Sausalito City Manager Faces Misdemeanor Charges After Alleged Yacht Break‑Ins

Elaine Forbes, who only three weeks ago stepped into the role of Sausalito city manager, found herself on the other side of the law early Saturday. Marin County officials say she was arrested after allegedly forcing her way onto at least two private yachts docked in the town’s harbor.

The district attorney’s office confirmed that four misdemeanor counts will be filed against her: one count of prowling, two counts of disorderly conduct for lodging without consent, and a petty‑theft charge. The accusations stem from an incident in which Forbes is said to have broken into a 66‑foot boat named the Lisa Marie and tried to drive it away before officers intervened.

One of the yacht owners, Andy Cunningham, described the scene with a mixture of disbelief and irritation. “I came down, the police met me at my boat, and it looked like a wild party had just ended,” he said. “She went through my clothes, tried them on inside‑out, dumped a jar of maraschino cherries into a shoebox, and apparently knocked back four bottles of our wine.”

According to the Marin County Sheriff’s Department, a missing‑person report for Forbes was filed just hours before her arrest. The report was later withdrawn, but it added another layer of confusion to an already tangled situation.

Forbes’ family spokesperson, Sam Singer, issued a statement indicating that the city manager is currently navigating a “mental health crisis” and that her stay in custody is, in part, at her own request. Singer added that Forbes has been going through a divorce and was living on a houseboat near where the alleged break‑ins occurred, which may have contributed to her belief that she was on her own vessel.

“Ms. Forbes was evidently not of sound mind at the time,” Singer said. “She deeply regrets any distress her actions caused and hopes to receive the appropriate care as soon as possible.”

The Sausalito City Council granted Forbes a leave of absence on Thursday and plans to discuss her employment status at their Tuesday afternoon meeting. While the council’s thoughts are reportedly with her, the community remains split between empathy for her personal struggles and concern over the alleged property damage.

Resources for mental‑health assistance have been linked in related coverage, underscoring the broader conversation about how public officials cope with personal crises while under the spotlight.