On May 7, deputies from the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a residence on Hearst-Willits Road regarding a residential burglary, according to a report written by Liz Evangelatos, an administrative assistant with the sheriff's office. Upon arrival it was determined that numerous handguns and rifles were taken from the residence.

A subsequent investigation determined that 19-year-old Jesse Jewel of Willits had contacted the victims' granddaughter with knowledge of the burglary, prior to the incident being publicly reported, Evangelatos said.

As the investigation continued Jewel admitted to deputies that he and one other person entered the residence on Hearst-Willits Road and took at least five handguns, 11 rifles and two shotguns. Evangelatos said that Jewel also admitted to taking the firearms to an address located on Della Avenue in Willits, and claimed to have been under the influence of methamphetamine when burglarizing the home.

Following up on investigative leads, deputies responded to a residence on Ridgewood Road where Evangelatos said they obtained more investigative leads and arrested 22-year-old Willits resident Jessica Bauer, who had five outstanding arrest warrants.

Deputies, personnel from the Willits Police Department and Mendocino County Adult Probation then responded to an address located on Alameda Street in Willits. While at that location numerous persons were contacted, and subsequently arrested, for being under the influence of a controlled substance, Evangelatos said.

She said those subjects arrested included Jerry Alvarez, 49; Susan Casey, 40; Brian Wood, 38; and Kimberly Wood, 35, all of Willits.

Also located at the residence was 43-year-old Wesley Silva, who Evangelatos said admitted that many of the stolen weapons were located at his residence.

Deputies were led to a garage on the property where they located many of the stolen firearms hidden within the walls of the garage, according to Evangelatos' report.

Evangelatos said Silva was placed under arrest for possession of stolen property, being a felon in possession of firearms, being under the influence of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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A sampling of the species of birds considered unique for Lake County. Photos by Brad Barnwell.

LAKE COUNTY – The annual Heron Festival has come and gone, but its goals continue around the year – to conserve, restore and educate people about the valuable natural resources and wildlife that Clearlake has to offer.

More concerned, Lake County-loving citizens are educating themselves about the land they live on, and how to keep it and its creatures healthy. Darlene Hecomovich of the Redbud Audubon Society reports that 1,871 people attended the joint event, which was the biggest turnout yet.

In 1994, the Redbud Audubon Society – formed in 1975 by a group of citizens – created the Heron Festival to celebrate the beauty of the springtime nesting period of one of Lake County’s signature bird species, the great blue heron.

Another important purpose of the festival is to showcase nature’s beauty and increase the appreciation and understanding of its value to all our lives, organizers said.

The goal of the National Audubon Society is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.

The Redbud Audubon Society, Lake County’s local chapter, reported 300 species of birds call this area home, with the following species being unique: the great blue heron, the double-crested cormorant, Western and Clark’s Grebes, the osprey and the famed bald eagle.

Event-goers had the opportunity to take guided pontoon boat rides during the Heron Festival which made it easier to see the local bird life, and their nests.

Floyd Hayes, pontoon boat guide and professor at Pacific Union College, said that 85 heron nests were counted in late March, so they seem to be doing well.

The National Audubon society designated Clear Lake, and the 50,000 acres surrounding it, as an Important Bird Area; the Important Bird Area Program aims to conserve areas that are vital to birds and other biodiversity. It was launched in California in 1996 but didn’t really take hold until 2000 when an IBA report was initiated.

The Heron Festival attracted many bird watchers and nature enthusiasts. Ever since the event joined forces with the Wildflower Brunch in 2004, a variety of other people also flock to show their support for Mother Nature.

“I think we’ve helped each other pretty equally,” said Madelene Lyon, president of the Clear Lake State Park Interpretive Association (CLSPIA). “The Heron Festival used to be held at Anderson Marsh National Park but it was nowhere near as conducive as the Clear Lake State Park.”

CLSPIA, a nonprofit organization, began the Wildflower Brunch to raise funds towards their goal, which is also to educate the public about the valuable and important natural and cultural resources located in the Clear Lake State Park and surrounding areas.

With so many groups having similar goals, Clear Lake is on the right track. Attitudes have drastically changed from the times when sulfur and mercury mines carved their way into the lake’s shores, embedding the lake with their runoff.

Clear Lake is labeled as an “impaired water body” by the state of California under the Clean Water Act, due to mainly the overload of nutrients, as Lake County News has reported.

In the 1870s, the newly discovered lush landscape and mineral-packed springs lured thousands of settlers to Clear Lake. But, according to a UC Davis study, the massive influx of settlers altered Clear Lake’s ecosystem and watershed beyond recognition.

The economic boom from the early swarm of settlers was too good to let go, so when tourists and residents began fleeing the area to escape a species of gnat, drastic and unfortunately detrimental measures were taken.

Dichloro Diphenyl Dichloroethane, or (DDD), was used in large amounts and is related to DDT, or Dichlorodiphenyl-Trichloroacetic Acid. The UC Davis study reported that three large doses of DDD were used spanning from 1949 to 1957.

Aside from controlling the gnat population, the pesticides also killed off other invertebrates, which were food sources for many species of birds. As a result, bird populations declined, died off and have made a very slow recovery.

According to the UC Davis study, Clear Lake is the first area where the negative effects from pesticides on bird populations were actually documented. But, wildlife populations is not the only this that has been in decline.

Over 85 percent of the area’s natural wetlands have dissipated due to both natural and anthropogenic stresses, according to the study. And now, 80 percent of the fish in Clear Lake are species that were introduced.

Five decades later, it seems Mother Nature has bounced back. At this year’s Heron Festival, event-goers were pleased to see many dwindling species of birds soaring these beautiful, clean skies once again.

Regarding when the DDT was sprayed, Hayes mentioned several species of birds that were affected most.

“The main problem with high level predators like the bald eagle and osprey is that they were really hard hit,” he said, explaining that those birds rely mainly on the kind of fish that the DDT killed.

He also attributed a decline in bird populations to low water levels, which generally means a low food source.

“When winter gets really cold, fish like the shad – a main food source for the grebes – die off and as a result of the colder temperature in the low water levels,” he said.

Having wildlife population data is crucial in the efforts of the groups to conserve, restore and showcase the natural beauty. Community members can pitch in and help collect data during the Christmas Bird Count and the Great Backyard Bird Count.

Hecomovich said that both counts monitor the population and movement in the winter time. The Christmas Bird Count takes place on one day between Dec. 14 and Jan. 4, the Great Backyard Bird Count is over a four-day weekend in mid February

Christmas Bird Count participants “are more apt to be hard-core birders although many novice and mid-level birders participate and are encouraged to do so,” Hecomovich said.

She said that many of those same people participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count, which is more geared to birders with all levels of interest. Many of them – as the county's name suggests – are just interested in the birds in their backyard, Hecomovich said.

To find out how to become involved in the local bird counts, or to get more information on birding in general, visit www.redbudaudubon.org/.

“The Christmas Bird Count is a time-honored tradition that has gone on for 110 years and is the longest-running bird census in the nation and provides scientists with valuable data of bird populations. The GBBC is a four-day event that just completed its 13th year,” she said. “In the Great Backyard Bird Count, either an individual or a team/family submits a checklist for the birds seen each day of the count. Then, Audubon uses this data to determine how many and where the various species are located.”

For more information on this topic, please visit:

http://bioregion.ucdavis.edu/book/10_Clear_Lake/10_11_circ_cl_stpark.html

http://www.audubon.org/bird/iba/index.html

http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/index.html

http://www.heronfestival.org/default.asp

http://www.clearlakestatepark.org/clspia.htm

E-mail Tera deVroede at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

The collision occurred shortly after 4:30 p.m. Saturday on Highway 29 just north of Twin Pine Casino near Middletown, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The vehicle involved – said to be a white pickup – had been reported all over the roadway about 15 minutes earlier and had nearly gone into oncoming traffic before traveling onto the side of the road, the CHP reported.

According to the report, the pickup then rolled over. A boulder was reported to be in the road and the pickup was on its side.

Major injuries were reported but additional details about the crash were not immediately available Saturday night.

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Jimmy Ray Hatfield, 38, of Clearlake, was discovered by jail staff at around 6 a.m. Monday, according to Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

Lake County Jail custody staff were conducting their formal count in one of the maximum security units when they observed that one of the cells had a blanket draped from the upper bunk, concealing Hatfield, the cell’s sole occupant, Bauman said.

Bauman reported that Hatfield had last been observed acting normally in his cell about 40 minutes prior during an hourly cell check.

The housing officer directed Hatfield to show himself for the count and when he failed to respond, the officer entered the cell and discovered him unconscious and suspended by a ligature made from a bed sheet, which Bauman said was tied to the upper bunk behind the blanket.

When Hatfield was discovered additional officers and jail medical staff immediately responded for assistance while rescue personnel from the Lakeport Fire Department were dispatched to the jail, according to Bauman.

While Lakeport Fire personnel were en route, custody staff quickly released Hatfield from the upper bunk and commenced life-saving efforts, Bauman said. Rescue personnel arrived and took over attempts to save Hatfield while transporting him to Sutter Lakeside Hospital.

However, shortly after his arrival at the emergency room, Hatfield was declared deceased, Bauman said.

Sheriff’s detectives were dispatched to the jail to process the apparent suicide scene and Bauman said that, pursuant to sheriff’s department policy, the Lake County District Attorney’s Office also was called in to conduct an independent investigation of the death.

Hatfield was booked at the jail last Saturday evening by the Clearlake Police Department following an incident in that city, Bauman said.

Hatfield – whose occupation on his booking sheet was listed as “student” – was awaiting arraignment on felony charges of threatening a peace officer, resisting arrest, battery on a peace officer, and two other related misdemeanor charges, Bauman said. Jail records show Hatfield was being held on a $50,000 bail.

The manner and cause of Hatfield’s death is pending further investigation and autopsy results, and Bauman declined to release any further details.

Bauman told Lake County News that the last time the jail had an incident similar to Hatfield's was July of 2008.

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LAKE COUNTY – A series of televised debates held for the sheriff, district attorney, superintendent of schools and District 2 supervisor races are all now available online.

The debates can be found online at www.velocityvideoonline.com (which offers very high quality resolution), www.lakeconews.com or at TV8's Web site, http://laketv8.pegcentral.com/.

Specific links for the debates are listed below.

First district attorney candidates' debate (held March 30, Lakeport):

www.velocityvideoonline.com/video-040110-001.html

http://lakeconews.com/content/view/13719/939/

http://laketv8.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=35652afdda0b8747dfeef90e8445018a

Second district attorney candidates' debate (held April 15, Middletown):

http://www.velocityvideoonline.com/video-042010-001.html

http://lakeconews.com/content/view/13719/939/

http://laketv8.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=6826de8b28c8752f11b74f3f700115b0

County superintendent of schools candidates' debate (held April 19, Lakeport):

http://laketv8.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=6a58eb49052a54a6adc628de1f01fdce

District 2 supervisor candidates' debate (held April 27, Clearlake):

http://laketv8.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=bcabe729623ab042b661bce8f4975c2a

First sheriff candidates' debate (held April 28, Lakeport):

http://www.velocityvideoonline.com/video-050110-001.html

http://lakeconews.com/content/view/13719/939/

Second sheriff candidates' debate (held May 5, Middletown):

http://www.velocityvideoonline.com/video-050810-001.html

http://lakeconews.com/content/view/13719/939/

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MIDDLETOWN – Students, parents and Middletown Unified School District personnel got a surprise Friday morning when most of the district's bus drivers took part in a sickout.

Four of the district's six drivers called in sick and didn't show up to drive children to school, said District Superintendent Dr. Korby Olson.

The timing appeared to be due to a specific reason. “Today is the day we were delivering classified layoff notices,” said Olson.

Olson delivered those 34 notices with the classified employees union president, who he said hadn't known anything about what appeared to be a unilateral action by the four bus drivers.

He said 17.5 full-time equivalent classified positions are being laid off as the district seeks ways of cutting $1.5 million from its $14 million budget.

Some of those employees who received layoff notices will maintain jobs because they have bumping rights into other positions, he said.

However, Olson noted that it was a lot of lost jobs for the district. “It's painful.”

The school district's board of trustees made the decision to give out the notices at its Wednesday meeting, which Olson said was long and difficult.

The Thursday notices followed the pink slips handed out to 12 teachers at the end of March. Of those, 11 will be reduced for a total of just over 9.5 full-time positions, Olson said.

Olson notified parents via e-mail Friday morning that the school district planned to run all of its usual bus routes with only two buses, resulting in a 45-minute delay for Cobb Mountain Elementary and Coyote Valley Elementary School's buses. However, schools still began on time.

“We don't have backups, which is a problem,” said Olson, adding, “We were able to get them all to school.”

Later in the day, Olson reported to parents that the same two buses would take students home, with run expected to be up to 45 minutes late.

Incidentally, Friday also was the day that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's May Revise of his budget came out. The impacts on local schools won't be known until later this month, according to Lisa Cockerton, business manager for Lucerne Elementary School.

Middletown is not alone in its budget struggles. As school districts around Lake County struggle with declining enrollment and less funding, dozens of classified and certificated employees are facing the loss of their jobs.

Lake County News will present an overview of the present budget situation for the local districts and their proposed employee cuts once the effects of the May revise have been analyzed.

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Gary Moore of Clearlake, Calif., shows off his winning, 24.55-pound Catfish at the 27th annual Catfish Derby on Saturday, May 15, 2010. Photo courtesy of Dennis Locke.

The 27^th annual event – known as “the largest catfish derby west of the Mississippi” – began Friday and ended on Sunday.

“We had one heck of a derby,” said event chair Gail Jonas.

There were 518 adult fishermen – eight more than last year – and 117 children, four more than the 2009 event, event officials reported.

Over the three days of competition, event organizers said approximately 124 fish were caught with a total weight of 1,515 pounds.

Gary Moore of Clearlake won the grand prize in the adult division with a 24.55-pound catfish, according to Dennis Locke of the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association. Moore won a new fishing boat, motor and trailer.

In the children's division, Christopher Lombardo of Sacramento took home the top prize with a 14.61-pound catfish, which won him a Nintendo Wii system, Locke said.

Christopher Lombardo of Sacramento reeled in a 14.6-pound catfish shortly after 11 a.m. Sunday, May 16, 2010, which won him first place in the children's division of the annual Catfish Derby in Clearlake Oaks, Calif. Lombardo won a Nintendo Wii system. Photo courtesy of Dennis Locke.

More than $3,000 in cash prizes were awarded to other adult and kid participants, said Locke, and there also were numerous raffle prizes, most donated by community merchants and residents. He said food and entertainment at derby headquarters on Saturday and Sunday topped it all off.

Casting a shadow over the fun event was a boat sinking that reportedly occurred near Clearlake early Saturday morning and claimed one life, Jonas said.

She said Search and Rescue and the Northshore Fire boat from the Clearlake Oaks station were among those responding to the incident, and the derby organizers made an announcement about the accident during the event.

It wasn't clear if the people involved were taking part in the derby, and the Lake County Sheriff's Marine Patrol, when contacted Sunday, deferred statements to the sheriff's press officer, who will not be available for comment until Monday.

Jonas called the accident “very tragic.”

Locke said that, of the 633 entries this year, more than 64 percent – or 402 – were from outside Lake County. Participants traveled from locations around California and from Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, New Mexico and Hawaii.

“Our goal is to make our event a premier visitor experience,” Locke said.

He added, “Fishing was a little slower than normal this year, and the fish a little smaller. But we had great weather, perfect conditions on the lake, and everyone had a grand time.”

Winner of the 2010 Catfish Derby, Gary Moore of Clearlake, Calif., shows off the boat he won with his 24.55-pound catfish, which he caught just after 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 15, 2010. Photo courtesy of Dennis Locke.

Once again this year there were many families taking part, Jonas said. “Everybody had such a good time.”

Now in its second year, the annual Catfish Cook-Off took place Saturday at the Clearlake Oaks Plaza, said organizer Ross Christensen.

Glenn Marks won first place for the second year with his catfish over pasta, Christensen reported. In addition to the trophies and cash awards a generous wine award was donated by local wineries and community members.

Glenn Marks' dish, catfish over pasta, won the second annual Catfish Derby Cook-off, held Saturday, May 15, 2010, in The Plaza in Clearlake Oaks, Calif. Photo by Linda Richmond.

Miss Lake County Scholarship Program and Pageant members judged the competition, and Chic Le Chef in Hidden Valley provided cooking supplies and soy-based biodegradable serving utensils, Christensen said.

Locke said that more than 50 community volunteers worked four straight days – some as long at 16 hours each day – to help make the derby a success.

The proceeds from the event go to the annual Clearlake Oaks fireworks display. Jonas said that they usually bring in about $15,000 to $16,000 with the derby, but they won't know the final tally for awhile.

Through its donations the Clearlake Oaks-Glenhaven Business Association also supports local schools, parks, senior and youth services, nonprofit organizations and a graduating senior scholarship program, Locke said.

Miss Lake County Scholarship Program and Pageant members judged the second annual Catfish Derby Cook-off competition, held Saturday, May 15, 2010, in The Plaza in Clearlake Oaks, Calif. Photo by Linda Richmond.

The event's full rankings follow.

Catfish Derby adult rankings

1. Gary Moore, Clearlake; 24.5 pounds

2. Keith Roddy, West Hills; 24 pounds

3. Owen Sunke, Forestville; 22.6 pounds

4. Jerry Bybee, Yuba City; 21.3 pounds

5. Zachary Becker, Carmichael; 20.1 pounds

6. Dow Walton, Clearlake Oaks; 19.6 pounds

7. Harold Dodson, Live Oak; 19.5 pounds

8. David Stewart Jr., Reedsport; 19.4 pounds

9. Joe McAtee, Winters; 19.2 pounds

10. Jared Lane, Hood River, Ore.; 18.2 pounds

11. James Hale, Kelseyville; 18 pounds

12. Carissa Beauchamp, Newcastle; 17.3 pounds

13. Mark Luevano, Clearlake; 17 pounds

14. Scott Enck, Sutter; 16.8 pounds

15. John Bybee, Yuba City; 16.690 pounds

16. Brian Lucas, Clovis; 16.660 pounds

17. Herman Gold, Napa; 16 pounds

18. Justin Lane, Hood River, Ore.; 15.8 pounds

19. Tom Wheeler, Sutter; 15.8 pounds

20. Howard Watts, Vallejo; 15.575 pounds

21. Casey Spencer, Arcadia; 15.530 pounds

Catfish Derby children's rankings

1. Christopher Lombardo, Sacramento; 14.6 pounds

2. Guy Boyd Jr., Clearlake; 14.3 pounds

3. Damien Bryant, Kelseyville; 13.6 pounds

4. Noah Lane, Hood River, Ore.; 13.1 pounds

5. Kevin Freeman, Grants Pass, Ore.; 12.8 pounds

6. Ryan Martin, Modesto; 12.2 pounds

7. Spencer Parker, Napa; 12.2 pounds

8. Christopher Lane, Hood River, Ore.; 12.1 pounds

9. Dylan Sanders, Clearlake Oaks; 11.4 pounds

10. Bradley Dale, Kelseyville; 11.1 pounds

More information and pictures will be available on Monday at www.clearlakeoaks.org.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

"Veggie Girl" columnist Esther Oertel looks at local produce and how to use it in creative, delicious and healthy ways. Courtesy photo.

It’s not often that I refer to a vegetable as “mighty,” but it’s hard to resist calling kale anything else.

First of all, its sheer hardiness is unmatched by any other vegetable.

It’s rarely ravaged by pests or diseases, even those that strike other members of its family. It’s in the species Brassica oleracea, which contains a wide array of vegetables, including cabbage, broccoli and collard greens.

Kale, a spring crop, thrives in cool temperatures and shuns the warmer days of summer. Northern Europeans love it for its tolerance to cold winters; there it’s valued for providing an early supply of greens. Expose it to frost and its flavor becomes deeper and sweeter.

Kale’s cabbage-like, loosely arranged leaves are beautiful for landscaping, especially because its colors range from shades of green to rich purple. Some have ruffled leaves and the endearingly named dinosaur kale has leaves that resemble reptilian skin.

Kale is one of the oldest vegetables, having been grown in its present form by the Greeks over 2,000 years ago. Up until the middle ages, it was the most common green vegetable in Europe.

It’s also one of the most nutritious veggies on the planet. Full of vitamins K, C and A, a variety of minerals and an arsenal of cancer-fighting agents, it packs more nutrients into each calorie than anything we consume. In fact, it’s so full of Vitamin K (1,327.6 per cent of our daily requirement, to be exact), that folks on prescription blood thinners should stay away from its deep green goodness.

Kale is a powerful antioxidant. As well, it contains sulforaphane, a chemical released when kale is chopped that is believed to have potent anti-cancer properties.

There are so many culinary uses for this earthy, bittersweet vegetable that I was hard-pressed to pick just one recipe to share.

It can be sautéed, braised, boiled, stir-fried, steamed and roasted, added to pots of soups, stews and beans, and used in a variety of cuisines, including Northern European, Mediterranean, Asian, Caribbean and the Southern U.S. It can be made into pesto or thrown into a fruit smoothie to make a healthy green shake (but be sure to remove the tough center rib first).

It goes particularly well with white beans, sausages or tomatoes in a soup. When served on its own, a squeeze of lemon or a bit of red wine vinegar is nice as a seasoning. Kale does not work well when used raw in a salad, unless tender baby kale is used.

My favorite way of preparing it is simple: sautéed in a skillet with a bit of olive oil, sea salt, freshly ground black pepper and garlic. Water droplets on the leaves left from washing the kale provide enough liquid for the cooking process; however, if it becomes dry, add a bit of vegetable broth or some more water. After it’s had a nice sauté, finish the dish by covering the pan and steaming the kale until tender and sweet.

Keep in mind that kale takes longer to become tender than other greens such as chard or collards. Cooking it to a tender state removes some of the bitterness that may be present otherwise.

For an added treat, I combine the cooked kale with caramelized onions to use as a topping for polenta, to accompany roasted sweet potatoes or as a green bed on which to rest grilled salmon or chicken.

As our weather grows warmer, less kale will be available at local farmers’ markets. Judith Biggs, self-described “growing artist” of Bio Farm in Kelseyville, had plenty of organically-grown kale at her booth Saturday at the Steele Winery farmers’ market. Her supply will wane as our summer nears, so buy quickly! In addition to mature kale, she has baby kale available.

The recipe I’d like to share with you is unusual but tasty. Once you try it, it may become addictive. It’s a healthier alternative to potato or corn chips, so guilt is not necessary when indulging in this culinary treat.

Kale crisps with sea salt

For about three servings, use:

6 cups of firmly-packed kale, washed and trimmed

1-1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

1-1/2 teaspoon good quality sea salt

Toss kale with the olive oil and roast on a baking pan in a preheated 375 degree oven. Turn kale over and roast another 7 to 10 minutes until kale turns brown and becomes paper thin and brittle. Remove from oven and sprinkle with sea salt. Best when served immediately.

Note: To trim kale, cut stems off and strip the leaves off the tough inner rib.

Esther Oertel, the "Veggie Girl," is a personal chef and culinary coach and is passionate about local produce. Oertel owns The SageCoach Personal Chef Service and teaches culinary classes at Chic Le Chef in Hidden Valley Lake. She welcomes your questions and comments; e-mail her at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Arturo Lopez, 52, was arrested on charges of attempted murder, giving false identification to an officer and a parole violation, according to Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department.

At 1:45 p.m. Friday police and Lake County Fire Protection District medical personnel were dispatched to Safeway in Clearlake for a reported hit-and-run with an injured pedestrian, Hobbs said.

When they arrived, police and paramedics found an unconscious male in his 50s lying on Burns Valley Road, just outside of the Safeway parking lot entrance. Hobbs said REACH air ambulance was called to transport the man to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where he was treated for life-threatening head injuries.

Hobbs said police learned during their investigation that Lopez, a Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation parolee, was the alleged driver in the incident.

Lopez had allegedly been in an altercation with the victim before the incident. Hobbs said witnesses and evidence at the scene led to the conclusion that Lopez had intentionally hit the other man with his vehicle.

Shortly after processing the scene, Clearlake Police officers located Lopez's vehicle, which Hobbs said was towed and stored for evidence.

A short time later, just after 4 p.m., police found Lopez and arrested him, Hobbs said.

Following Lopez's arrest, he was taken to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake for medical clearance, according to Sgt. Rodd Joseph.

While Lopez was being examined it was discovered that he had pre-existing medical issues that required emergency treatment, Joseph said. Lopez subsequently was released from custody and transported to another hospital in Napa County.

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

Ameni Kawmen Crockett, 36, was arrested Sunday morning on several felony and misdemeanor charges – including assault with a firearm – after the SWAT team forced him out of a trailer, according to Sgt. Rodd Joseph of the Clearlake Police Department.

Joseph said that just after 10:30 p.m. Saturday police received a report of multiple shots fired in the area of Cass and Huron avenues, located off Old Highway 53.

One of witnesses to the incident followed Crockett back to a unit at Lakeland Resort on Old Highway 53, he said.

Joseph and another officer were the first on scene, and he said witnesses pointed them to the Lakeland Resort unit where Crockett had barricaded himself.

Clearlake Police – with the assistance of the Lake County Sheriff's Office – established a perimeter around the scene. Using the public address system in Joseph's car, authorities tried to call Crockett out, but he refused to comply, Joseph said.

Because they believed Crockett could be armed with a handgun, along with his refusal to come out, the Lake County SWAT Team and the hostage negotiation team were called at about 11 p.m. Saturday, according to Joseph.

Joseph said Old Highway 53 was closed to traffic and neighbors in the units next to that in which Crockett was barricaded were evacuated to Clearlake City Hall.

The SWAT team arrived about an hour and a half later after the group was called, Joseph said. As the SWAT team members were getting suited up, the Lake County District Attorney's Office was contacted and that agency sent out an investigator, who responded to the Clearlake Police Department to begin working on a search warrant.

When the SWAT team got on scene they tried unsuccessfully to get Crockett out of the residence. Joseph said that during the coming hours the hostage negotiation team established phone contact with Crockett and continued a dialogue with him.

Finally, at about 7 a.m. Sunday, Judge Stephen Hedstrom signed the search warrant prepared by the district attorney's investigator, Joseph said.

The SWAT team deployed a camera which determined Crockett still was inside the Lakeland Resort unit, Joseph said.

Once police had the search warrant and it became clear that Crockett wasn't going to come out on his own, Joseph said the SWAT team deployed chemicals into the trailer.

Within a few minutes, Crockett came out the back door and was taken into custody just after 7 a.m. Joseph said Crockett was treated for the teargas and arrested.

Clearlake Police officers then conducted a search of the trailer, finding no one else inside, Joseph said.

In the area where the shots originally were reported, police found two bullets in a vehicle and one in a parked boat near the intersection of Cass and Huron avenues, according to Joseph.

While the investigation is still pending, Joseph said Crockett – who has had numerous contacts with Clearlake Police – already has been charged with two counts of assault with a firearm on a person.

“There were two people standing near the car when the shots were fired,” he said.

Crockett, who is a convicted felon, also was charged with being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition, exhibiting a firearm, willful discharge of a firearm in a negligent manner, shooting at an unoccupied vehicle or dwelling, and obstructing or resisting a peace office, Joseph said.

Joseph said Crockett also allegedly was found in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, which resulted in additional charges.

Crockett's bail has been set at $10,000, according to Lake County Jail records.

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The quake near Oakland was felt as far away as Ukiah, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

Earthquakes and aftershocks continued to rock Baja and Southern California since the 7.2 magnitude temblor on April 4, with three out of the dozens of quakes recorded on Saturday above 3.0. The US Geological Survey said the strongest of those quakes was a 4.3-magnitude temblor near Guadalupe Victoria, Baja California, Mexico.

Nearly two dozen earthquakes were recorded at The Geysers on Saturday; the largest being a 2.0 magnitude, which occurred at 10:11 a.m. and was felt as far away as Berkeley, according to the US Geological Survey.

E-mail Terre Logsdon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .

Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office identified the drowning victim as John Michael Hinman, 42, of Clearlake

Hinman's body was discovered in Clear Lake about 70 yards offshore after his roommates reported him missing, according to Sgt. Tim Hobbs of Clearlake Police.

Hobbs said Hinman lived with two roommates in the 13900 block of Lakeshore Drive who reported him missing shortly before 4 a.m. Thursday, after seeing him last just shortly after midnight.

They found a note in which Hinman stated he planned to swim to Kelseyville and which led them to believe he might try to take his own life.

Hobbs said there were no signs that Hinman died from any cause other than drowning.

Bauman said an autopsy is pending to determine Hinman's precise cause of death.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow Lake County News on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LakeCoNews and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-News/143156775604?ref=mf .