Intrigue in Surprise Valley

Some heard it.  Some saw its lights.  

A low flying aircraft lands at night in a dormant alfalfa field in Surprise Valley, a young woman steps out and walks to town where she takes a room at the local hotel.  She leaves her pink luggage and a straw hat with a sunflower on it in the plane. Locals see the plane but no one calls the authorities for two days until  the woman, Susan Alexandria, 28, goes to a local restaurant for breakfast. She is detained there by the restaurant owner until the Modoc County sheriff arrives and takes her into custody.

Undersheriff Gary Palmer reported to the Modoc Independent Daily News that Alexandria had stolen the red and white single engine Piper from Santa Rosa and ran out of gas in Surprise Valley.  The aircraft belongs to Candace Elliot of Santa Rosa.

“She’s lucky she didn’t hit the power lines or wheel line sprinklers,” said Palmer. “No one called us until today. The Sonoma County sheriff took a report this morning and will be filing charges.  We’re holding Alexandria for them.”