In Your Town for April 19, 2023
MILL VALLEY
Suspect accused of
Tam Valley burglary
A man was arrested after allegedly breaking into a camping trailer in Tamalpais Valley.
The incident occurred Monday afternoon in the area of Tamalpais Junction, said sheriff’s Sgt. Adam Schermerhorn. The suspect admitted to sleeping in the trailer overnight and taking blankets and food without the owner’s permission, Schermerhorn said.
Michael Hammerstad, 62, was booked into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of burglary. He remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $50,000 bail.
TIBURON
Physician could face
state sanction for DUI
The state medical board is considering disciplinary action against a Tiburon physician who pleaded guilty to intoxicated driving.
Larry Michael Gentilello, 69, was arrested in September 2021 after a collision that injured the driver in another vehicle, according to the medical board’s filing. His blood-alcohol content was measured at 0.20%, or more than twice the legal limit for driving.
Gentilello admitted to a DUI count in July, the board said. A judge placed him on probation for five years, suspended his license for a year and imposed a standard slate of conditions.
About a week later, a judge issued a warrant for Gentilello’s arrest and revoked his conditional sentence after he failed to appear for a court hearing, the medical board said. The warrant remains active.
In February, the medical board filed an accusation alleging unprofessional conduct because of the criminal conviction. The accusation could lead to the revocation or suspension of Gentilello’s medical license.
Gentilello could not be reached for comment on Tuesday. His lawyer for the DUI is no longer on the case.
Gentilello’s medical license was issued in 2012 and is scheduled to expire on Aug. 31.
NOVATO
Highway 101 crash
forces lane closures
Authorities closed two lanes of northbound Highway 101 on Tuesday following a crash in the southbound lanes, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The crash happened at about 1 p.m. north of San Marin Drive and Atherton Avenue. A vehicle swerved off the road and into a construction zone in the median, the CHP reported. A road crew told police the driver was unconscious.
Police accessed the crash site from the northbound side of the highway and closed the two left lanes. Road sensors reported that northbound traffic backed up from the area of the Birkenstock building and the Marin County Airport to nearly downtown Novato.
Paramedics took the driver to MarinHealth Medical Center for treatment of moderate injuries, said Novato fire Battalion Chief Scott Friedman.
The CHP reported that the lanes were reopened by about 2:20 p.m.
Alleged DUI recidivist
arrested after crash
A Novato woman was arrested on allegations of intoxicated driving after crashing into a parked vehicle and then another vehicle that was occupied, police said.
The incident happened at about 4:30 p.m. Monday on Seventh Street near Novato Boulevard, according to police Lt. Sophia Winter. An officer who contacted the driver noticed signs of intoxication and conducted a sobriety tests.
Alexandria Reynolds, 67, was booked into the Marin County Jail on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and doing so with three or more DUI convictions in the past decade. She remained in custody Tuesday in lieu of $100,000 bail.
No injuries were reported in the crash, Winter said.