News Archive (6192)
Amador County - The Amador County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the suspect in a bank robbery that occurred last Friday in Plymouth. At approximately 11:39 am, sheriff’s officers received reports that the Wells Fargo Bank at 9454 Main Street had been robbed. Witnesses at the scene say the robber was relatively low-key and was last seen running westbound on Main Street. Several images of the suspect were captured on the bank surveillance system. According to a statement released by the Sheriff’s Office, “Bank personnel told detectives a white male suspect entered the bank and approached a teller. Bank personnel reported that the suspect (a white male about 6 feet tall) handed the teller a note demanding money and stating that he had a firearm. The teller provided the suspect with a small amount of currency which he placed into his pocket.” The suspect never displayed the firearm but did make a verbal reference to having one. During a neighborhood search, deputies learned of a white Dodge van with an overhead rack system occupied by a white male subject with a beard that had been observed in the area immediately prior to and immediately after the robbery. The sherrif’s office describe the suspect as a white male, approximately 6 feet tall, weighing approximately 175 to 180 pounds, with reddish brown hair and a beard, wearing dark sunglasses, a white tee shirt, charcoal grey hooded sweatshirt with the word “Clive” on the front and black gloves. Anyone with information regarding this or any other crime is urged to contact the Amador County Sheriff’s Office at (209) 223-6500 or the Amador County Secret Witness Program at (209) 223-4900. (end) am Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
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Amador County – The Sutter Creek Fire Department doled out the winnings of a 181,000 Dollar State grant Monday, with the award to be split among 5 firefighting jurisdictions in Amador County. Sutter Creek Fire Captain and grant program director Dan Barnes and members of the local brigades will each get about 36,000 dollars worth of new extrication equipment from the California Office of Traffic Safety. He said that includes 5 sets of hydraulic Hurst extrication tools, 5 heavy airbags, rescue stabilization struts, portable lighting and a portable gasoline powered hydraulic power unit. The power generator powers two Hurst tools at a time. The grant is part of the “Regional Extrication Improvement Program,” and gives the equipment to Sutter Creek and Jackson Fire Departments; Battalion 20 of the Amador Fire Protection District, which covers Plymouth and Fiddletown; AFPD Battalion 10, which covers Upcountry; and the Lockwood Fire Protection District. Barnes said he has been working on the grants since last winter and he’ll wrap up the grant in another year. He will also file quarterly reports on the equipment’s usage, as part of the grant, so that statistics on results may be known, such as patient conditions after being saved with the equipment. The equipment was delivered 2 weeks ago, just before the election. Barnes said “this is a good thing for Amador County. We got Measure M passed and now this. We’re taking steps in the right direction.” Story by Jim Reece (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
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Amador County - A two car accident on Martin Lane in Ione sent two people to the hospital on Tuesday night. Little information about the accident is available, but it was confirmed by law enforcement as a head-on collision between a red sedan and a grey pickup truck, which may have been turning onto Martin lane from Highway 88. One driver was seriously injured and transported by helicopter to the hospital. The California Highway Patrol is still investigating the incident. Contact them for more information. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
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Amador County - A fire that threatened to engulf a house in flames was quickly extiguished thanks to the quick response of firefighters Tuesday evening. The fire began at the rear of a home on Debbie Lane in Pine Grove. The fire could have threatened several surrounding structures, but was brought under control by fire crews within fifteen minutes of the blaze’s inception, at 6:45 Tuesday evening. When Fire Battalion 10 first arrived on scene, the rear of an adjacent building to the home was heavily involved in fire. Negotiating a narrow driveway on a steep hill, fire fighters were able to set up hose lines and quickly knock back the flames before they spread any further to the building and the adjacent home. Fire personnel are still investigating the cause of the blaze. Bill Lavallie contributed.
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Via Staff Report - Even though more rain is forecast across the foothills area, CALFIRE is reminding foothill residents that fire danger still remains high across Amador, Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties, and the chance of large and damaging fires still exists. Even with forecasted precipitation through the coming weeks, a burn suspension remains in effect and violators will be cited. This expected precipitation, though greatly needed, is not expected to be of significant levels to help with the dryness of fuels. CALFIRE Stations are prepared to respond to fires that may occur should we experience any lightning activity during the passing of this storm front. According to CALFIRE Chief Noonan, “We will provide adequate notice of any change in the restricted burning status. Making sure your property is in compliance with 100 foot defensible space clearance is one of the many ways you can help your community to be fire safe.” For more tips and ways to be fire safe contact your local CALFIRE station, or visit www.fire.ca.gov.
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A combined effort between the County Narcotic Enforcement Team, or ACCNET, and various other local law enforcement agencies has resulted in the eradication of an illegal commercial marijuana cultivation site in a remote area of Amador County, east of Fiddletown. The site was raided on August 21st by ACCNET agents in cooperation with the Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team. ACCNET had identified the cultivation site while conducting reconnaissance in that area. ACCNET conducted surveillance of the location and determined the site was being tended to by a Mexican national drug trafficking organization. A nearby property owner also reported hearing gunfire from the canyon during the past few weeks. The Amador County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team were utilized to secure the cultivation site due to the probability of encountering armed cultivators. No suspects were found at the location. The eradicated marijuana was extracted from the cultivation site. A total of 5,729 marijuana plants were collected from seven separate but inter-connected plots. The investigation is ongoing. This is the third commercial marijuana cultivation site seized by ACCNET this year. All of the growing locations so far have been tended to by a Mexican national drug trafficking organization.
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The Plymouth City Council was introduced to their new Resident Deputy Thursday evening. Nathan Woods, who has been with the Sheriff’s Department for the past year, has officially been in his new position for the past two weeks. A graduate of Argonaut High School, the 24 year old man was raised in Amador County along with his wife, also a graduate of Argonaut High School, and he “hopes to raise his young daughter in the same environment.” He stated to the council that he is looking forward to “serving the City of Plymouth as best as possible.” The council collectively responded that they were looking forward to building a working relationship with Deputy Woods, and welcomed him on board. Also at the meeting lifelong Plymouth Resident Gary Colburn spoke to the council during the public comment portion of the meeting and officially announced his candidacy for the upcoming November election. He commented that he wants “to give the community a choice” and that he wants to see “all the cards put on the table.” At the end of Mr. Colburn’s speech, Councilman Greg Baldwin publicly apologized to Mr. Colburn for “calling him out” at the last City Council meeting for going over his time limit at the podium during public comment as he didn’t realize that the previous speaker had done so as well. He also apologized for calling law enforcement. Mr. Colburn accepted the apology.
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Thursday, 14 August 2008 01:55
Calaveras DA To Start Enforcing DUI Vehicle Forfeiture Law
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Driving under the influence in Calaveras County will now cost you more than just an arm and a leg. For DUI repeat offenders, the Calaveras County Office of the District Attorney has just announced it will enforce an existing vehicle code that authorizes the court to forfeit the offender’s ownership rights. Calaveras District Attorney Jeffrey Tuttle intends to file a motion on every case possible under the law, which was added to the California Vehicle Code in 1999. Under the code, the court may “declare the motor vehicle driven by the defendant to be a nuisance if the defendant is the registered owner of the vehicle.” In these cases, the court would order the Sheriff’s office to sell the vehicle, and all net proceeds would be kept by the county. In Calaveras County this year so far, the Sheriff’s department has made 192 arrests for DUI. When asked if Amador County would be following suit, District Attorney Todd Riebe said “it’s not something you can just jump into. There’s a lot of (factors) to consider,” referring to the code’s restrictions on selling the vehicle. 
Riebe also noted that besides the district attorney’s office, the court has the authority to uphold that law without a motion from the DA. If Amador County did pursue this type of action, it would be for “more serious circumstances,” such as vehicular manslaughter or serious injury as a result of driving under the influence. For more information on this vehicle code section, go to the California’s DMV’s website at www.dmv.ca.gov and search on VC 23596.
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At the Ione City Council’s special meeting last week, it was requested that the agenda item regarding loan financing options for the new fire station be brought back when a comprehensive comparison of the loan options was available. At the April 29th meeting however, with recommendation from staff, the four pending proposals were narrowed down to the two that were deemed best for the city. Those two proposals were from Bar Capital and the Bank of Amador, whose terms were not completed by the April 29th meeting. Finance Director Mark Smith continued to recommend the Bar Capital loan for the city, stating that “given the conservative nature of some of you, this makes the most sense.” The Bank of Amador’s proposed loan does have a more favorable short term interest rate and no prepayment penalties, although the rate is adjustable, unlike Bar Capital's, which is a fixed rate term. The estimated annual repayments for the loan with Bar Capital are approximately 44-thousand dollars, with out of pocket expenses totaling 55-hundred to 10-thousand dollars. Council voted 3-2, with Councilmen Ulm and Sherman dissenting, to approve the selection of the loan with Bar Capital and also to authorize City Manager Kim Kerr to sign the loan documents on behalf of the city.
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Amador County - State wildlife authorities have arrested a meat shop owner in Sacramento on suspicion of buying venison from a couple accused of poaching deer in Amador County. Tawn Saephan, 45, owner of Samthong Meat Market on 6245 Franklin Boulevard, was arrested Friday on suspicion of purchasing deer meat after a seven-month investigation. He allegedly bought the meat from 42-year-old Lofoo Saeturn and 61-year-old Merry Nian Saechao. Foy says wardens arrested the couple for shooting deer out of season and at night in El Dorado, Placer and Amador counties. They face felony conspiracy and poaching charges. The majority of deer poaching involves individuals killing deer for their own consumption, said Foy. He said the suspects were selling the deer for $150 a piece. According to reports, a couple hundred pounds of deer meat and at least seven deer carcasses were found at a home the suspects were renting on Elder Creek Road. Foy said the number of deer the couple are suspected of killing likely exceeds the seven animals found in the home. Staff Report (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
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