Lakeport man booked into jail after several arrests
- Lake County News reports
LAKEPORT, Calif. — A Lakeport man arrested numerous times over the past month was booked into the Lake County Jail on Friday after being found with an expensive mountain bike that’s believed to have been stolen as well as methamphetamine.
Matthew Alan Wratislaw, 36, was taken into custody on Friday, according to the Lakeport Police Department.
On Sept. 19 shortly after 4:30 p.m., Lakeport Police officers were dispatched to the area of North Forbes Street at Fourth Street for a report of a male working on a vehicle that did not belong to him. Officers arrived on scene and contacted Wratislaw, who was actively working on the reported vehicle.
The police department said the officers determined through their investigation that Wratislaw was not the owner of the vehicle and did not have any legal connection to the vehicle to be working on it. Wratislaw further admitted to trying to “get” the vehicle.
The officers placed Wratislaw under arrest for tampering with a vehicle and possession of burglary tools. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic bail-related restrictions, officers were unable to have Wratislaw booked into the Lake County Jail and issued Wratislaw a criminal citation and released him.
Just after 10:30 p.m. Thursday, Lakeport Police officers were patrolling the area of 11th Street at High Street when they observed Wratislaw riding a bicycle without any lights or reflectors in violation of the California Vehicle Code.
Lakeport Police officers attempted to stop Wratislaw using the emergency lights on their patrol vehicle but Wratislaw continued north on High Street and then east through an unpaved alleyway, Rose Avenue.
Officers attempted to pursue Wratislaw on foot while verbally commanding him to stop. They ultimately lost sight of Wratislaw as he continued north on North Main St.
The officers then conducted a search of the area and located Wratislaw sitting behind a residence on Lakeshore Boulevard at Ashe Street and placed him under arrest.
During a search of Wratislaw’s person and belongings following his arrest, officers located 0.9 grams of suspected methamphetamine as well as methamphetamine paraphernalia. Officers also located suspected burglary tools including lock picks.
Wratislaw was transported to the police department where he was issued a criminal citation and released as he was again not bookable due to the current COVID-19-related bail schedule.
On Friday, another Lakeport Police officer observed Wratislaw in a fenced area of a closed business on North Forbes Street at 11th Street.
The officer noted that Wratislaw had walked away from a large black dirt bike gear bag. Police said the officer moved closer to the bag and realized that it matched the description of stolen property that had been reported to the police department earlier in the day.
The bag and the items it contained, which mostly consisted of dirt bike-related gear, were valued to be worth approximately $2,000.
The officer detained Wratislaw and additional Lakeport Police officers responded to the scene. Officers contacted the victim of the theft and were able to confirm that the items were those that had been reported stolen.
A further search of the bag containing the reported stolen items yielded additional suspected methamphetamine and methamphetamine paraphernalia. Wratislaw was then placed under arrest.
Police said those crimes were not bookable due to current California laws. However, due to Wratislaw’s history of recent arrests and suspected criminal activity, officers believed that Wratislaw would continue to victimize Lakeport residents if not booked into jail, police said.
The officers contacted a Lake County Superior Court judge to apply for a bail increase. The bail increase was granted and officers transported Wratislaw to the Lake County Jail.
Authorities said he was booked without further incident on charges of felony possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia with bail set at $15,000.
During Wratislaw’s latest arrest, a Specialized mountain bike, with an approximate value of over $2,000 was also found to be in his possession. The bike is currently believed to possibly be stolen.
If you recognize the bicycle in the photos published here, contact the police department at 707-263-5491.
Additionally, in recent days several other thefts have been reported to the police department in which Wratislaw is a suspect.
If you have been the victim of theft or other criminal activity in the city of Lakeport, and you have not yet made a police report, please contact the police department.