CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department reported that a special enforcement it conducted with a number of other local law enforcement agencies on Friday netted 31 arrests in an eight-hour period.
“Over the last few weeks, there have been several incidents that have caused Clearlake residents concern about their safety and security,” said Lt. Tim Celli, the agency's acting chief. “There seemed to have been an uptick in property crime as well as violent crime that has been reported through press releases and Nixle in recent weeks.”
In response to those events, Celli said the Clearlake Police Department planned and conducted special enforcement throughout the city on Friday.
He said the department reached out to several law enforcement agencies to request resources to assist for this special enforcement.
“The goal of this multiagency enforcement activity was to reduce crimes through saturation enforcement. The focus of this event was increased traffic enforcement, warrant services, gang member contacts, and parole and probation searches,” he said.
Celli said the special enforcement was very successful.
He said 21 law enforcement officers participated in the special enforcement sweep, including 14 Clearlake Police officers, two Lakeport Police officers, one Lake County Sheriff’s deputy, two Lake County Probation officers and two California Fish and Wildlife officers. The California Highway Patrol also assisted with increased traffic enforcement.
As a result of the special enforcement, 31 arrests were made during the eight-hour event for felony and misdemeanor crimes, Celli said. Some individuals were booked in the Lake County Jail while others were released from the Clearlake Police Department after booking.
In addition to the arrests made, numerous traffic enforcement stops were conducted and several citations were issued, he said.
Additionally, Celli said officers developed information related to ongoing investigations including a recently reported crime in which two vehicles were observed by citizens chasing and shooting at each other. That incident resulted in a school lockdown last week.
At least one individual involved in that incident was arrested in this sweep for possession of a loaded handgun, he said.
The list of arrested subjects included 24-year-old Steven Johnny Farnan of Clearlake, who Celli said was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for being a felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, possession of a concealed firearm and possession of a high capacity magazine.
“Our intention of this special enforcement was to put persons who commit crime in our community on notice that behavior that threatens our community’s safety and security will not be tolerated,” Celli said. “Although some of the arrests noted below may seem to be for lower level crime it is my strong opinion that unaddressed behavior is condoned behavior and we will not condone criminal behavior.”
He noted that many of the crimes offenders were charged with were felonies prior to the implementation of Proposition 47 and many of these offenders would not have been released prior to the implementation of AB 109.
“Law enforcement is working together to provide the highest level of safety and security to our citizens and this was a good example,” he said.
Celli said Friday's special enforcement event was made possible in part through shared grant funding by Lakeport Police Department and the Clearlake Police Department. The funding was previously awarded from the Board of State Community Corrections related to the release of prisoners through AB109.
Those arrested during the special enforcement include the following:
• Stephanie Kenyon, 27, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of drug paraphernalia, being under the influence of a controlled substance and bringing contraband into a jail.
• Billy Neldon, 29, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of probation.
• Curtis Dodge, 45, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of drug paraphernalia, felony possession of a controlled substance and failing to register as a sex offender.
• Dorna Keith, 42, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.
• Adrien Miranda, 27, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for being in a red-tagged residence and violation of probation.
• Jona Elsa, 26, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for a felony warrant.
• Brooke Thomas, 32, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for resisting arrest.
• Robert Scott, 33, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for violation of parole.
• Kevin Edwards, 51, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of drug paraphernalia and bringing contraband into a jail.
• Eric Klein, 40, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of heroin and violation of probation.
• Nick Griffen, 50, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for outstanding warrant and violation of probation.
• Ronald Whitmire, 47, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of methamphetamine for sales and transportation of methamphetamine.
• Johnny Perez, 29, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and violation of probation.
• Steven Farnan, 24, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for being a felon in possession of a firearm, felon in possession of ammunition, possession of a loaded firearm in a vehicle, possession of a concealed firearm and possession of a high capacity magazine.
• Manuel Camara, 29, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of methamphetamine and an outstanding warrant.
• Rocco Morgan, 39, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for being under the influence of a controlled substance and violation of probation.
• Frank Marks, 18, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for violation of probation.
• George Newberry, 37, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of drug paraphernalia, being under the influence of a controlled substance and violation of probation.
• Arnold Ash, 63, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of drug paraphernalia and being in a red-tagged residence.
• Jose Lovato, 22, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for being in a red-tagged residence.
• David Gomez, 51, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of controlled substance, possession of a narcotic controlled substance and violation of probation.
• Jon Truax, 46, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for two arrest warrants.
• Jesse Page, 65, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for two arrest warrants.
• Russell Jackson, 60, was arrested and booked into the Lake County Jail for an arrest warrant.
• Amber Saldana, 38, was arrested for possession of drug paraphernalia. Saldana was released on a citation.
• Angelina Brown, 37, was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Brown was released on a citation.
• Kelly Harris, 30, was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Harris was released on a citation.
• Bradley Smith, age 30 was arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance. Smith was released on a citation.
• Lloyd Lewis, 25, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance. Lewis was released on a citation.
• Craig Cosby, 63, was arrested for an arrest warrant. Cosby was released on a citation.
• Bruce Brown, 44, was arrested for an arrest warrant. Brown was released on a citation.
“The Clearlake Police Department thanks all of the law enforcement officers and their agencies who participated with us to make this a successful event,” Celli said. “It is our hope that this event will lead to a reduction in criminal activity in our community and our residents will enjoy a safe, happy, joyful holiday season.”
Clearlake Police: 31 arrests made during special enforcement
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