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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
If you have a residential, commercial or industrial security camera, the Lakeport Police Department would like to partner with you.
Security camera systems can be a powerful tool in helping deter crime as well as identify offenders and free innocent persons from suspicion when incidents are captured on video.
The police department said community members’ participation in this program will help strengthen the department’s investigative ability and give it an easier way to communicate more effectively with potential witnesses, further enhancing the safety of the community.
Police said you may have video of a crime that occurred in your neighborhood and not even know it.
Registering a camera system with your police department does not give the ability to freely access your cameras, claim ownership of or dictate your camera system’s function. This is simply a contact database that will provide possible camera system footage related to crime in your area.
Also, there is no cost to participants.
Referring to this database when investigating a crime will aid in identifying camera systems that may have captured additional leads or evidence video footage. The police will then contact the camera’s owner in an attempt to preserve, view and potential secure footage segments valuable to the investigation.
Police said this partnership can greatly expedite and enhance investigations with the potential of quickly apprehending suspects, securing valuable evidence for prosecution and clearing uninvolved subjects.
Participation in this partnership does not alter your rights to privacy in any way, is completely voluntary and may be withdrawn at any time.
The agency said it will treat your information as confidential and take a legal means to protect it.
To register, visit https://www.cityoflakeport.com/police/Camera.php .
When purchasing a new surveillance system, please keep the following in mind:
– The higher the resolution of the camera, the more helpful the footage will be;
– A minimum of 20-day information storage is recommended;
– Cameras should face the entrance and exit points; and,
– Cameras should be placed on private property only.
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- Written by: LAKE COUNTY NEWS REPORTS
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA – After burning for a week on the Covelo Ranger District of the Mendocino National Forest, the Baseball fire reached 100-percent containment on Tuesday.
The 211-acre fire is located about 15 miles southeast of Covelo in Mendocino and Glenn counties.
Forest officials reported that fire crews will continue to mop up and patrol the fire until the fire is considered out.
The fire started on Tuesday, Feb. 25, after debris piles that were burned several weeks ago reignited on the Baseball prescribed fire project, as Lake County News has reported.
The fire has burned at a low to moderate rate in a mosaic pattern similar to the desired effects from a prescribed fire, forest officials said.
“The Baseball Project is a multi-year effort aimed at improving wildlife habitat, decreasing stand density, reducing hazard fuels and decreasing fire intensity in the event of a future wildfire,” said Covelo District Ranger Frank Aebly. “It was the previous thinning and prescribed burning activities on this project over the years that helped prevent the fire from spreading rapidly and negatively impacting the area.”
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
The Public Health Department announced Tuesday that it has received approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health to use some of its emergency planning reserves of 21 million N95 filtering facepiece masks in certain situations.
The emergency planning reserves of N95 masks, some of which are past their manufacturer use-by date, have been stored in climate-controlled conditions that preserved the masks’ efficacy. The way the masks have been stored will prevent the degradation of elastic that slips around the ears, a key factor in the CDC and NIOSH’s approval.
These masks are approved for use only in limited, low-risk circumstances, thus relieving pressure on the supply chain of unexpired masks for health care providers caring for confirmed COVID-19 patients and other high-risk situations for infectious diseases.
In tandem with this announcement, the Department of Public Health and CalOSHA both released guidance about:
– Which N95 masks may be safely used;
– Under what circumstances; and
– How health facilities can optimize use of expired masks to conserve unexpired personal protective equipment for confirmed COVID-19 patients and in other medically necessary situations.
The California Department of Public Health, along with the CDC, does not recommend that healthy people wear masks at this time. However, masks are recommended to limit the spread of disease for people who are exhibiting respiratory symptoms.
“California is working hard to ensure our health care system is in the strongest possible position to respond to this evolving situation,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom. “Critical to that effort is making sure health care workers have the medical masks and protective equipment they need to protect themselves while caring for patients. Our state is extremely grateful for the hard work and dedication of our health care workers in this time of expanded need.”
“Protecting the health and safety of the doctors, nurses, and other health care and dental care providers is a critical component of ensuring our public health at any time, and particularly now,” said Dr. Sonia Angell, director of the California Department of Public Health and State Health Officer. “Releasing this supply of masks will help keep our health care professionals safe on the job.”
As California’s testing for COVID-19 at 13 state and county public health labs in the state ramps up, Dr. Angell stressed that faster testing of patients may lead to a more rapid increase in the number of confirmed cases reported. That is not necessarily a sign that the rate of infection is increasing, but that our ability to test more people more rapidly is leading to better detection.
While additional positive tests continue to be reported by county health officers, state officials emphasized that these reports show swift and robust action is being taken to detect cases early, isolate and care for patients, and trace contacts.
“The risk to the health of the general public in California remains low. We will continue to provide updates as this situation evolves,” said Dr. Angell. “At this time, the best way to protect your health is to practice good health habits like washing your hands regularly, covering your cough and staying home if you are ill. Also, if you have a fever and respiratory symptoms or other signs of COVID-19, call ahead. Calling your health care provider or local public health department first before seeking medical care allows steps to be taken to protect the health and wellbeing of patients, healthcare providers and the community at large.”
COVID-19 in California by the numbers as of Tuesday, March 3:
43 – Positive tests
24 – Cases of positive tests related to federal repatriation flights
19 – Cases not related to repatriation flights
10 – Travel-related
5 – Person to person
4 – Community transmission
9,200+ – number of people self-monitoring who returned to the U.S. through SFO or LAX
49 – Number of local health jurisdictions involved in self-monitoring
13 – Labs with test kits
Thousands – Number of tests California is able to perform now.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clearlake Oaks man who killed his father and a friend, shot two others including a California Highway Patrol officer, robbed two stores and set wildland fires during an October 2017 shooting and crime spree has reached a plea deal with the Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
On Tuesday, the day before he was set to stand trial, Alan Leroy Ashmore, 64, pleaded no contest to murder and attempted murder charges, said District Attorney Susan Krones.
Krones said Alan Ashmore pleaded to first-degree murder for the killing of his 85-year-old father, Douglas Ashmore, as well as the killing of his friend, Richard Braden, 64.
Ashmore also pleaded no contest to the attempted first-degree murder of CHP Officer Steven Patrick, Krones said.
In all three instances, Krones said Ashmore admitted to the personal discharge of a firearm that resulted in death and great bodily injury.
As part of the plea deal, Krones said Ashmore agreed to a sentence of 140 years to life in prison.
While a no contest plea is technically not the same as a guilty plea, Krones said it has the same effect. In this case, she said it pointed to sufficient evidence to prove the case against Ashmore beyond a reasonable doubt.
She said she reached out to the victims to let them know about the settlement and their rights to give victim impact statements at his sentencing.
Krones said Ashmore will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 14, in Judge J. David Markham’s Department 3 courtroom at the Lake County Courthouse in Lakeport.
The agreement included the dismissal of 18 counts ranging from assault with a deadly weapon to a felon in possession of guns and ammunition – a charge that stemmed from a 1980 felony burglary case – and hit and run involving a vehicle he had struck while driving around Clearlake Oaks that day, Krones said.
Krones said the charges were dismissed with a “Harvey waiver,” which means the charges can still be considered in the sentencing and victims have the opportunity to pursue restitution.
Ashmore previously had entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Krones said that plea was withdrawn, which was one of the reasons she agreed to this final plea deal.
“Even though I did not think that would have been successful,” she said of the insanity plea, “you never know what a jury’s gonna do.”
Ashmore’s attorney is Andrea Sullivan, who leads the county’s indigent defense contract.
Sullivan said she thought the plea agreement was a favorable outcome for Ashmore because, had he gone to trial and been convicted, he could have faced life in prison without the possibility of parole.
“This will also allow the victims and their families to move on without the trauma of reliving the incident at a jury trial,” Sullivan said.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation reported that a federal court in February 2014 ordered the state to implement a parole process for inmates who are 60 years or older and who have been incarcerated for at least 25 years. That ruling was in response to California’s prison overcrowding.
The state subsequently created the Elderly Parole Program, which allows for a parole suitability hearing once they are both age 60 and have served 25 years of continuous incarceration.
“Inmates sentenced to fixed, determinate terms as well as those sentenced to life with the possibility of parole are eligible for the program. Inmates who are sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, or who are sentenced to death are not eligible for the program,” the state reported.
Panels hearing such parole cases will consider advanced age, long-term confinement and diminished physical condition, if any, when determining the inmate’s suitability for parole. If approved, inmates are released immediately.
Based on the state guidelines, Ashmore would be 89 years old before he could be considered eligible for the program.
While theoretically parole is possible for Ashmore, “Realistically, he will likely never be paroled,” Sullivan said.
Krones agreed, noting that even if he became eligible for consideration, his suitability would be in question. She said she thinks it’s highly unlikely Ashmore would be found suitable “at the first opportunity, given what he did.”
She said she’s also informed the victims and their families that, should Ashmore be considered for parole in the distant future, the Lake County District Attorney’s Office would present opposition at a parole hearing.
Shooting and crime spree erupted after disagreement
Ashmore was arrested following a shooting spree during which he also robbed two gas stations at gunpoint and set fires in the Clearlake Oaks area on Oct. 23, 2017, as Lake County News has reported.
The incident, which led to a massive law enforcement response, began with a confrontation between Ashmore and a 22-year-old female friend at his home, Krones said.
Authorities said Ashmore had become angry with the woman after she refused to have sex with him and he shot her in the foot. She was able to escape out a window and ran to the neighbor’s house for help.
Douglas Ashmore had attempted to intervene in the confrontation between his son and the woman. After the woman escaped, Alan Ashmore shot his father in the face, killing him instantly, according to incident reports.
Krones said Ashmore then retrieved a shotgun from his residence, took his father’s vehicle and fired at several houses and neighbors.
He attempted to kill one neighbor who escaped after Ashmore’s pistol misfired. Ashmore then fired several rounds into three separate residences from both inside and outside of the residences, according to the District Attorney’s Office investigation.
Ashmore found Braden in a vehicle parked on the street in Anchor Village and shot him several times with a shotgun, killing him, authorities said.
Officer Patrick encountered Ashmore as he was responding to a call about a shooting in the area. Authorities said Ashmore shot several shotgun rounds at Patrick, hitting both his vehicle and his ballistic safety vest in the area of his abdomen.
Although injured, authorities said Patrick – along with a responding sheriff’s deputy – pursued Ashmore and protected the nearby East Lake Elementary School.
Ashmore fled to a Chevron station on Highway 20 and entered the station store with a shotgun, confronting a beer vendor as he entered the store, Krones said.
Based on the case investigation, Ashmore fired the shotgun one time at the head of the vendor, who went to retrieve his firearm – which he had a concealed weapons permit to carry – from his vehicle.
While still in the store, Ashmore stole a Pepsi and went back to his vehicle. The vendor fired several times at Ashmore’s vehicle in an attempt to stop him, Krones said.
Authorities said Ashmore proceeded to drive to the Power Mart gas station and entered that store with the firearm, robbing the store at gunpoint – pointing the shotgun at the clerk – and taking a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. After he left the store he fired several shots outside of it.
From there, Krones said Ashmore drove up High Valley Road where he lit several small fires in an attempt to escape law enforcement. Firefighters with Northshore Fire and Cal Fire extinguished the fires.
Krones said Ashmore made one more stop before he was taken into custody, driving into the parking lot of Brassfield Winery where he brandished a firearm at a man.
Authorities said Ashmore was attempting to steal the vehicle from the man, who escaped after a high-speed chase.
Ashmore would finally surrender without resistance at a roadblock on High Valley Road set up by the CHP, sheriff’s deputies and Lakeport Police officers, authorities said.
Then-District Attorney Don Anderson told Lake County News as the time that Ashmore told investigators after he was taken into custody that he “would just kill anyone that f****** moved.
Patrick would be off work for three months after the shooting before returning to duty, as Lake County News has reported.
The CHP Area commander at the time, Lt. Hector Paredes, said Patrick’s actions during the incident were “clearly heroic.”
Anderson, who originally handled Ashmore’s case, decided not to pursue the death penalty against him due to his age and the fact that, before the October 2017 spree killing, he had little criminal background.
Case had been set for trial this week
Ashmore was held to answer in the case following a March 2018 preliminary hearing.
It had been set for trial several times since, but Krones said the case was finally set to go to trial on Wednesday.
The trial was expected to last about a month and a half, with 30 or so witnesses, she said. In such a complicated scenario, even with a conviction, many issues can be raised on appeal.
“This plea will void any substantial lengthy appeals,” Krones said.
She said the discussions leading up to the plea agreement weren’t underway for very long. She said Anderson had previously been involved in negotiations to settle the case but they didn’t go anywhere.
Krones said she looked at the case again and, late last week, worked out the plea agreement with the defense.
Krones said Ashmore entered the plea on Tuesday, at which point he was on the Superior Court calendar for a settlement conference.
“It gives finality to the case,” Krones said.
Email Elizabeth Larson at