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Angler assaults spawn probe
Sacramento River guide says he had run-in with landowner
Alex Breitler. Redding Record Searchlight
October 15, 2002
CASTELLA — A landowner who allegedly hurled rocks at a fisherman in the upper Sacramento River is under investigation for assault, sheriff's officials said.
A Sonoma man reported the attack took place Sept. 19 as he fished near a cabin he'd rented with his wife.
Since then, at least one other fisherman — a river guide — says he, too, has been accosted by the landowner, who reportedly is upset because fishermen use the river that flows past his property.
"He's very adamant about it," said guide Bill Carnazzo. "Of late he's become quite — I guess you'd have to say — violent."
The homeowner's name was not released by authorities since no charges have been filed.
Bill Lynch, editor of The Sonoma Index-Tribune, was wading through the river in knee-deep water last month when he heard a noise, turned and saw two men shouting at him from the home's patio.
One of the men said he owned the property and told Lynch to leave, he said.
When Lynch said he was not trespassing, the men allegedly began throwing rocks, several of which struck Lynch, knocking his glasses off and bruising him, he said.
Lynch waded back to his cabin where he gave a report to a Siskiyou County sheriff's deputy.
Since the alleged assault took place in far northern Shasta County, that report has since been forwarded to the Shasta County Sheriff's Department, which was still investigating on Friday, a spokesman said.
It was unclear if the second man was also under investigation.
Shasta County sheriff's Capt. Arlin Markham has said a resident deputy based out of Lakehead needs to contact one more person before wrapping up the investigation.
Officers will review the case for possible assault violations, then submit it to the Shasta County district attorney's office, which could file charges, Markham said.
Carnazzo, who lives in Newcastle near Auburn, said Lynch's case is not the first involving this landowner.
Carnazzo and another man were fishing the river about two years ago when the same homeowner threw rocks at them, the guide said. Neither man was struck.
Now, Carnazzo said that stretch of the river — prime territory for trout fly-fishing — is too dangerous.
"I can't take my clients in there," he said. "I have a responsibility to take care my clients don't get injured."
The state constitution allows access for people to fish public waterways.
According to the Colorado-based conservation group National Organization for Rivers, the public has the right to use all running waters and to walk along the banks in a manner least intrusive to private landowners.
On streams that are considered navigable, riverbanks are public land up to the ordinary high-water line, the group says.
Property deeds often say riverfront property boundaries run down the middle of a river, but that doesn't restrict the public's access.
"This is not right," Carnazzo said. "You can assert your property rights through the legal system, but not in a violent manner. That's just not allowed."
California Department of Fish and Game patrol Capt. Chuck Konvalin said his agency is awaiting sheriff's reports on the case and will do its own investigation.
He said he hadn't heard of any prior problems on the Sacramento.
"The concern at this point is that we can work with landowners and avoid this type of situation in the future," he said.
Reporter Alex Breitler can be reached at 225-8344 or at abreitler@redding.com.
Sacramento River guide says he had run-in with landowner
Alex Breitler. Redding Record Searchlight
October 15, 2002
CASTELLA — A landowner who allegedly hurled rocks at a fisherman in the upper Sacramento River is under investigation for assault, sheriff's officials said.
A Sonoma man reported the attack took place Sept. 19 as he fished near a cabin he'd rented with his wife.
Since then, at least one other fisherman — a river guide — says he, too, has been accosted by the landowner, who reportedly is upset because fishermen use the river that flows past his property.
"He's very adamant about it," said guide Bill Carnazzo. "Of late he's become quite — I guess you'd have to say — violent."
The homeowner's name was not released by authorities since no charges have been filed.
Bill Lynch, editor of The Sonoma Index-Tribune, was wading through the river in knee-deep water last month when he heard a noise, turned and saw two men shouting at him from the home's patio.
One of the men said he owned the property and told Lynch to leave, he said.
When Lynch said he was not trespassing, the men allegedly began throwing rocks, several of which struck Lynch, knocking his glasses off and bruising him, he said.
Lynch waded back to his cabin where he gave a report to a Siskiyou County sheriff's deputy.
Since the alleged assault took place in far northern Shasta County, that report has since been forwarded to the Shasta County Sheriff's Department, which was still investigating on Friday, a spokesman said.
It was unclear if the second man was also under investigation.
Shasta County sheriff's Capt. Arlin Markham has said a resident deputy based out of Lakehead needs to contact one more person before wrapping up the investigation.
Officers will review the case for possible assault violations, then submit it to the Shasta County district attorney's office, which could file charges, Markham said.
Carnazzo, who lives in Newcastle near Auburn, said Lynch's case is not the first involving this landowner.
Carnazzo and another man were fishing the river about two years ago when the same homeowner threw rocks at them, the guide said. Neither man was struck.
Now, Carnazzo said that stretch of the river — prime territory for trout fly-fishing — is too dangerous.
"I can't take my clients in there," he said. "I have a responsibility to take care my clients don't get injured."
The state constitution allows access for people to fish public waterways.
According to the Colorado-based conservation group National Organization for Rivers, the public has the right to use all running waters and to walk along the banks in a manner least intrusive to private landowners.
On streams that are considered navigable, riverbanks are public land up to the ordinary high-water line, the group says.
Property deeds often say riverfront property boundaries run down the middle of a river, but that doesn't restrict the public's access.
"This is not right," Carnazzo said. "You can assert your property rights through the legal system, but not in a violent manner. That's just not allowed."
California Department of Fish and Game patrol Capt. Chuck Konvalin said his agency is awaiting sheriff's reports on the case and will do its own investigation.
He said he hadn't heard of any prior problems on the Sacramento.
"The concern at this point is that we can work with landowners and avoid this type of situation in the future," he said.
Reporter Alex Breitler can be reached at 225-8344 or at abreitler@redding.com.
