MT. SHASTA, Calif. — Mount Shasta Fire Captain Jasen Patrick Vela was arrested on the morning of March 3, 2026, inside the Mt. Shasta Fire Department by investigators from the Siskiyou County District Attorney’s Office. Vela, who had served as captain with the department for only a few months, faces two felony counts: embezzlement by a public officer/employee (Penal Code 508) and misappropriation of public funds (Penal Code 424(A)(1)). Authorities allege he stole more than $1

Imagine embarking on a road trip from your home in the Bay Area, heading north along Interstate 5. The journey begins with the familiar hum of urban California fading into the rearview mirror as you climb into the Sierra Nevada foothills.But then, as you crest a subtle rise north of the mountain—perhaps around Weed or edging toward Montague—the scenery shifts dramatically. The tight, forested confines give way to an immense, open expanse. Rolling hills stretch out like a rump