The city manager of Sausalito, California, Elaine Forbes, 53, was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of burglary charges after being found inside a yacht at the Sausalito Yacht Harbor. Authorities stated she was experiencing a mental health crisis at the time of the incident.
Forbes was taken into custody by Marin County sheriff's deputies around 7 a.m. She reportedly claimed the yacht belonged to her and told officers she was having a "bad morning." She has been booked into the Marin County Jail with bail set at $50,000. Forbes remains in custody as of Monday morning.
The arrest occurred just two days after the Sausalito City Council met to discuss Forbes' performance and subsequently placed her on administrative leave. She was appointed city manager in May and assumed the role three weeks prior to her arrest, with a starting salary of $275,000.
A family spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times that Forbes was "experiencing a mental health crisis" and requested that judgment not be rushed. The spokesperson added, "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."
Sausalito city officials acknowledged the arrest as a "difficult development for our City staff and our community" but stated they would not comment on specific allegations due to the ongoing investigation by the Marin County Sheriff's Office. The City Council has appointed Brandon Phipps as Acting City Manager and plans to discuss further steps at an upcoming meeting.
Forbes previously served for nine years as the executive director of the Port of San Francisco, where she oversaw a staff of 270 and managed waterfront initiatives, including seawall upgrades and a proposal for redeveloping Fisherman's Wharf. She announced her resignation from the Port last September. In May, upon her appointment in Sausalito, Forbes expressed honor at "coming home to Marin" and excitement to work on the city's fiscal sustainability, sea level rise preparation, and organizational strength.
Public records indicate Forbes sold her San Francisco home in April and is understood to have moved to a houseboat in Sausalito. She is listed in the county public booking log as a current San Francisco resident.