Lakeport man who threatened to kill girlfriend arrested after early morning standoff with law enforcement
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — A man who served prison time for the 2007 killing of a taxi driver was in a standoff with law enforcement early Friday after he threatened to kill his girlfriend.
Morgan Matthew Jack, 44, of Lakeport, was taken into custody hours after the standoff began, said Lt. Corey Paulich of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
At 3 a.m. Friday, the sheriff’s office received a report that Jack had threatened to kill his live-in girlfriend at their residence in the 2600 block of Mission Rancheria Road, Paulich said.
Paulich said the girlfriend had been able to leave the residence before Lake County Sheriff’s deputies arrived.
When deputies attempted to make contact with Jack and place him under arrest, he refused to exit the residence. Paulich said deputies entered the residence and attempted to contact Jack.
While inside, the deputies heard metallic noises they recognized as a firearm being manipulated and believed Jack was armed. Paulich said the deputies exited the residence and again attempted to get Jack to come out.
He said the deputies could see Jack in the doorway at the front of the residence. The deputies saw Jack raise a rifle-type firearm and fire one shot in their direction.
The deputies secured the area and requested additional units respond. Officers from Lakeport Police Department, Clearlake Police Department and California Highway Patrol responded to assist, Paulich said.
The Sheriff’s Office Crisis Response and SWAT Teams responded to the location, Paulich said. While trying to speak with Jack he challenged deputies, several times telling them he was not coming out and they would have to kill him.
After approximately two hours Jack exited his residence, challenging one of the negotiators to approach him, Paulich said.
Paulich said Jack was taken into custody with the assistance of a police K-9 unit from the Clearlake Police Department and SWAT team members. Some of the officers as well as Jack received minor injuries during the arrest.
The Sheriff's Major Crimes Unit served a search warrant at Jack’s residence, where Paulich said they located a pellet rifle that resembled an assault-type rifle.
Jack was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for treatment and later booked at the Lake County Jail for charges of criminal threats, assault on a peace officer with an instrument not a firearm, and obstruction. Paulich said Jack’s bail is set at $50,000.
Paulich said the sheriff’s office had prior contact with Jack in 2008 when he was arrested related to the death of Paul Womachka, a “Hey Taxi” driver whose body was found in a submerged taxi at the Big Valley Rancheria in the summer of 2007.
Jack later pleaded no contest to voluntary manslaughter related to the killing and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He received numerous credits that reduced his prison time by several years.