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170
C a l i f o r n i a ’ s O l d e s t N e w s pa p e r – E s t. 18 51
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Volume 170 • Issue 144 | 75¢
mtdemocrat.com
Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Chase ends in standoff on Highway 50 Mountain Democrat staff
Dixon resident Matthew Ramos is placed in the back of a California Highway Patrol vehicle after leading law enforcement officers on a pursuit through three counties.
A man who led authorities on a pursuit from Vacaville to Camino Monday morning barricaded himself inside his vehicle on Highway 50, leading to an hourslong standoff. Highway 50 was closed in both directions and nearby Camino Union Elementary School locked down as California Highway Patrol and El Dorado County sheriff ’s officers negotiated with 52-year-old Matthew Ramos of Dixon. Ramos refused to pull over when a deputy tried to make a traffic stop of his truck that was
Mountain Democrat photo by Thomas Frey
being driven “erratically” with an “exhibition of speed” in an unincorporated area of Vacaville, according to a news release from the Solano County Sheriff ’s Office. Ramos led authorities on a chase on back roads and through the cities of Dixon and Davis. Officers say they attempted to end the pursuit by blocking Ramos’ vehicle but were not successful. As Ramos approached Interstate 80 and Highway 50, the California Highway Patrol took over the pursuit, which ended in Camino where Highway n
See Standoff, page A7
Sweet parade Mountain Democrat photo by Eric Jaramishian
El Dorado County Assessor Karl Weiland has announced he will not run for reelection when his term is up in 2022.
Assessor Weiland announces retirement Eric Jaramishian Staff writer El Dorado County assessor Karl Weiland plans to retire after his term ends Dec. 31, 2022. As the county assessor, Weiland is responsible for assessing and maintaining inventory of nearly 100,000 parcels in the county, which is valued at nearly $38 billion and generates around $388 million in property taxes, according to Weiland. The assessor deals PLACE ADDRESS LABEL HERE
with regulations imposed by various property tax laws, including Proposition 13, and assesses the value of property under those laws. Assessor Weiland and his staff help residents navigate property laws and regulations and participate in the California Assessors Association, which advises the state Legislature and the California State Board of Equalization on proposed regulations. “I have a great staff and they get a lot of thanks,” Weiland said. “People appreciate what we do. If I go talk to a group, I try to be informative and tell them things about property tax, which is not something they would normally know.” During his nearly 12-year run as assessor Weiland, 68, has experienced the county’s real property parcels jump nearly $30 billion in value, has worked to help victims of the Angora, King and Caldor fires get property tax relief and witnessed a reduction
The El Dorado County Fire Honor Guard, above, leads the Hangtown Christmas Parade through Main Street in Placerville Sunday. The theme for this year’s parade, in its 43rd year, was Candy Land Christmas with 101 entries. Local celebrity chef John Sanders, right photo, riding center in a horse-drawn carriage with his parrot Sierra, was this year’s parade grand marshal. Photos by Cecilia Clark
Santa waves to parade goers as he arrives in downtown to collect everyone’s wish lists.
n see more photos on page A3
See Weiland, page A3
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