Parolee with warrant vandalizes PG& E utility pole and damages AT & T line

On 12-22-2019 at approximately 7:30 AM, Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputies were dispatched to a suspicious person in the rear of a business in the 18000 block of North Highway 1 in Fort Bragg, California.



Deputies arrived and located Travis Moore, who they knew from prior contacts, and were aware that he had an active Felony Warrant issued for a County Parole Violation.

Deputies began to take Moore into custody and he immediately began to physically resist the arrest.  Deputies were able to quickly overpower Moore and arrest him without further incident.  Moore was then transported to the Mendocino County Jail.

A short time later, Deputies were dispatched back to the same general area regarding a utility pole that had been vandalized with a chainsaw.

Deputies arrived and located the completely severed pole, which had shifted and settled from being cut and caused the chainsaw to become pinched under its weight.

Pacific Gas and Electric Company employees arrived and had to replace the utility pole.  Initial estimates from Pacific Gas and Electric Company valued the utility pole at approximately $60,000.00 for replacement costs.

Damage was also caused to an AT&T communication line that was on the same utility pole; the amount of this damage is unknown at this time.

Deputies located a vehicle that was associated with Moore, parked across the highway at the dental office of Dr. Kenneth Baumgartner.  Moore's vehicle and clothing had items in it that directly linked him to the vandalism of the utility pole.  Deputies also found vandalism to the business of Dr. Kenneth Baumgartner that was believed to be caused by Moore.

Based on the total dollar amount of loss and multiple victims, Deputies contacted a Mendocino County Superior Court Judge and sought a bail enhancement.  The Superior Court Judge ordered that Moore's bond amount for the vandalism be set at $100,000.00 bail.

Moore was booked into the Mendocino County Jail for 3454 PC (Violation of County Parole), 594(b)(1) PC (Felony Vandalism) and 148(a)(1) PC (Resisting Arrest).

Moore ultimately was to be held on a No-Bail status, due to his parole violation.