How to resolve AdBlock issue? Police investigate fatal Friday night Clearlake shooting
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department is in the midst of an investigation into the circumstances of a Friday night shooting at a residence that left one man dead.
Sgt. Martin Snyder said Saturday that police are not yet releasing the name of the shooting victim, who died at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake Friday night.
Snyder said that at about 7:40 p.m. Friday Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to the hospital for a reported victim of a gunshot wound.
By the time the officers arrived, the victim had been pronounced dead, Snyder said.
Snyder said police discovered that the victim's friends had driven him from the scene where the shooting took place to the hospital.
The investigation led officers to a residence in the 14200 block of Uhl Avenue, which Snyder said officers secured.
A section of Uhl Avenue was closed to vehicle traffic while the investigation took place. The crime scene processing took several hours and was completed around 6:30 a.m. Saturday, with police reopening the roadway to vehicle traffic, Snyder said.
A Clearlake Police Department Investigations Unit detective responded to the scene to work on the investigation, and Snyder said a search warrant was obtained and executed on the residence.
During the investigation, Snyder said police discovered that the male victim was at a friend's residence with other subjects when an unknown black male adult and a white male adult came to the front of the residence.
The black man brandished a black semi-automatic firearm at the victims and then made entry into the residence. Snyder said the gunman then instructed the victims to get on the ground.
One of the victims refused to comply with the demands to get on the ground and a struggle ensued between the black man and one of the people being held at gunpoint, Snyder said.
During the struggle the firearm was discharged several times and one of the holdup victims was shot in the chest before the two assailants left the residence and fled the area in a black-colored sedan-type vehicle, according to Snyder.
Snyder said the shooting victim was transported by his friends to the hospital, where he died.
On Saturday, Snyder said the motive behind the shooting remained unclear and the investigation is ongoing.
The witnesses gave minimal descriptions of the two men who carried out the holdup, only stating both the unknown black and white male had a thin build. The two subjects, vehicle and firearm remained outstanding on Saturday, Snyder said.
Anyone with information related to this case is encouraged to call Det. Elvis Cook at 707-994-8251, Extension 315.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Police release composite sketch of man who attempted to rob Lakeport grocery store
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department has released a composite sketch of a male subject who remains at large after attempting to rob a grocery store at gunpoint on Sunday afternoon.
The attempted armed robbery occurred shortly before 12:45 p.m. Sunday at the Bruno’s Shop Smart store on Lakeport.
Police said the man approached the customer service counter, displayed a black-colored handgun and demanded cash, and then fled the scene in an unknown direction of travel.
Based on witness information, Lakeport Police’s sketch artist, acting Sgt. Joe Eastham, produced the sketch shown above of the man who attempted the robbery.
The individual responsible for the attempted robbery is believed to be in his 30s or 40s, and is described as a white male adult with a brown mustache, standing approximately 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 220 to 240 pounds
Police said the man was wearing a blue beanie-style cap with yellow lettering, black mirror sunglasses, a black canvas jacket, brown button up collared shirt, blue utility jeans and brown work boots.
The subject is considered armed and dangerous, and police are asking citizens not to approach him if they see him but instead to call 911.
If anyone has information on the subject, they also can call officers at 707-263-5491, send a private message on the department’s Facebook page @LakeportPolice or send anonymous information from a cellular phone by texting the words TIP LAKEPORT followed by the message to 888777.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Lakeport Police to begin increased traffic enforcement in 20th Street neighborhood
LAKEPORT, Calif. – In response to an increase in the speed limit and concerns about safety and speeding from area residents, the Lakeport Police Department reported that increased traffic enforcement on 20th Street will begin in December.
Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said city officials in a number of departments are beginning to create an enforcement plan in the area.
On Nov. 1, the Lakeport City Council held a public hearing prior to approving an ordinance that included recommended speed zone changes on various streets in the City of Lakeport, as Lake County News has reported.
One of the areas impacted is the segment of 20th Street between Hartley Street and Alden Avenue, where, according to parameters set in state law, the speed needed to be raised from 25 to 30 miles per hour.
The full speed zone survey that was the basis of that speed limit change can be found at http://www.cityoflakeport.com/hot-details.aspx?id=200 .
While the area in question currently has a posted speed limit of 25 miles per hour, the traffic speed zone survey found that 85 percent of vehicles traveling through the area were traveling at an average speed of 36 miles per hour.
With 36 miles per hour being determined as the 85th percentile, traffic engineer Phil Dow analyzed the data from the survey then evaluated other factors such as number of reported accidents, roadway size, and the condition and type of area the roadway travels through.
Speed zone determinations are a highly regulated process, governed under the California Vehicle Code, which provides very limited discretion to the traffic engineer in making a recommendation where the speed limit should be set.
Due to state restrictions, Dow only had the discretion to recommend a speed limit within 6 miles per hour of the 85th percentile speed of 36 miles per hour, which would be 30 or 40 miles per hour. Because the area is residential, Dow's recommendation was 30 miles per hour.
State law further requires that if a jurisdiction wants to enforce speed limits by use of electronic device, such as radar, the only practical and effective way for police to enforce speed in the city of Lakeport, it must conduct speed zone surveys every five years and set the limits based on the results of the survey.
In the 20th Street area the roadway condition is good, wider than other residential areas and has a large tract of undeveloped land, Rasmussen said.
Residents of 20th Street told the council during the Nov. 1 public hearing about their serious concerns of speeding in the area now, and that the change in the speed limit might lead to increased safety concerns.
Rasmussen said that it was clear at the council meeting that many residents in the area were very concerned about the speed limit being reset from 25 to 30 miles per hour.
After hearing all testimony, the Lakeport City Council was faced with a decision of keeping the existing 25-mile-per-hour signage but forfeiting the ability of enforcing speeding violations or raising the speed limit to 30 miles per hour.
Although the city council and staff were not comfortable with the 30-mile-per-hour speed limit, it was accepted so that enforcement can continue.
Rasmussen said the police department is immediately beginning its work with other city departments including Community Development, Engineering, Public Works and with the neighborhood to develop an enforcement and education plan.
He said that plan's goal is to reduce the 85th percentile speed of 36 miles per hour down to 30 miles per hour or below over the next several months and allow for a new speed zone study for this segment of roadway.
City departments also will be looking at traffic calming measures which could be used in the area, Rasmussen said.
“We believe that if everyone works together we can be successful in getting survey results that will lower the enforceable speed limit back down to 25 miles per hour,” Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said residents of the 20th Street area and all other citizens driving in the area should consider this fair warning that starting around Dec. 1 Lakeport Police officers will be aggressively enforcing all speeding violations.
“Exceeding 30 miles per hour by any number will be strictly enforced,” Rasmussen said.
Rasmussen said he'll provide additional information regarding other zones in a future update.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Sheriff's office works to identify man believed responsible for break-in
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's help in identifying a male subject who is a person of interest in a Lakeport burglary.
Lt. Steve Brooks said that on Oct. 31 the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to a reported burglary that occurred in the 700 block of Soda Bay Road.
Brooks said the victim reported that someone broke into his home and had stolen some items.
The victim had a personal surveillance camera set up at his home and captured images of a male subject who Brooks said is a person of interest.
The date stamp on the surveillance images indicated the break-in occurred at around 8:30 a.m. on Oct. 28.
Brooks said the Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in identifying the male subject who was captured on the victim’s surveillance camera.
If you have any information regarding the identity of this subject, please contact Det. Stephen Tong at 707-262-4223.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Police urge extra Halloween caution; rain expected to continue through the night
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – With children and their families out and about on a Halloween evening that forecasters said will see continued rain, local law enforcement is reminding community members to use particular caution when out driving.
The National Weather Service reported that rain will continue through Monday night and into Tuesday morning.
Rainfall amounts in the Kelseyville, Lakeport, Northshore and south county areas are expected to total as much as a quarter of an inch on Monday night, while the Clearlake area and parts of the county east of Clearlake Oaks are anticipated to have up to a tenth of an inch, the National Weather Service said.
The Lakeport Police Department issued an advisory reminding all motorists to use extreme caution Halloween evening when traveling in the area of north Lakeport and near the Lakeport schools due to heavy pedestrian traffic throughout the neighborhoods.
Police anticipate that there also will be a large amount of vehicles and people in and around Clear Lake High School for the annual Kiwanis Halloween Fair, which takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Motorists are encouraged to use caution as visibility will be reduced due to the darkness and inclement weather, police said.
In Clearlake, City Hall was hosting its annual Halloween event for children from 2 to 5 p.m., with a Trunk or Treat event at the Clearlake Youth Center at 14655 Ballpark Ave. continuing from 4 to 8 p.m.
Clearlake Police said there will be trick or treating in the area of Highlands Village, with department volunteers and officers conducting traffic control in the area.
The Clearlake Police Department also asked motorists to watch their speed and to be aware of pedestrians, and urged pedestrians and parents on the roadways to stay visible by carrying flashlights or other accessories – such as glow sticks – to keep themselves visible.
All agencies also remind motorists not to drink and drive, and to have a designated driver if attending parties or other events where there is alcohol.
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
