On June 11,2013 at approximately 8:00 pm officers from the Susanville Police Department responded to a residence in the 500 block of Woodside Way on a report of a subject who had barricaded himself in his residence and was threatening suicide. Upon arrival, officers observed the subject identified as Joseph Adair age/45 of Susanville standing in front of his residence
and attempted to contact him.

As officers were approaching Adair, he went back into his residence through a garage door, revealed himself in a front window and proceeded to fire several rounds from a pellet gun in the direction of the approaching officers.

Officers began verbal negotiations with Adair from outside the residence; however he refused to come out of the residence. Negotiations continued for several hours in an attempt to identify the issue with Adair and resolve the situation peacefully. After a four hour standoff, Adair opened the interior door leading to the garage and engaged officers with a pellet pistol. The officers were able to subdue Adair and arrest him without injury.

Adair was booked into the Lassen County Jail on multiple charges including assault on a peace officer with simulated firearm, resisting an officer with violence, and discharging a pellet gun in a negligent manner. Adair was held on $15,000 bail.

The Susanville Police Department was assisted by members of the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol during this incident. Their assistance in crisis situations is always appreciated.

The case has been referred to the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Tom Downing
Chief of Police
Business Office (530)257-5603 Dispatch (530)257-2171 FAX (530)257-7366
1801 Main Street, Susanville California 96130-3904

Susanville Police Department
Thomas V. Downing, Chief of Police

Press Release

                                                   June 6, 2013

On June 5, 2013 at approximately 7:57 pm, the Susanville Police Department responded to 1110 Main St. in front of Lassen High School for a vehicle accident involving a pedestrian.

Through the investigation on scene, officers determined that Charles Bradley Illes, age/49 of Chico, Ca was driving a  2013 Chevy Silverado truck westbound on Main Street; as he was approaching the crosswalk in front of the high school, he struck pedestrian, Thomas Irven Robinson, age 68, from Susanville, who was traveling through the crosswalk on a power chair.

Robinson was transported to Renown Medical Center via Helicopter for injuries received as a result of the collision.

The case is still under investigation and a formal cause of the collision has not yet been determined.

Press Release
May 31, 2013

On Thursday, May 30, 2013 at approximately 3:15 AM, officers from the Susanville Police Department responded to a residence in the 100 block of S. Fairfield Ave. on a report of a burglary in progress. Upon arrival officers contacted a 32 year old female who reported that she woke up to find an unknown subject in her residence, possibly rummaging through her belongings. The victim reported that she was struck a few times about the face and head by the intruder who then fled the residence with some personal property including her wallet with an undisclosed amount of cash inside.

The victim received injuries which included swelling and a small laceration on her head and forehead. The victim declined to be transported to the hospital, however she was treated for her injuries at the scene by medics.

The case remains under investigation. The Susanville Police Department in encouraging anyone with information in this case to please call our 24 hour dispatch line at (530) 257-2171. You can remain anonymous if you wish.

Matt Wood
Police Lieutenant

Susanville Police Department
Thomas V. Downing, Chief of Police

Press Release
UPDATE
May 17, 2013

Update:  On May 17, 2013, two additional suspects were arrested as a result of this program.  Troy Allen Smith age/44 of Susanville was arrested on a felony warrant for sales of marijuana, methamphetamine and prescription narcotics.  He has already in custody in Lassen County Jail.  The second subject, a 16 year old male, was arrested at the Lassen Union High School District office today on an arrest warrant for the sales of marijuana.  He was booked into the Lassen County Juvenile Hall.

May 16, 2013:  Over the course of the last two months, the Susanville Police Department has employed a police officer to conduct an undercover drug buy program in an attempt to address drug sales around Lassen High School.  The program was intended to identify and arrest individuals who are selling drugs to our youth.  It turned out that the youth were selling to youth.  The program culminated on March 16, 2013 with the execution of a search warrant by the Susanville Police Department and the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office at a residence on Lowry Street and the serving or several arrest warrants.

As a result of the search warrant, officers located and seized a small amount of marijuana in the residence and arrested Ramon Manual Pena age/18 of and 17 year old male on warrants for the sales of marijuana.  Cesear Gonzales age/22 was also arrested on two unrelated arrest warrants for a violation of probation and failure to appear.

The program resulted in the issuance of 9 arrest warrants on charges of sales of controlled substances (including the two listed above).   Six of the arrest warrants are for juveniles.  Therefore their names will not be released.  At the time of this press release, officers have arrested seven individuals and are actively looking for further suspects.

Suspects arrested on arrest warrants for the sales of marijuana thus far are identified as:

• Ramon Manuel Pena age/18
• Fatiki John Alokoa Jr age/18
• (2) 17 year old males
• 17 year old female
• 15 year old female
• 14 year old male

Further arrests are expected.  More information will be released when available.

We appreciate the assistance of the Lassen County Sherriff’s Office and Lassen High School staff in the execution of this program.

Tom Downing
Chief of Police

Press Release
May 16, 2013

Over the course of the last two months, the Susanville Police Department has employed a police officer to conduct an undercover drug buy program in an attempt to address drug sales around Lassen High School.

The program was intended to identify and arrest individuals who are selling drugs to our youth. It turned out that the youth were selling to youth. The program culminated on March 16, 2013 with the execution of a search warrant by the Susanville Police Department and the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office at a residence on Lowry Street and the serving or several arrest warrants.

As a result of the search warrant, officers located and seized a small amount of marijuana in the residence and arrested Ramon Manual Pena age/18 of and 17 year old male on warrants for the sales of marijuana. Cesear Gonzales age/22 was also arrested on two unrelated arrest warrants for a violation of probation and failure to appear.

The program resulted in the issuance of 9 arrest warrants on charges of sales of controlled substances (including the two listed above). Six of the arrest warrants are for juveniles. Therefore their names will not be released. At the time of this press release, officers have arrested seven individuals and are actively looking for further suspects.

Suspects arrested on arrest warrants for the sales of marijuana thus far are identified as:

• Ramon Manuel Pena age/18
• Fatiki John Alokoa Jr age/18
• (2) 17 year old males
• 17 year old female
• 15 year old female
• 14 year old male

Further arrests are expected. More information will be released when available.

We appreciate the assistance of the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office and Lassen High School staff in the execution of this program.

Tom Downing

Chief of Police

Press Release

May 13, 2013

On Friday, May 10, 2013 at approximately 11:00 PM Susanville Police Officers responded to the parking lot of KFC on a report of an unconscious male subject in a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers contacted the subject, identified as Thomas Ray age/47 of Janesville, in the driver’s seat of a pickup. Ray appeared to be disoriented and he was subsequently arrested and taken into custody for driving under the influence.

Ray was initially booked into the Lassen County Jail on the DUI charges but during the booking process he was found to be in possession of a controlled substance. Ray was subsequently also charged and booked in on the charges of possession of a controlled substance and bringing a controlled substance into a jail facility. A presumptive test indicated that the substance that Ray had brought into the jail was methamphetamine. Ray was held on $25,000 bail.

The case has been referred to the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Matt Wood

Police Lieutenant

Press Release

May 13, 2013

On Friday, May 10, 2013 at approximately 11:30 PM, a Susanville Police Officer attempted to stop a vehicle for suspicion of driving under the influence on State Route 139 south of the Skyline Dr. intersection when the vehicle evaded the officer. A vehicle pursuit ensued through the streets of Susanville. The suspect vehicle eventually pulled over on Derek Dr. near the intersection of Bunyan Rd. The driver, identified as Derek Baker age/47 of Susanville, was taken into custody without further incident.

Baker was booked into the Lassen County Jail on charges of evading a peace officer, driving under the influence, and driving on a suspended license. Baker was held on $13,500 bail.

The pursuit lasted approximately 2 minutes and traversed approximately 1.5 miles, with the suspect vehicle exceeding 70 MPH. The Susanville Police Department was assisted by the Lassen County Sheriff’s Office during the pursuit.

The case has been referred to the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Matt Wood

Police Lieutenant

Press Release
May 9, 2013

On Tuesday, May 7, 2013, at approximately 8:15 AM officers from the Susanville Police Department responded to a residence on Orange St. on a reported burglary. Upon arrival officers contacted a subject who reported that some of his property was missing from the residence. The subject advised that he was watching the house for the homeowners who were out of town and had been storing some of his property in their residence while they were gone.

On Tuesday, May 8, 2013 at approximately 11:15 AM officers from the Susanville Police Department were contacted by one of the homeowners who wanted to report more items missing from his residence. The reporting party told the officers that he had been out of town and when he returned, he discovered that several jewelry items were also missing from his residence.

Through investigative leads and acting on a tip, several pieces of the stolen jewelry were located and recovered at two jewelry stores in Susanville. The investigation revealed that Theresa Seals age/26 of Susanville had brought the jewelry to the two jewelry stores. Seals was subsequently arrested and booked into the Lassen County Jail on charges of burglary and possession of stolen property. Seals was held in custody on $33,500 bail.

The case has been referred to the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Matt Wood
Police Lieutenant

Press Release
May 9, 2013

On Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at approximately 2:00 PM officers from the Susanville Police Department received a report of a burglary at a residence in the 1200 block of Hood St. The victim reported to the officer that unknown person(s) had entered their residence and stole a cell phone. The phone was tracked to a residence in the 400 block of Wall St. using a cell phone locater application.

The investigation revealed that a 13 year old juvenile had entered the victim’s residence and stole the cell phone. The juvenile was subsequently arrested and booked into the Lassen County Juvenile Detention Facility for possession of stolen property.

The case has been referred to the Juvenile Division of the Lassen County Probation Department.

Matt Wood
Police Lieutenant

Press Release

May 9, 2013

On May 7, 2013 at approximately 8:30 PM officers from the Susanville Police Department responded to a residence in the 1500 block of Fifth St. to conduct a welfare check on an individual at the residence. Upon arrival officers contacted a female subject who was identified as Sherry Klarich age/38 of Susanville. Klarich was found to have three misdemeanor warrants for her arrest out of Lassen County for failing to appear in court on various criminal charges. Bail on each warrant was set at $2000.00. She was subsequently arrested on the warrants and booked into the Lassen County Jail.

Further investigation revealed that two subjects in the residence were in the process of using syringes to inject narcotics into themselves while in close proximity to several young children. Taylor Davison age/26 of Susanville and Aftyn Troutt age/25 of Susanville were both arrested and booked into the Lassen County Jail on multiple charges including child endangerment, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a hypodermic needle or syringe. Davidson and Troutt were both held on $42,000 bail.

The Susanville Police Department was assisted in the investigation by Lassen County Child and Family Services. The juvenile victims were removed from the home and turned over to the care of family members.

The case has been referred to the Lassen County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Matt Wood
Police Lieutenant