Sausalito City Manager Elaine Forbes, 53, was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of burglary after allegedly breaking into a yacht, consuming a bottle of vodka, and sounding its horn. Forbes had been tapped to oversee the city just three weeks prior.
According to the yacht's captain, Bill Aubrey, the vessel's horn began blaring shortly after 5:30 a.m. Aubrey investigated and found Forbes inside the yacht's wheelhouse sounding the horn. When confronted, she reportedly responded, "Good morning!"
Deputies from the Marin County Sheriff's Office were called to the scene around 7 a.m. and found Forbes still on the boat. She claimed ownership of the vessel and told deputies to leave her yacht, stating she was having a "bad morning." The boat's owner confirmed Forbes did not have permission to board.
Aubrey, who moored his boat nearby, said he found two large bottles of vodka and tequila, which had been full the previous night, were now empty. He noted that Forbes did not appear to be staggering but that the alcohol was gone.
Forbes was reported missing by her wife on Friday morning, more than 24 hours before her arrest. Family members stated she was experiencing a "mental health crisis" and had left her San Francisco home in a "disoriented state." Her ID and wallet were later found, increasing her family's concern.
A spokesperson for Forbes' family suggested that she may have mistakenly believed she was boarding her own boat, as she owns a vessel on the Sausalito waterfront. Forbes is currently being held on a $50,000 bond.
Forbes began her role as Sausalito's city manager in May, earning an annual salary of $275,000. Prior to that, she served for nine years as the executive director of the Port of San Francisco. The Sausalito City Council has appointed Brandon Phipps as Acting City Manager and is scheduled to discuss Forbes' employment status.