, Section 5 “Pavement Cuts
in New Pavement” of the Traffic Code of the Clearlake Municipal Code.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

022020 Clearlake City Council meeting agenda packet by LakeCoNews on Scribd

Internet-enabled crimes and scams show no signs of letting up, according to data released by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3, in its 2019 Internet Crime Report.

The last calendar year saw both the highest number of complaints and the highest dollar losses reported since the center was established in May 2000.

IC3 received 467,361 complaints in 2019 – an average of nearly 1,300 every day – and recorded more than $3.5 billion in losses to individual and business victims.

The most frequently reported complaints were phishing and similar ploys, non-payment/non-delivery scams and extortion.

The most financially costly complaints involved business email compromise, romance or confidence fraud, and spoofing, or mimicking the account of a person or vendor known to the victim to gather personal or financial information.

Donna Gregory, the chief of IC3, said that in 2019 the center didn’t see an uptick in new types of fraud but rather saw criminals deploying new tactics and techniques to carry out existing scams.

“Criminals are getting so sophisticated,” Gregory said. “It is getting harder and harder for victims to spot the red flags and tell real from fake.”

While email is still a common entry point, frauds are also beginning on text messages—a crime called smishing – or even fake websites – a tactic called pharming.

“You may get a text message that appears to be your bank asking you to verify information on your account,” said Gregory. “Or you may even search a service online and inadvertently end up on a fraudulent site that gathers your bank or credit card information.”

Individuals need to be extremely skeptical and double-check everything, Gregory emphasized.

“In the same way your bank and online accounts have started to require two-factor authentication – apply that to your life,” she said. “Verify requests in person or by phone, double-check web and email addresses, and don’t follow the links provided in any messages.”

Business email compromise, also known as BEC, or email account compromise, has been a major concern for years. In 2019, IC3 recorded 23,775 complaints about BEC, which resulted in more than $1.7 billion in losses.

These scams typically involve a criminal spoofing or mimicking a legitimate email address. For example, an individual will receive a message that appears to be from an executive within their company or a business with which an individual has a relationship. The email will request a payment, wire transfer, or gift card purchase that seems legitimate but actually funnels money directly to a criminal.

In the last year, IC3 reported seeing an increase in the number of BEC complaints related to the diversion of payroll funds. “In this type of scheme, a company’s human resources or payroll department receives an email appearing to be from an employee requesting to update their direct deposit information for the current pay period,” the report said. The change instead routes an employee’s paycheck to a criminal.

“Information reported to the IC3 plays a vital role in the FBI’s ability to understand our cyber adversaries and their motives, which, in turn, helps us to impose risks and consequences on those who break our laws and threaten our national security,” said Matt Gorham, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “It is through these efforts we hope to build a safer and more secure cyber landscape.” Gorham encourages everyone to use IC3 and reach out to their local field office to report malicious activity.

Rapid reporting can help law enforcement stop fraudulent transactions before a victim loses the money for good. The FBI’s Recovery Asset Team was created to streamline communication with financial institutions and FBI field offices and is continuing to build on its success. The team successfully recovered more than $300 million for victims in 2019.

Besides stressing vigilance on the part of every connected citizen, the IC3’s Donna Gregory also stressed the importance of victims providing as much information as possible when they come to IC3.

Victims should include every piece of information they have – any email addresses, account information they were given, phone numbers scammers called from, and other details. The more information IC3 can gather, the more it helps combat the criminals.

In 2019, the Recovery Asset Team was paired with the Money Mule Team under the IC3’s Recovery and Investigative Development Team. This effort brings together law enforcement and financial institutions to use the data provided in IC3 complaints to gain a better view of the networks and methods of cyber fraudsters and identify the perpetrators.

The new effort allowed IC3 to aggregate more than three years of reports to help build a case against an active group of criminals who were responsible for damaging crimes that ranged from cryptocurrency theft to online extortion. The ensuing investigation by the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office resulted in the arrest of three people.

Read the full 2019 Internet Crime Report, download it here or see it below.

To stay up to date on common online scams and frauds or report a crime, visit www.ic3.gov .

FBI 2019 Internet Crime Report by LakeCoNews on Scribd