- Lake County News reports
Lake County woman accused of taking quarantined dog from shelter
Jessica Rachelle Armstrong, 40, of Hidden Valley Lake was arrested in Fort Bragg for obstructing police on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 16, according to a report from the Fort Bragg Police Department.
Armstrong did not respond to a message seeking comment Wednesday evening.
A police officer pulled Armstrong over for not wearing her seatbelt, and when she was asked to present her driver’s license, vehicle registration and proof of vehicle insurance as required by California State vehicle code, she refused, the agency reported.
Armstrong reportedly told the officer that she was not required to provide any identification, nor was she required to possess a driver license due to her freedom to travel about the country in her private property which is protected by the US Constitution, according to the report.
Fort Bragg Police said its officers explained to Armstrong that she is required by California state law to have a valid driver’s license, valid vehicle registration and proof of valid automobile insurance any time she operates her vehicle on public roadways, and that she was required to present these items upon request of a peace officer during the performance of their duties.
They also told Armstrong that should she refuse to present the required documentation that she could be subject to arrest, have her vehicle towed and impounded, and the canine she had inside her vehicle would be required to be transported to the Mendocino County Animal Shelter in Ukiah during her incarceration, police reported.
Armstrong reportedly refused to cooperate with officers, and denied their having any authority over her or her private property, and stated she was going to leave. Police said officers subsequently removed Armstrong from her vehicle and placed under arrest for obstructing a peace officer during the performance of their duties, and additional vehicle code violations.
Police said Armstrong’s vehicle was towed and stored, and her dog – which reportedly bit one of the officers during the arrest – was transported to the Mendocino County Animal shelter. Armstrong was later transported to the Mendocino County Adult Detention Facility in Ukiah.
Shortly after 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 21, Armstrong and an unidentified male subject showed up at the front desk at Mendocino County Animal Care and Control on Plant Road in Ukiah and asked to home quarantine the dog, according to Capt. Kurt Smallcomb of the Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office.
Animal Care and Control Director Bliss Fischer was working the front desk when the two came in, and explained to Armstrong that the dog had to stay at Animal Care and Control during the quarantine period, Smallcomb reported.
Smallcomb said that while Fischer was speaking with Armstrong, the unknown male suspect allegedly sneaked around to the kennel area and retrieved the dog, then contacted Fischer and asked about the spay and neuter program that was going on that day.
When Fischer went to retrieve information for the male suspect, he and Armstrong allegedly fled the area in Armstrong's vehicle with the dog, Smallcomb said.
Fischer then realized the dog the unknown male suspect had was Armstrong's quarantined dog. Fischer then contacted the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office, according to Smallcomb.
Deputies contacted Armstrong via telephone, where she admitted to taking the dog. However, Smallcomb said Armstrong refused to return the dog to Animal Care and Control and advised the dog was being quarantined at an unknown location somewhere in Lake County.
Smallcomb said a report was forwarded to the Mendocino County District Attorney's Office for charging.
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