How to resolve AdBlock issue? Clearlake Police K9s retire; two new dogs to join agency
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department announced the retirement of two of its police K9s, Dex and Max.
While the two dedicated dogs are hanging up their badges, the agency is planning to introduce two new K9s, with two new handlers chosen from among the department's ranks, according to Sgt. Travis Lenz.
Both Dex and Max have done outstanding work within the community and their retirement is well deserved, said Lenz.
Lenz said Dex was brought into the Clearlake Police Department in 2010. At that time the department wanted to establish a new K9 program but was having difficulty with establishing it due to budgetary issues.
The department reached out to the public, which Lenz said responded generously. Through donations, t-shirt sales as well as other fundraising efforts, funding was collected for a canine.
After lengthy research to find the right fit for the department, Dex was selected and has served the community ever since. Lenz said Dex has also been used in narcotic detections as well after he received additional training for that discipline in 2012.
Max was donated to the department by another agency and has been serving the Clearlake community since 2012, Lenz said.
Lenz said both canines are being retired based on their age in addition to their handlers being reassigned to other duties.
Officer Elvis Cook, who had been Max’s handler, has been assigned to the investigations unit as a detective, said Lenz, who had been Dex’s handler and has been promoted to patrol sergeant.
Lenz said he and Det. Cook are still maintaining their involvement in the canine program. Lenz is assuming duties as the canine supervisor and Cook as a canine agitator, and they will continue to assist in fundraising efforts as well.
The Clearlake Police K9 Program has been extremely successful, according to Lenz, who said the highly trained dogs have provided an invaluable service to the community.
During the time the K9s have been in service, they have had hundreds of surrenders where suspects would have otherwise physically resisted officers, placing them at risk of injury, Lenz said.
In addition, Lenz the dogs have had numerous apprehensions where it was necessary to use canines in capturing dangerous suspects.
Due to the success of the police K9 program, Lenz said the Clearlake Police Department wants to continue offering that level of service to the community.
Through donations and continued fundraising efforts, funding has been secured for the purchase of two new K9 as well as the training costs for the two new canine handlers, he said.
An extensive selection process was conducted and Lenz said two officers have been chosen for the positions – Officer Travis Parson and Officer Mark Harden.
Parson, an officer with the department for the past two years, has been extremely involved in the K9 program, having been an agitator and assisted with fundraising efforts, Lenz said.
Harden, who has worked in law enforcement for more than 15 years, recently was hired by the Clearlake Police Department from another agency, Lenz said. During his career, Officer Harden previously had been a canine handler and agitator.
It is anticipated that both officers will continue the successful progress that has already been made with canine unit and the city of Clearlake, Lenz said.
Lenz said the Clearlake Police Department K9 Unit is solely funded by the community through fundraising. Without these donations, the unit would not exist, Lenz said.
Working in partnership with the community, the police department has been able to obtain the two new canines, which Lenz said are invaluable tools in regard to increasing community safety as well as apprehending violent fugitives.
Now that the two new dogs have been purchased to succeed Dex and Max, Lenz said Clearlake Police Department personnel thought it was an excellent opportunity to allow local students to name the dogs as a gesture of thanks for the community's support.
Lenz said Burns Valley Elementary School, Pomo Elementary School and Konocti Education Center have been selected to participate in naming the police K9.
All students in the sixth and seventh grades will draw a picture of a police K9 and then pick a name. The student with the best drawing and name will get to meet the new canine officers and their dogs, take photographs and name the new police dogs, Lenz said.
The completion will be completed on Monday, Dec. 14, at which time the two winners will be announced, Lenz said.
The Clearlake Police K9 Unit thanked all of the students participating in this process, wished them good luck, and said they are very excited to see the names and drawings that will be submitted.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
Lake County Deputy Sheriffs Association holds shopping spree with Valley fire children
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Lake County Deputy Sheriffs Association – in partnership with the Bay Area Deputy Sheriffs’ Charitable Foundation – is giving $12,000 for a special holiday shopping event for some less fortunate children in Lake County, some of whom were affected by the Valley fire.
The “shop with a first responder” event will take place from 7 to 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the Walmart store in Clearlake, 15960 Dam Road.
Sixty children, who already have been selected, will receive $200 each to shop tax-free for warm winter clothes, as well as holiday gifts and other needed items on their lists.
Each child will team up with a local first responder or a community volunteer to help them shop. Members from all local law enforcement agencies will be represented, as well as members from several fire agencies.
The Bay Area Deputy Sheriffs’ Charitable Foundation ( www.deputysheriffsfoundation.org ) provides financial support for prevention programs that serve the underprivileged and vulnerable youth in the Bay Area by assisting disadvantaged children in securing school supplies and clothing, and other programs that seek to prevent youth from turning to a life of crime.
Since 2004, the foundation's “Shop with a Deputy Sheriff” event has fulfilled holiday dreams of more than 3,600 Bay Area children who are at a disadvantage, and the numbers continue to grow. That annual event is made possible from the partnerships between the business community and law enforcement.
The shopping experience – which involves pairing the children with a deputy or a community volunteer – demonstrates to the children that someone cares for their welfare and development.
The foundation has followed several children from past events and watched them graduate high school. Foundation members have been told by the children that the deputy sheriffs’ programs gave them the incentives and encouragement to do better in school and in life.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
Lakeport Police Department continues seeking domestic violence suspect
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is continuing its efforts to locate a local man wanted for domestic violence and terrorist threats.
Ben Emerson Brooks, 34, has been at large since Oct. 31, as Lake County News has reported.
Days later, police issued an alert about Brooks, who is wanted on a felony Lake County Superior Court arrest warrant.
Since then, police reported receiving some leads on where Brooks may be hiding but have not been able to locate and arrest him.
The agency suspects Brooks may be moving around between the Ukiah and Lakeport areas.
At 1 a.m. Wednesday, an alert Lakeport Police officer doing security checks in the 100 block of Lange Street spotted suspicious subjects in the area and attempted to contact them.
At that point, a subject identified as Brooks fled from the officer, police said.
The Lakeport Police Department said additional officers, including deputies from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, responded to the area to conduct a search but they were unable to locate Brooks.
Brooks is 6 feet tall, weighs 185 pounds, and has blond hair and blue eyes, according to a description offered by police.
Do not attempt to contact or approach him, police said.
Anyone who sees Brooks or knows his whereabouts is asked to call the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491 or their local law enforcement agency immediately.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
Police seek hit-and-run DUI crash witnesses
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department is seeking witnesses to an early morning hit-and-run collision involving drunk driving that that left two people seriously injured.
At 2 a.m. Wednesday Lakeport Police officers were dispatched to the area of N. Main and Ninth streets to investigate the report of a hit-and-run vehicle collision involving a sport utility vehicle and a 18-wheeled truck. Police said the reporting party advised that both vehicles were unoccupied.
While en route, officers were diverted to the report of an in-progress disturbance in front of the Anchorage Inn, less than a block away from the collision scene, police said.
Officers arrived at the Anchorage Inn and located two intoxicated male subjects, ages 23 and 24, who were both injured and had blood on their skin and clothing. Police said both men denied having any knowledge of the hit-and-run collision.
The Lakeport Fire Protection District was requested to respond to the scene to check both subjects' injuries while officers also responded to the collision scene to conduct an investigation, according to the Lakeport Police report.
Officers determined that the unoccupied 18-wheeled rock truck had been parked facing south along the west curb of N. Main Street just south of Ninth Street when a black 2005 Chevrolet Trailblazer traveling north in the northbound lane of N. Main Street – at a speed estimated to be at least 40 miles per hour – left its lane and traveled northwest across all lanes of N. Main Street and hit the rock truck head on, police reported.
Officers determined that the subjects from the Anchorage Inn call were in fact involved in the collision and had fled the scene immediately after it happened.
Both subjects were transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital for treatment with the driver, identified as Kevin Cody Hermo, 23, of Kelseyville, arrested for felony drunk driving causing injury and felony hit-and-run with injury. Police said a blood sample was taken from Hermo for testing for drugs or alcohol.
Due to the severity of the injuries sustained by Hermo and the male passenger, Sutter Lakeside staff had them both flown by helicopter to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital where they currently remain for treatment, according to police.
During the investigation, officers also located approximately 2 pounds of suspected marijuana in the the Trailblazer which was impounded for further examination and processing for additional evidence, police said.
This investigation is currently ongoing and the Lakeport Police Department is asking that anyone with information on this incident contact Officer Tyler Trouette or Sgt. Gary Basor at 707-263-5491 or by email at
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
Sheriff's office recovers stolen property, looks for theft victims
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Local authorities are working to identify the owners of stolen property recovered during an ongoing investigation into the activities of three local men, two of whom are in custody with the third being actively sought by law enforcement.
During the past two months the Lake County Sheriff’s Office became aware of several subjects in Lake County who were suspected of committing thefts, burglaries and drug sales in the county, according to Lt. Steve Brooks.
Since becoming aware of these subjects, Brooks said the sheriff’s office has been conducting an extensive investigation that is a combined effort involving the agency's patrol, narcotics and investigations divisions.
As a result, Brooks said the sheriff’s office identified three suspects related to these crimes: 44-year-old Lonnie Ray Scott of Kelseyville; Michael Sean Shaffer, 31, of Upper Lake; and 28-year-old Jose Manuel Rodriguez Jr. of Kelseyville.
On Nov. 3 Scott was arrested by sheriff’s deputies following a vehicle pursuit that occurred on Sylar Lane in Kelseyville, where Scott rammed a sheriff’s vehicle, Brooks said.
Brooks said Scott was found in possession of 12 pounds of marijuana, a loaded handgun and several items of stolen property. Detectives were able to link the stolen property to two thefts reported in the Kelseyville area.
Scott remains in custody at the Lake County Jail, on a no-bail hold due to a felony bench warrant, according to jail records.
On Nov. 10, Shaffer was arrested by narcotics detectives during a probation search at a residence located on Riviera Heights Drive in Kelseyville, Brooks said.
Brooks said Shaffer was found in possession of a stolen vehicle, several items of stolen property and half an ounce of methamphetamine.
Detectives were able to link the stolen property to four separate thefts that were reported in the Nice and Upper Lake area, Brooks said.
Shaffer was released on bail related to these charges. Brooks said Shaffer is currently on active Post Release Community Supervision probation and has a no bail arrest warrant for violating conditions of that probation.
Shaffer was spotted by sheriff’s detectives in the Upper Lake area on Nov. 17 while conducting follow up regarding these cases. Brooks said Shaffer fled the area on a motorcycle and was not able to be located.
Anyone with information on Shaffer’s location is asked to contact the sheriff’s office at 707-263-2690.
On Nov. 17, Rodriguez was arrested by the Lakeport Police Department following a vehicle pursuit with police officers, as Lake County News has reported.
Brooks said sheriff’s detectives had identified Rodriguez as a suspect in several thefts prior to him being arrested.
Detectives linked Rodriguez to several items of stolen property that have been recovered. Brooks said the stolen property has been identified as having been stolen from four separate thefts reported in the Kelseyville area and one reported in Clearlake Oaks.
Rodriguez remains in custody at the Lake County Jail, according to jail records.
Sheriff’s detectives have recovered items that are believed to be stolen, but have not been able to link these items to any reported thefts, Brooks said.
Anyone who has had a recent theft and not reported it is urged to contact the sheriff’s office at 707-262-4200 to make a report.
In addition, Brooks said anyone who has made a report, but has not provided a detailed list of items stolen, is urged to contact the deputy they made the report to and provide the list.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
