According to the California Highway Patrol, a driver on Hwy 16 was towing a horse trailer loaded with 2 horses at about 50 mph when the weight of the horses shifted. The trailer began to swerve from side to side and when the driver of the SUV towing the trailer began to brake, the trailer spun, hit the dirt shoulder and overturned, rolling the SUV along with it. Fortunately, the driver was uninjured and the horses escaped with only minor injuries.

Memorial Day weekend traditionally marks the beginning of summer, and the nearing end of the school year.  Before the celebration begins, the Amador Unit of the California Highway Patrol (CHP) wants to remind Amador county motorists to plan ahead, designate a driver, and wear their seat belts. The CHP is joining with local law enforcement agencies throughout the country in a two-week effort known as the “2007 Click It or Ticket Mobilization, Seat Belt Tickets Save Lives”. Not only will the CHP be out in full force this weekend, so will the Amador County Sheriff’s department, Jackson Police Department, Sutter Creek Police Department and Ione Police Department.

San Andreas – Calaveras County District Attorney Jeffrey Tuttle released the findings Thursday of his independent investigation into the officer-involved shooting of Michael Thompson, finding Sheriff’s Deputies were justified in the use of lethal force. Tuttle referenced Penal Code Section 196, which “provides that use of lethal force is justifiable when necessarily committed by public officers to overcome actual resistance in the discharge of a legal duty.” On the morning of May 27, 2009, Detectives Rick Dibasilio, Alan Serpa and Wade Whitney acted on a information received by the Sheriff’s Department that Michael Thompson was a suspect in a string of local vehicle thefts, including a white IROC Camaro. Subsequent to the search of Thompson’s residence, Detective Serpa noticed a white IROC Camaro while on patrol in San Andreas. Serpa recruited Detectives Dibasilio and Whitney to assist in following the vehicle, which eventually stopped at the residence of Jimmy Guadagnolo, an associate of Michael Thompson. Once at the residence, the detectives noticed the white Camaro in the driveway. Detective Dibasilio approached the vehicle and discovered Thompson, who was later reported to have been putting water in the car’s radiator. Thompson walked to the driver’s side. After announcing his presence and ordering Thompson to stop, Dibasilio reached through the window and attempted to turn off the vehicle. Tuttle said “Thompson stepped hard on the gas pedal and the vehicle accelerated in reverse.” Dibasilio was knocked off his feet and, using his grip on the car, “righted himself and ended up with his lower rib cage resting on top of the driver’s door as the car whipped around in reverse.” Adding to the confusion of the situation was the car’s exhaust emission system, which was reportedly “very loud – like a destruction derby car.” Detective Serpa reportedly feared Dibasilio would be dragged under the vehicle “in a heart beat and he would have been run over.” Because both O’Neill and Dibasilio were in his line of fire, Serpa opted to use his taser to subdue Thompson but was unsuccessful. Serpa stated that he heard shots after he fired the taser and saw Detective Whitney shooting his weapon at the windshield. The vehicle hung up on a planter box and the rear wheel lost traction. District Attorney Tuttle said that “after the Camaro came to rest, the officers noticed the ignition had been “punched” – a common technique used by car thieves to start a car without the keys.” Tuttle concluded that Detective Whitney “discharged his weapon to necessarily overcome actual resistance in the discharge of his legal duties a peace officer.” Tuttle said “Deputy Dibasilio was in danger of serious injury or death from the actions of Michael Thompson…so the use of deadly force was clearly necessary.” Thompson received minor injuries and is currently in custody at the Calaveras County Jail. Witness Meghan O’Neill refused to give a statement to the DA Investigator. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.m

Amador County – A driver who hit a telephone pole has been confirmed as the cause of a 1 acre fire along Gopher Flat Road in Sutter Creek last Friday, according to police reports. Amador Fire Protection District Chief Jim McCart said the fire was reported at 6:30 pm Friday evening. As of air time, police officials were not yet available to confirm rumors that the driver fled the scene of the accident. An electrical blaze originated at the downed pole subsequently ignited roughly 1 acre of dry grassland on a hillside. Fire crews from Sutter Creek, Jackson and CALFIRE responded to the incident. Fortunately, the road served as a natural firewall and prevented the blaze from spreading to houses across the street. Reports indicate that the fire was not completely extinguished until roughly midnight, said McCart. PG & E was called out inspect the poles and reinstate service. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Calaveras County – A total of 5,000 marijuana plants were eradicated in another regional marijuana bust Wednesday, according to reports by the Calaveras County Sheriff’s Department. 15 pounds of marijuana processed for illegal distribution were also confiscated. Reports say the grow was spotted during a routine observation flight in a remote area of Calaveras County off Fricot City Road, roughly ten miles from San Andreas. A seizure operation was organized and conducted by the Narcotics Enforcement Unit with assistance from the Department of Fish and Game and the Department of Justice. As in other recent raids, a Mexican Drug Trafficking organization is suspected. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Reports of an elderly man threatening his wife and son with a firearm resulted in an all-night standoff between Amador County SWAT teams in the Pioneer/Volcano area last Friday. An 82-year-old female victim reported at approximately 3:07 am that her husband, 88-year-old Samuel Jackson Cooper, Jr., had an argument with her 59-year-old son regarding yard work he had not performed. The Amador County Sheriff’s Office received multiple calls that were disconnected, but were able to establish that the emergency calls came from 23750 Shake Ridge Road in Pioneer. Cooper’s wife reported that the calls had been disconnected because Cooper had torn the line out of the wall. She reported that Cooper had pushed her when she intervened in the dispute, then obtained his .22 caliber revolver and threatened to “kill” both her and his step-son. As she and her son fled the residence, they reported hearing a single gun shot. After arriving on scene, Amador County Sheriff’s SWAT and Critical Incident Negotiations Teams established a perimeter when it became apparent that Cooper would not leave his residence. “Sheriff’s personnel used various techniques in an effort to make contact with Cooper and stimulate negotiations,” reports Undersheriff Jim Wegner. Cooper agreed to leave the residence and was taken into custody at 12:10 the next day. Due to age and medical condition, Cooper was transported to Sutter Amador for medical clearance prior to booking. He was charged with Battery upon a spouse; negligent discharge of a firearm; Criminal Threats; Dissuading a witness with force; and resisting a peace officer. Bail was set at $150,000.00. Amador County Sheriff’s Detectives subsequently executed an Amador County Superior Court Search Warrant at the residence for evidence of the crimes committed by Cooper. Several firearms were recovered, along with expended ammunition. Wegner said the California Highway Patrol, American Legion Ambulance and Lockwood Fire Department assisted the Amador County Sheriff’s Office with this incident. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador County Grand Jury Foreman Vince Murdock delivered the jury’s final report to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday, focusing on the investigation into alleged misconduct by Jackson Valley Fire Department Chief Thom Reed. The investigation came after a number of witnesses and JVFPD volunteers reported Reed responded to calls and endangered others by performing his duties under the influence of alcohol. The report find that “78 percent of witnesses were aware of the JVFPD Chief being under the influence of alcohol while attempting to perform his duties” and the knowledge of his intoxication “was widespread.” Murdock said he is “appalled by the number of people who gave false or misleading testimony.” Perhaps the most damning conclusion of the Grand Jury was that Reed, as well as the Chief and Captain of the Ione Fire Department, Operations Manager of American Legion Ambulance Service, Assistant Fire Chief of the Jackson Valley Fire Protection District and the Chairperson for the Jackson Valley Board of Directors gave “false, misleading, or inconsistent testimony.” “People didn’t say anything about it and when they were finally given the chance they misled us,” said Murdock. Among the myriad of other violations, the Grand Jury found there had been no Operations and Procedure Policy in place for the JVFPD since at least 1992; the JVFPD “took no action after receiving a complaint concerning the consumption of alcohol by the individual in question while on calls”; “neighboring emergency service departments took no action after receiving complaints concerning the consumption of alcohol”; and the Jackson Valley Board of Directors “is in violation of the Brown Act.” Supervisor Richard Forster echoed the sentiments of others on the board. “What you are doing is somewhat of a thankless job,” he said. Forster’s wife spent almost a year on a previous Grand Jury. Forster said District Attorney Todd Riebe is “proceeding with common sense to resolve this matter.” Murdock thanked Riebe and his office for their openness and help through the process. Supervisor John Plasse said “the opportunity to have citizens step back and critique the various aspects of government is an important one.” The Grand Jury report recommends that Reed and the Chairman of the Jackson Valley Board of Directors be removed from office. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Amador and Calaveras County Sheriff’s Departments are seeking any leads as to the possible whereabouts of a Stockton man who went missing June 7 at the Moore Creek Campground in Calaveras County. Steve Leslie Sid, a 52-year-old Asian male, was last seen wearing dark denim jeans a white t-shirt and tennis shoes. He is 5’ 10”, approximately 180 pounds. Since the initial missing person report on June 7, “there have been possible sightings by individuals who were in the area of the Moore Creek Campground,’ according to a release from the Amador Sheriff’s Department. The most recent was by a Pacific Gas & Electric employee conducting maintenance work on campgrounds and residences in the area of the Moore Creek and Mokelumne River Campgrounds on Sunday June 8. The employee reported June 10 a possible sighting of Sid near the Moore Creek Tributary. The witness reported that Sid “did not appear to be in distress” and the Stockton Police Department has since deemed that Sid’s disappearance is suspicious in nature. On June 9 and 10, a cooperative search was conducted by foot and helicopter with the assistance of K-9 units. The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office said it has suspended its search at this time, but the Amador Office says it is still looking. At the present time the Amador County Sheriff's Office is treating Sid’s disappearance as a missing person and is requesting the public’s assistance. On June 7, Sid left Stockton to go camping with friends at the Moore Creek Campground. Just before dark, he took a walk and did not return to the campsite. His companions returned to Stockton and reported him missing. If you have any information as to the whereabouts of Steve Sid, contact the Amador County Sheriff’s Department at (209) 223-6500 or the Calaveras Sheriff’s Department at (209) 754-6500. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Amador County – Longtime law enforcement official John D’Agostini has made it all but official that he’ll be running for El Dorado Sheriff in the 2010 election. D’Agostini, a resident of El Dorado County, has served in Amador County for 15 years, as a former Amador County Sheriff’s sergeant and in his current role as 2nd in command for the Amador County Combined Narcotics Enforcement Team. He’ll be up against three other strong candidates: Stan Perez, a former chief of the CHP’s valley division; Bob Luca, an El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office Investigator; and Larry Hennick, a retired 32-year veteran of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department. Incumbent Sheriff Jeff Neves has not decided whether he will seek re-election. D’Agostini told TSPN he intends to “return to a type of community-oriented policing,” but that term “has been used for years to the point that people barely understand what it means.” Instead, he said he’ll base his campaign on a 3-prong policy he calls “total policing.” That stands for total enforcement, total care and total professionalism. After years of first-hand experience with the regions growing drug-related issues, he feels “drugs are directly or indirectly the cause of most crime in this area.” Other issues high on his agenda include combating domestic violence and vandalism in the county’s west-end that could be signs of an increasing gang presence. When asked to comment on whether he feels he’ll be a more effective Sheriff than Neves, D’Agostini said it’s simply a matter of having different leadership styles. “I’ll bring a different culture and personality to the position that I personally feel will be more effective. (Neves) has started some good programs, and I will build on those.” D’Agostini said he will formally announce his candidacy at his family’s ranch in Mt. Aukum on June 13. Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.