Elaine Forbes, the city manager of Sausalito, California, is facing misdemeanor charges for allegedly breaking into a 66-foot yacht while under the influence of alcohol and attempting to steal the vessel. The incident occurred on the morning of July 18, when police responded to a noise disturbance call at a marina in Marin County.
Details of the Incident
According to police reports, Forbes had apparently broken into a three-story yacht and was consuming alcohol on board. The boat's owner, Andy Cunningham, told ABC7 that she discovered a bottle of maraschino cherries dumped into a shoebox and four empty wine bottles. Witnesses reported that Forbes activated the yacht's horn, windshield wipers, and spotlight, causing a commotion. Captain Bill Aubrey, who called 911, described the scene to ABC7.
Forbes had been living on a houseboat near the marina where she was arrested, according to ABC7. Police initially charged her with felony burglary, setting bail at $50,000. However, prosecutors later reduced the charges to misdemeanor counts of loitering, squatting, and petty theft, as confirmed by Sergeant Adam Schermerhorn, spokesperson for the Marin County Sheriff's Department. Schermerhorn noted that yacht theft is uncommon in the area.
Impact and Response
The Sausalito City Council placed Forbes on administrative leave during a closed meeting last week, according to NBC News. The council is currently evaluating her job performance in a meeting today. Forbes had been appointed to her position only three weeks prior to the incident.
In a statement issued on behalf of the Forbes family, spokesperson Sam Singer said, “As the facts become clearer and Elaine obtains legal and healthcare counsel in the coming hours and days, we hope people will respond with compassion, patience and respect for her and her family during an extraordinarily difficult time.”
