Sausalito's newly appointed city manager landed in court this week after police say she broke into a 66-foot yacht while intoxicated and attempted to steal it.
Elaine Forbes was arrested on the morning of July 18 following a noise complaint at the Sausalito marina. Officers found her aboard the three-story vessel, where she had been drinking. The boat's owner, Andy Cunningham, discovered evidence of Forbes's presence: a bottle of maraschino cherries dumped into a shoebox and four empty wine bottles scattered about.
Capt. Bill Aubrey, who called 911, described the chaotic scene. Forbes had activated the yacht's horn, windshield wipers, and spotlight, creating a disturbance that drew authorities to the dock. She had reportedly been living on a nearby houseboat before the incident.
Initial charges of felony burglary carried a bail of $50,000, but prosecutors moved to reduce the allegations. Forbes now faces misdemeanor counts for loiering, squatting, and petty theft, according to Marin County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Sgt. Adam Schermerhorn. He noted that yacht theft is uncommon in the county.
The timing of the arrest compounds the turmoil for Sausalito's city government. Forbes had taken the city manager position just three weeks prior. The city council placed her on administrative leave during a closed session and scheduled an evaluation meeting to assess her employment status.
A statement issued on behalf of Forbes's family by spokesperson Sam Singer requested compassion and patience, noting that she was seeking legal and healthcare counsel to address what he characterized as an extraordinarily difficult period.
Forbes previously held a prominent role in the Port of San Francisco before joining Sausalito's leadership team.
Author James Rodriguez: "Three weeks into a city manager role and arrested for breaking into a yacht with a case of wine sounds like a cautionary tale about rushing major hires."
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