Full Notification

Public Information Release
August 30, 2012
Sergeant Steve Brooks, Public Information Officer


Lake County Sheriff’s Patrol Deputies responded to a report of two PG&E employees being shot at, while working at a residence in north Lakeport on Wednesday.

On August 29, 2012 at approximately 5:06 pm, deputies responded to an address on Oak Park Way in Lakeport, where two male subjects had taken refuge after being shot at. Deputies contacted both subjects who explained that they work for North Coast Energy Services, which subcontracts with PG&E installing energy efficient utilities.

Both subjects said they received a work order to install several utilities at the home of 64 year old Dennis Cato, which is located in the 3000 block of Hill Road East in Lakeport. They had contacted Cato the day before and scheduled an appointment to install the equipment on August 29, 2012 at 10:00 am.

Both subjects said they arrived at Cato’s residence at the agreed upon time and started installing the equipment. At approximately 5:00 pm, they were just completing the installation of a water heater, when Cato stepped out onto the front porch and appeared to be somewhat intoxicated. Cato looked at them and said he was going to shoot them both and went back inside the residence. Afraid for their safety, both subjects started to load tools and equipment back into their work van, so they could leave. Cato came back outside moments later with a handgun and started shooting at them. As they were running away, one of them fell down and injured his back. Both subjects told deputies that they did not know why Cato had shot at them.

Deputies responded to Cato’s home, where he was detained without incident. A protective sweep was conducted inside the residence. A rifle and two handguns were located within close proximity to the front door.

Both of the North Coast Energy Services employees positively identified Dennis Cato as the person who had shot at them. They also identified one of the handguns, which was a revolver as being the one used by Cato during the shooting. When deputies inspected the revolver they noticed spent casings inside the cylinder. Deputies also noticed two bullet holes in one of the van tires, which matched the direction Cato was reported to have pointed and fired the handgun.

Cato was arrested for attempted murder, assault with a firearm, criminal threats and negligent discharge of a firearm. He was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked.