Sonoma County Woman Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Deputies, Medical Personnel Who Pulled Her from River
“UPDATE 2/26 4:20 p.m. – Lacey Mosher, 38, Santa Rosa, was arrested for felony resisting arrest, felony battery on a peace officer, misdemeanor being under the influence of drugs, and felony violation of probation. She is being held without bail due to the probation violation.
ORIGINAL 2/26 10:00 a.m. – On February 25 at about 4:20 PM, dispatchers received a 911 call that a kid was being swept down the Russian River from Johnson’s Beach, Guerneville. The river was high due to recent rains, resulting in rapids and debris in the water, and the water was very cold.
Sgt. Gary Lawson was the first deputy to see the person in the middle of the river, struggling to stay afloat where Fife Creek enters the river. Sgt. Lawson removed his gear and went into the water. Deputy Anthony Powers had a life vest in his patrol car. He threw it to the sergeant, who put it on. Sgt. Lawson reached the person, who turned out to be a woman later identified as Lacey Mosher. Mosher immediately began fighting Sgt. Lawson and pushing him under the water. They struggled in the water, with Mosher continuing to fight him as he was rescuing her. Sgt. Lawson was able to control her enough to swim across the river and hold on to a bush about 15 feet off the shore.
Deputy Cody McCready found them, removed his gear, and swam over to help control her. Mosher continued to fight both deputies as they were rescuing her. There was deep, fast-moving water between the deputies and the shore; they could not swim back to land.
Sonoma County Fire District firefighters arrived by boat and, due to the small size of the boat, first rescued Mosher and then returned to rescue the deputies. Sgt. Lawson was in the water for about 25 minutes. He and Deputy McCready were treated for exposure and released at the scene.
Mosher was transported to a local hospital for treatment and continued to assault first responders and medical personnel. She will be arrested on multiple charges; this press release will be updated with more details.”
