The brand-new city manager of upscale Sausalito, California was arrested on felony burglary charges after allegedly breaking into multiple yachts at the Sausalito Yacht Harbor, a mere three weeks into her high-paying gig.
Elaine Forbes, 53, who just started as Sausalito’s city manager on July 1 with a whopping $275,000 taxpayer-funded annual salary, was hauled off by Marin County sheriff’s deputies around 6:50 a.m. on Saturday after responding to a noise complaint, KRON4 reported.
Deputies reportedly found her aboard a vessel she didn’t own, trying to start the boat, leaving behind messes with empty alcohol bottles, sounding the yacht’s loud horns, and even wearing the owner’s clothing. She initially claimed it was her boat and told officers she was having “a bad morning.”
ABC News reported:
Forbes, 53, was taken into custody after Captain Bill Aubrey discovered her aboard the Lisa Marie and called 911.
“She had the horn going, the windshield wipers going, the spotlight going,” Aubrey recalled.
According to Aubrey, Forbes appeared calm when confronted.
“I told her to get off the boat,” he said. “She looked at me and said, ‘Good morning.’ She was very friendly.”
[…]
Boat owner Andy Cunningham said she was shocked by what he found after being contacted by police.
“I came down here, police met me at the boat, and we discovered unbelievable chaos on my boat,” Cunningham said.
Cunningham said clothing had been removed from storage and appeared to have been tried on. She also reported food and alcohol had been consumed.
Forbes previously spent nine years as the Executive Director of the Port of San Francisco. She oversaw hundreds of employees, waterfront projects, seawall reinforcements, and sea-level rise planning. She stepped down from that role last year before landing the cushy Sausalito position.
Her family and a spokesperson are now claiming she was experiencing a “mental health crisis” and are urging the public to show “compassion” while the facts emerge.
“Elaine Forbes has devoted much of her life to public service and is widely respected by the many people who have worked with her over the years,” the family said in a statement to KRON4.
“We ask that no one rush to judgment based on limited information. Elaine is experiencing a mental health crisis. 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.”
A spokesperson told the news outlet that Forbes “has devoted much of her life to public service” and is “widely respected.”
This comes just days after, while she was on a leave of absence. Forbes is now booked into Marin County Jail on $50,000 bail.
Statement from the City of Sausalito:
Sausalito City Manager Elaine Forbes has been arrested in Sausalito while on a leave of absence.
Forbes was taken into custody at 6:50 am Saturday morning in Sausalito. She was booked on criminal charges.
This is a difficult development for our City staff and our community. Because this is now an active and ongoing investigation by the Marin County Sheriff’s Office, the City will not comment on the specific allegations. For additional information, please contact the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.
Previously, on Thursday, July 16, the Sausalito City Council met in closed session to approve a leave of absence for Forbes. The work of the City of Sausalito continues without interruption under the leadership of Acting City Manager Brandon Phipps and our dedicated municipal staff. It is anticipated the City Council will discuss next steps at its upcoming City Council meeting.
“Unbelievable chaos & havoc on my boat.” Yacht owners say new Sausalito city manager Elaine Forbes made herself at home on 3 yachts before being arrested by @MarinSheriff. Ex-@SFPort director had been reported missing & was on leave from Sausalito job she started weeks earlier pic.twitter.com/DEmnElPkPG
— Henry K. Lee (@henrykleeKTVU) July 21, 2026
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