10/23/2026
A routine patrol in Kelseyville led to the arrest of a convicted felon and the recovery of a loaded fi***rm, am******on, and suspected controlled substances.
On October 8, 2026, a Lake County Sheriff's Office sergeant was patrolling Main Street in Kelseyville when he noticed a man on a bicycle committing several traffic violations. When the bicyclist, identified as Johnny Ariz-Mendez, 43, of Clearlake, saw the marked patrol vehicle, he abruptly changed direction and rode through a nearby property, apparently to avoid contact.
The sergeant noticed Ariz-Mendez carrying a red item as he traveled through the property, but the item was no longer in his possession when he reappeared. While a detective contacted Ariz-Mendez on Main Street, the sergeant returned to the property to investigate.
Near a church entrance, the sergeant found a red satchel hidden in a planter. Inside was a loaded G***k 19, 9mm pistol with an extended magazine, suspected methamphetamine, fentanyl, and drug paraphernalia.
A review of his criminal history confirmed he had multiple prior felony convictions, including convictions for being a felon in possession of a fi***rm.
Ariz-Mendez was arrested and transported to the Hill Road Correctional Facility. The fi***rm, am******on, and suspected controlled substances were collected as evidence, with the suspected drugs to be submitted to the California Department of Justice for testing.
This arrest highlights the importance of proactive patrol and our deputies' role in identifying suspicious activity before it escalates into something more serious.
What began as an observation of traffic violations led to the recovery of a loaded fi***rm from someone legally prohibited from possessing one, removing a potential threat to public safety.
