Lakeport Man Booked into Jail After Several Previous Arrests

“On 9/19/2021 at approximately 1628 hours, Lakeport Police Officers were dispatched to the area of N Forbes St cross of Fourth St for a report of a male working on a vehicle that did not belong to him. Officers arrived on scene and contacted Matthew Wratislaw, a 36-year-old male of Lakeport, who was actively working on the reported vehicle.

Officers determined through their investigation that Wratislaw was not the owner of the vehicle and did not have any legal connection to the vehicle to be working on it. Wratislaw further admitted to trying to “get” the vehicle. Officers placed Wratislaw under arrest for tampering with a vehicle and possession of burglary tools. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic bail-related restrictions, Officers were unable to have Wratislaw booked into the County Jail and issued Wratislaw a criminal citation and released him.

On 9/30/2021 at approximately 2233 hours Lakeport Police Officers were patrolling the area of Eleventh St cross of N High St when they observed Matthew Wratislaw riding a bicycle without any lights or reflectors in violation of the California Vehicle Code. Lakeport Police Officers attempted to stop Wratislaw using the emergency lights on their patrol vehicle but Wratislaw continued north on High St and then east through an unpaved alleyway, Rose Ave. Officers attempted to pursue Wratislaw on foot while verbally commanding him to stop.

Officers ultimately lost sight of Wratislaw as he continued north on N Main St. Officers then conducted a search of the area and located Wratislaw sitting behind a residence on Lakeshore Bl cross of Ashe St where they placed him under arrest.

During a search of Wratislaw’s person and belongings incident to arrest, Officers located 0.9 grams of suspected methamphetamine as well as methamphetamine paraphernalia. Officers also located suspected burglary tools including lock picks. Wratislaw was transported to the police department where he was issued a criminal citation and released as he was again not bookable due to the current COVID-19 related bail schedule.

On 10/01/2021 at approximately 2330 hours another LPD Officer observed Wratislaw in a fenced area of a closed business on N Forbes St cross of Eleventh St. The Officer noted that Wratislaw had walked away from a large black dirt bike gear bag. The officer moved closer to the bag and realized that it matched the description of stolen property that had been reported to the police department earlier in the day.

The bag and the items it contained, which mostly consisted of dirt bike-related gear, were valued to be worth approximately $2,000. The officer detained Wratislaw and additional LPD Officers responded to the scene. Officers contacted the victim of the theft and were able to confirm that the items were those that had been reported stolen. A further search of the bag containing the reported stolen items yielded additional suspected methamphetamine and methamphetamine paraphernalia. Wratislaw was then placed under arrest.

Again these crimes were not bookable due to current California Laws. However, due to Wratislaw’s history of recent arrests and suspected criminal activity, Officers believed that Wratislaw would continue to victimize the citizens of Lakeport if not booked into jail. Officers contacted a Lake County Superior Court Judge to apply for a bail increase. The bail increase was granted and Officers transported Wratislaw to the Lake County Jail where he was booked without further incident on charges of Felony possession of stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia with bail set at $15,000.

During Wratislaw’s latest arrest, a Specialized Mountain Bike, with an approximate value of over $2,000 was also found to be in his possession. The bike is currently believed to possibly be stolen. If you recognize the bicycle in the attached photos of this press release, please contact the police department by calling us at 707-263-5491. Additionally, in recent days several other thefts have been reported to the police department in which Wratislaw is a suspect. If you have been the victim of theft or other criminal activity in the City of Lakeport, and you have not yet made a police report, please contact the police department.

In July of this year the California legislature introduced, passed and the Governor signed into law Assembly Bill 1475 which prohibits law enforcement from sharing, on social media, booking photos of any individual arrested on suspicion of committing a nonviolent crime unless specified circumstances exist. With regard to the 23 violent crimes under California Law (Penal Code 667.5) booking photos can be shared but are subject to later removal under specified circumstances. Because of this recent legislation signed in to law by the California State Governor, we are unable to post a booking photo or other images of Wratislaw to this press release.

If you would like more information on criminal activity in Lakeport including crime statistics, information on missing persons, stolen vehicles, warrants and recent arrests you can visit our Crime Graphics page at https://lakeport.crimegraphics.com/2013/default.aspx