Full Notification

Public Information Release
March 20, 2014
Lieutenant Steve Brooks, Public Information Officer


Deputies responded to a residence in Middletown to conduct a welfare check of an elderly woman, which has resulted in one arrest.

On March 20, 2014 at approximately 11:10 am, Central Dispatch received a telephone call from an employee with Lake County Adult Protective Services (APS). The employee had attempted to conduct a welfare check of a Middletown woman, due to receiving a report that the woman was not receiving proper medical care and was malnourished. The APS employee had attempted to check the condition of the woman, but her son, who was later identified as 49 year old Wesley Wayne Tolleson of Lower Lake, would not let him inside the home. Lake County Adult Protective Services was requesting assistance from the Sheriff’s Office in checking the woman’s condition. They also advised that that Tolleson had several firearms scattered throughout the residence.

Deputies responded to the residence which was located in the 15000 block of Armstrong Street in Middletown. They knocked on the door, but Tolleson refused to let the deputies inside. Tolleson said they would have to bring several more deputies with them, before they would be able to get inside the house. The deputies were able to set up a perimeter around the residence and requested that the Sheriff’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) respond.

The Lake County International Charter School which was within close proximity of the residence was notified of the incident and placed on lockdown. Three other schools in the area decided to lock down their campuses after receiving information about the incident.

A line of communication was set up with Tolleson and he gave up peacefully at approximately 2:15 pm. A welfare check was conducted on Tolleson’s mother and she was transported to the hospital by ambulance, so she could receive proper medical attention.

Wesley Wayne Tolleson was arrested for resisting or obstructing a peace officer in the performance of his / her duties. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.