Editor's note: The Lakeport Police Department said Sunday that information they had originally had reported regarding Harding's arrest – that he had been cited for previous cases – is incorrect. The story has been updated accordingly.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – A Lakeport man was arrested and booked for stealing an expensive bicycle after the county's sheriff-elect spotted him riding the bike through town.
Eugene Harding, 41, a transient, was arrested early Saturday evening on felony charges including grand theft totaling more than $950, receiving stolen property, a felony probation violation and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, according to acting Lakeport Police Sgt. Mike Sobieraj.
On Saturday afternoon, Sobieraj was dispatched to Main Street Bicycles, located at 125 N. Main St., on the report of a bicycle stolen from the curbside bike rack.
Sobieraj said that when he arrived he got the description of the Specialized Venge Pro racing bike, and also obtained an estimate of its value – more than $5,000 – from Main Street Bicycle.
The bike belonged to a young local cyclist, Jeffrey Morton, according to a post by his coach, Dave Garzoli, on Lake County News' Facebook page shortly after the theft occurred.
Garzoli said he and Morton – who is on the high school mountain bike team that Garzoli coaches – had just finished a 50-mile ride and stopped in at the bike shop for a few minutes to warm up when the bike was stolen.
Morton had saved up and purchased the $5,600 bike, and has only had it two weeks, said Garzoli.
During a lengthy search of the area of Lakeport, another Lakeport Police officer, Joe Eastham, joined in to search for stolen bicycle, Sobieraj said.
Garzoli, meanwhile, made other posts on Facebook in an effort to find the bike.
Shortly after 5:15 p.m., according to Sobieraj, Sheriff-elect Brian Martin and his wife, Crystal – who had seen Garzoli's Facebook posts – spotted the bicycle at the Regency Inn in Lakeport.
Brian Martin saw the suspect park the bicycle near the stairs leading to the second story of the motel, Sobieraj said.
Sobieraj said he and Eastham arrived at the motel about four minutes later and began knocking on doors and speaking with motel guests. Martin remained on scene to identify the suspect.
The officers found Harding – who is on local probation – in one of the motel rooms, Sobieraj said.
Harding told officers that he took the bicycle with the intention of returning it because his knee hurt and he needed a ride to the motel, according to Sobieraj.
Sobieraj arrested Harding and during a search found Harding had one gram of suspected methamphetamine on him.
In a video of Harding's arrest that Garzoli posted online, Harding claimed that he “borrowed” the bike, adding that God gave him permission to it.
Harding was taken to the Lake County Jail and booked.
The bike was returned to Morton with no reported damage. Garzoli posted a picture of the grateful young cyclist – along with his bike and the new sheriff – on Facebook.
Harding, whose occupation on his booking sheet is listed as “home care,” remained in the Lake County Jail without bail from the felony probation violation, Sobieraj said.
The Lakeport Police Department thanked the Lake County Sheriff's Office, Sheriff-elect Martin and Garzoli for their attention to detail and their assistance in all stages of the investigation.
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