Full Notification

Public Information Release
April 16, 2014
Lieutenant Steve Brooks, Public Information Officer


On April 9, 2014 I received a request for public information from John Jensen of Lake County News. Jensen referred to the sheriff’s debate which was held at Kelseyville High School on April, 8 2014. Jensen questioned the accuracy of a statement made by Sheriff Rivero when he said the Sheriff’s Office had responded to four marijuana related home invasion robberies on the same night.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office does not put out a press release on every crime reported or arrest made. This is due to time constraints and the status of the case. All four of the cases in question have not yet been adjudicated, so the information provided will be limited.

On October 3, 2013 at approximately 4:25 am deputies were dispatched to a residence in Kelseyville for a reported home invasion robbery. The victims reported that they were sleeping and woke up to the sound of their front door being kicked open. Approximately five individuals entered the residence with firearms and tied up the occupants. Multiple marijuana plants and credit cards were taken from the residence.

On October 3, 2013 at approximately 6:04 am, deputies were dispatched to a residence in Lower Lake for a reported home invasion robbery. The victim reported that two armed subjects entered his residence and began to assault him. The victim was able to get away and as he ran into the woods the subjects shot at him several times. It is believed marijuana was involved, due to approximately 1000 marijuana plants being eradicated from the victim’s property in September 2013.

On October 3, 2013 at approximately 7:48 pm, deputies were dispatched to a residence in Clearlake Oaks for a reported robbery. The victim noticed a subject leaving his property with several marijuana plants tied together. The plants had been cut down and removed from the victim’s backyard. When the victim confronted the suspect they got into a physical altercation. The suspect bit the victim, punched him several time in the face and threatened to cut him with a knife.

On October 3, 2013 at approximately 7:40 pm, narcotics officers attempted to conduct an enforcement stop on a vehicle which was traveling southbound on Highway 53 from Clearlake at a high rate of speed. Detectives pursued the vehicle as it turned onto northbound highway 29 and then onto Point Lakeview Road. Detectives lost site of the vehicle in the area of Konocti Vista Drive in Lower Lake. They later discovered the driver of the vehicle was responding to a family member’s house in Kelseyville, who was the victim of a home invasion robbery.

Deputies contacted the victim who said on October 3, 2013 at approximately 7:00pm, someone rang her doorbell twice. She looked outside and was unable to see anyone. When she opened the door a male subject wearing a mask grabbed her by the arm and told her to go inside or he was going to shoot her. As the suspect attempted to push her inside the residence, the victim’s two dogs came to the front door and the suspect ran from the area.

The deputy located several garbage bags and a roll of duct tape sitting outside, next to the front door. The victim denied ownership of the items and believed the suspect left them when he ran away. Detectives located a large amount of processed marijuana at the residence, which was seized.

Although I responded to Mr. Jensen and provided him with the information as to when the incidents occurred and the fact that Sheriff Rivero’s statement was accurate, Mr. Jensen insisted on additional details

The Sheriff’s Narcotics Task Force will continue its efforts to eradicate narcotics from the communities of Lake County and seize the suspected profits of drug trafficking for the asset forfeiture whenever possible. Anyone with information that can assist the Task Force with this effort is encouraged to call the anonymous tip line at 263-3663.