Sausalito city manager arrested just weeks after starting her position

The newly appointed city manager of Sausalito was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of attempting to steal a yacht, officials said. 

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Elaine Forbes, who started her position as city manager on July 1, was arrested Saturday morning at 501 Humboldt Ave., the location of the Sausalito Yacht Harbor, Domenick Yazzolino, a lieutenant with the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, told SFGATE. 

A local resident called in a “noise disturbance” at the harbor just after 6 a.m., he said. When officers arrived, they found Forbes inside a 66-feet, three-story yacht that she allegedly broke into. Forbes allegedly “manipulated the control” trying to steal the yacht and either discarded or consumed alcohol while on the vessel, Yazzolino said. 

According to the Marin Independent Journal, Forbes allegedly told officers she was having a “bad morning” and to get off her boat. 

Forbes was arrested on suspicion of burglary and taken into custody, Yazzolino said. Marin County jail records show that Forbes was booked at about 8:30 a.m. Saturday. She remains in custody on a $50,000 bail.   

Forbes was already on a leave of absence when she was arrested, according to a statement from the city of Sausalito. Her leave was approved during a closed city council meeting on Thursday. Brandon Phipps is working as the acting city manager. 

In a Monday morning statement from the city, officials said the arrest is a “difficult and sensitive situation” for Forbes, the city council and community members. 

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“Our thoughts are with Elaine and her family. She remains on a leave of absence while we evaluate the facts surrounding the matter,” the statement said.

Mayor Steven Woodside did not respond to SFGATE’s request for comment.

A statement from Forbes’ family said she is experiencing a “mental health crisis.” 

“We ask that no one rush to judgment based on limited information,” the statement said. “… As the facts become clearer and Elaine obtains legal and healthcare counsel in the coming hours and days, we hope people will respond with compassion, patience and respect for her and her family during an extraordinarily difficult time.”

Forbes’ arrest comes just months after an auditor found that city officials made $1.37 million in unauthorized purchases during the last fiscal year, exacerbating their $1.3 million budget deficit, the Marin Independent Journal reported.