Tag Archives: Inyo County Sheriff’s Office

Community News, Local News

Dead Body Found Near Manzanar

On August 8, 2020 Inyo County Sheriff’s Dispatch received a report from a hiker of a potentially deceased female in the foothills west of Manzanar National Historic Site. Sheriff’s Deputies arrived and located a deceased female. A search of the area produced a red sweatshirt and multicolored tennis shoes approximately two miles from her body near the base of the Sierra Mountain Range.

Inyo County Search and Rescue were dispatched to the scene to provide additional tracking support on August 8 and August 9. Based on foot impressions it is believed that she walked north along Foothill Road after exiting a vehicle, then east along a smaller dirt road where she eventually sat down and perished. There was no indication of a struggle or initial signs of foul play.

There was no identification located near or around the body; however Bishop Police Department had logged contact with a female matching the description of the decedent on July 30. Based on the information gathered during the contact, a positive identification was confirmed on August 11 and next of kin was notified. The deceased has been identified as Elaine Hartnett, a 48-year old woman from Pioneer, CA. A forensic autopsy has been scheduled to take place in Orange County, CA to determine cause of death. If anyone has had contact with Ms. Hartnett in Inyo County and can provide information please call Sheriff’s Dispatch at 760-878-0383, option 4

Community News, Local News

Murder Suspect Arrested in Lone Pine

Sheriff’s detectives arrest man for the murder of his roommate.

At about 9:52 AM on May 12, 2019, the Ventura County Sheriff’s Communication Center received information indicating that  Cameron Lykins had admitted to killing his roommate and discarding the body. This led deputies to respond to a residence in the 1100 block of Meyer Road. Upon arrival, deputies discovered a bloody scene consistent with a homicide, but no victim. Lykins’ roommate, Houston Auer, also could not be found. Further investigation led to
information that Lykins killed Auer during a disturbance that occurred at the residence during the early morning hours. Lykins then removed the victim’s body from the scene.

At about 1:00 PM, law enforcement officers from the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol located Lykins in the City of Lone Pine. Lykins vehicle was also located and it contained evidence confirming that Lykins had used the vehicle to transport the victim’s body away from the crime scene.

Ventura County Sheriff’s detectives went to Lone Pine and arrested Lykins for murder. Lykins was transported back to Ventura County and booked into custody at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility. Lykins is scheduled to appear in Ventura County Superior Court on May 14, 2019. His bail is set at $2,000,000.00.

Though there is sufficient evidence to conclude the victim did not survive the attack, Lykins has not cooperated in locating the victim’s body. Attached are photographs of Lykins and his vehicle. Anyone with information about this crime, or who believes they may have seen Lykins or his vehicle, described as a silver Nissan Frontier truck bearing the license plate number Ca. 39077S1, between the hours of 1:00 AM and 9:50 AM on May 12, 2019, is asked to contact Sergeant Carlos Macias at (805) 384-4761.

Local News

MOUNTAIN LION SIGHTED IN WEST BISHOP

Mountain lion seen roaming near Line Street in Bishop.

July 26th
by Seth Conners

California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Inyo Count Sheriff’s Office have recently been notified  of mountain lion sightings in the West Bishop Area located near Line Street.  According to calls received by CDFW and Inyo Sheriff’s Department the mountain lion has not yet displayed aggressive behavior.  Mountain lions are native to the region and are sighted periodically in and around the Bishop area.  CDFW Biologists and Game Wardens are monitoring the mountain lions activities.
An estimated 4 to 6 thousand mountain lions live in California.  Typically they avoid interaction with humans and will move from the area in a couple of weeks.  CDFW has a non-lethal policy concerning mountain lions whenever possible and in some rare occasions will relocate the animal.  But public safety is the main priority in the event of an attack or any threat to humans.
CDFW is advising residence in the area not to take matters in their own hands.  To report a mountain lion sighting call Bishop CDFW at 760 872 1171 or Inyo County Sheriff’s office at 760 878 0383.

Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, CDFW, Bishop California, Mountain lion, Relocated Mountain Lion, West Bishop, Line street

Local News

Inyo SO arrests 4 in Keeler

Inyo County Sheriff Office arrests 4 in Keeler

submitted by Carma Roper, Inyo County Sheriffs Department
February 17, 2017

Stolen Property Recovered

On February 10th members of the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office served a search warrant in Keeler and discovered approximately $5,000 worth of stolen property.  The following arrests were made:

·         Steven Zukaitus, 30-year old man from Keeler, arrested for: felony burglary, felony grand theft, felony possession of stolen property, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and paraphernalia. In addition Mr. Zukaitus is being held on one local warrant and three Kern County warrants.

·         Richard Zukaitus, 75-year old man from Keeler was cited for obstructing an officer.

·          Nicole Archila, 26-year old woman from Keeler, arrested for: felony burglary, felony grand theft, felony possession of stolen property. Ms. Archila is also being held on one Kern County warrant.

·         Christopher Hansen, 27-year old man from Keeler, arrested for: felony burglary, felony grand theft, felony possession of stolen property, false representation of identity to a Peace Officer, and one Nye County, NV warrant.

Originally Deputies arrived at the Zukaitis residence to serve an active warrant; however items that were recently reported stolen were noticed in the residence which ultimately resulted in the arrests.

Inyo county sheriffs office, arrests in Keeler California, Inyo County news

 

Local News

Suspect wanted for Attempted Murder arrested in Bishop

Santa Rosa suspect arrested Monday

Travelers on North Sierra Highway Monday morning were witness to a “High Risk enforcement stop”.  Several local law enforcement agencies teamed up to apprehend a suspect with a warrant for attempted murder.  Bishop Police Interim Chief Ted Stec issued the following statement following Mondays arrest.

“This morning (Monday, November 16th), Bishop Police Officers, with assistance from the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, Major Investigation and Narcotics Team (MINT), and the Inyo County District Attorney’s Office arrested Alfonso McCloud on a warrant charging attempted murder. McCloud is 24 years old and a resident of Santa Rosa, CA. The attempted murder charge originated out of Santa Rosa.
Information received over the past several months tended to indicate McCloud had fled to Bishop after the incident in Santa Rosa. Local officers working on tips from Santa Rosa eventually spotted McCloud in a vehicle traveling on W. Pine. St. A high-risk enforcement stop was made on Rocking W Dr. at Highway 395, where McCloud was taken into custody without incident.
McCloud was subsequently interviewed by Santa Rosa Police Detectives and booked into the County Jail. McCloud will soon be transported back to Santa Rosa. ”

mccloud
Booking Photo: Alfonso McCloud, photo courtesy of the Inyo County Sheriffs department.
bishop police department, inyo county sheriffs office, inyo county district attorneys office, santa rosa attempted murder suspect
Local News

Fullerton Family crashes near Manzanar

Single Vehicle Crash Sends 3 to the hospital

The California Highway Patrol accident report indicates the drivers over-correction led to a single vehicle roll over Thursday.  The accident occurred just after 1pm Thursday, July 16th on highway 395 just south of the Manzanar National Historic site.  The accident report indicates that 31 year old Fullerton resident Michael Leon Jr was behind the wheel of a 2007 Toyota southbound on highway 395 at approximately 70 mile per hour.  The vehicle drifted onto the left dirt shoulder when the driver over-corrected to the right losing control of the vehicle which then overturned at least one time.

Michael Leon Jr and a 7 year old female passenger where properly restrained and were able to exit the vehicle with the assistance of a passing motorist.  Both suffered minor injuries and where transported to Lone Pines Southern Inyo Hospital.  58 year old passenger Michael Leon Sr had to be removed from the vehicle by paramedics.  Leon Sr was also wearing his seat belt.  Leon Sr suffered moderate injures and was transported via Mercy Air to Kern Regional Hospital.  The collision remains under investigation.

Agencies responding to the crash included the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office, Independence Volunteer Fire Department, Lone Pine Volunteer Fire Department, California Highway Patrol and CalFIRE.

cover photo by the Inyo County Sheriffs Department.

inyo county news, lone pine california, independence california, california highway patrol, inyo county sheriffs office, highway 395
Local News

South County Search & Rescue Command Center Dedication

Dedication Ceremony, Lone Pine

On Saturday October 18th the South County Search and Rescue (SAR) Command Center, located at the Lone Pine Airport, was officially unveiled and dedicated to soon-to-be-retired Undersheriff, and longtime SAR Commander, Keith Hardcastle.

Dedication Ceremony
Dedication Ceremony

The building once served as a Forest Service helicopter base center. When the Forest Service transferred their operations to the Independence airport, the building was used mainly as storage.  About six months ago the Inyo County Sheriff’s Office acquired the badly damaged building, and with the help from inmate labor and volunteer SAR members transformed the dilapidated building into a functional command center for south-county SAR operations.

Undersheriff Keith Hardcastle began his career in 1985 as an Inyo County Sheriff’s Deputy; he has been a SAR Coordinator since 1994.  “When I began as a Coordinator for SAR it was a different era – there were no cell phones, no on-the-fly mapping technology; map and compass was how we got the job done,” said Hardcastle.

Sheriff Lutze went on to say that, “Undersheriff Hardcastle has been involved in countless SAR missions and his scope and depth of knowledge in local terrain has saved many lives.  His legacy when he retires on December 30th will be leaving behind a highly trained and dedicated SAR team made up of volunteers and Sheriff’s Deputies who are both hardworking and knowledgeable. Undersheriff Hardcastle has been instrumental in training new coordinators and the Search and Rescue team will be in excellent hands with Deputy Nate Derr and Deputy Brian Hohenstein.”

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Eastern Sierra / Inyo County / South County Search & Rescue / Lone Pine Airport / SAR Command Center / Lone Pine / Dedication Ceremony