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Boat crash at Lake Berryessa
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CommentSunday was not a good day at Lake Berryessa for Frank Ross Capriato.
The Fairfield resident not only watched his expensive power boat reduced to scrap, he also ended up at the county jail booked on two felony charges.
The Fairfield resident not only watched his expensive power boat reduced to scrap, he also ended up at the county jail booked on two felony charges.
Capriato’s string of bad luck started around 4 p.m., Sunday when sheriff’s boat deputies responded to a call of an unoccupied speed boat going around in circles at the lake in the Putah Creek area.
Capriato, who owns the 31-foot twin-prop vessel, later told deputies he and his three passengers were thrown from the boat while doing a turning movement, sheriff’s Capt. John Robertson said.
Capriato, who owns the 31-foot twin-prop vessel, later told deputies he and his three passengers were thrown from the boat while doing a turning movement, sheriff’s Capt. John Robertson said.
They were able to get out of the way of the boat, which started spinning in circles, reaching speeds up to 35 to 40 miles per hour, Robertson said.
When deputies showed up, Capriato and his friends had been rescued by another boater.
When deputies showed up, Capriato and his friends had been rescued by another boater.
Boat deputies attempted to drive the power boat off course by making a wake.
The boat finally broke loose from its circular pattern and, luckily, instead of heading to shore, it made a beeline to a nearby unoccupied island, Robertson said.
The boat blasted to the shore and came to rest.
As deputies approached the damaged vessel, Capriato told them there was a loaded handgun aboard, Robertson said.
A search of the boat not only turned up the firearm, deputies also found a small amount of methamphetamine inside Capriato’s pants pocket, Robertson said, adding, they also discovered ammunition aboard the boat.
Brett Wiskur of Martinez got a front row seat to watch all the action.
“My wife, dog and I were in our Zodiac just coming out of Putah Creek when we saw this speed boat doing circles in the lake. The deputies’ boat was also there. After getting a safe distance, we tied up with another boat and watched the inevitable happen,” Wiskur told the Register on Monday.
“The deputies created a wake to get the speed boat off its circular course. The boat shot to the shore. The engine revved up and the motor blew,” Wiskur said.
Capriato, 57, was arrested on suspicion of possession of meth and a loaded firearm.
Detectives are investigating if he was in possession of prohibited ammunition as well, Robertson said.
The boat finally broke loose from its circular pattern and, luckily, instead of heading to shore, it made a beeline to a nearby unoccupied island, Robertson said.
The boat blasted to the shore and came to rest.
As deputies approached the damaged vessel, Capriato told them there was a loaded handgun aboard, Robertson said.
A search of the boat not only turned up the firearm, deputies also found a small amount of methamphetamine inside Capriato’s pants pocket, Robertson said, adding, they also discovered ammunition aboard the boat.
Brett Wiskur of Martinez got a front row seat to watch all the action.
“My wife, dog and I were in our Zodiac just coming out of Putah Creek when we saw this speed boat doing circles in the lake. The deputies’ boat was also there. After getting a safe distance, we tied up with another boat and watched the inevitable happen,” Wiskur told the Register on Monday.
“The deputies created a wake to get the speed boat off its circular course. The boat shot to the shore. The engine revved up and the motor blew,” Wiskur said.
Capriato, 57, was arrested on suspicion of possession of meth and a loaded firearm.
Detectives are investigating if he was in possession of prohibited ammunition as well, Robertson said.
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Napa_Native wrote on Sep 16, 2008 12:33 AM:
SouthNapa wrote on Sep 16, 2008 12:54 AM:
cathyodom wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:47 AM:
wipemedown wrote on Sep 16, 2008 7:51 AM:
napamomma wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:02 AM:
localchick wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:18 AM:
amazed wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:42 AM:
chunk wrote on Sep 16, 2008 10:10 AM:
bob2 wrote on Sep 16, 2008 12:13 PM:
ADark1 wrote on Sep 16, 2008 1:50 PM:
We have another Einstein Award winner!
The "Einstein" Award is given only to a select few. By this we mean those on the other side of the law who are so Intelligent with their antics it reaches the gates of "genius"!
Our Award winner and genius this month saved his water soluable controlled substance and also took a firearm on his boat which he and two friends fell out of....ending of course in his wrecking his boat and sitting in a jail cell wet and praying for bail...
The Academy salutes this months Einstein Award winner....Frank Ross Capriato....
Keep up the good work Frank....You've set a new standard in Aquatic shennagians! "
14obama wrote on Sep 16, 2008 3:14 PM:
GGDAVE wrote on Sep 16, 2008 9:54 PM: