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Lakeport Police logs: Saturday, Jan. 10
Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026
00:00 EXTRA PATROL 2601100001
Occurred at Lake County Law Library on 3D....
Clearlake Police investigation uncovers hundreds of identity theft victims, leads to woman's arrest
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A case that began with a Clearlake woman's attempt to pass a forged check has resulted in her arrest and led investigators to discover evidence of hundreds of identity theft victims.
Clearlake Police Sgt. Travis Lenz said officers arrested Kelly Rae Morales, 37, of Clearlake, on a host of felony charges related to forgery and identity theft.
At 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, Clearlake Police Officer Michael Dietrick was contacted by Lakeport Police Officer Jason Fisher, who was investigating Morales on allegations of attempting to cash a forged check at A-1 Check Cashing in Lakeport, according to Lenz's report.
Lenz said Officer Fisher requested Officer Dietrick attempt to contact Morales in regard to his investigation.
Dietrick had prior contacts with Morales and was aware of her current address in the 3600 block of Sycamore Street in Clearlake, Lenz said.
Lenz said Dietrick responded to Morales’ address and, once on scene, discovered a vehicle which had been previously reported stolen through the Clearlake Police Department, parked in the driveway. Dietrick requested additional units to the scene at that time to assist him.
While Dietrick was awaiting the arrival of other units, Clearlake resident William Darnell Shaw II, 32, exited the residence. Lenz said Dietrick had Shaw walk to his location and detained him in handcuffs at that time, due to the stolen vehicle being located in the driveway.
After Dietrick detained Shaw, Morales exited the residence and Dietrick detained her and placed her in handcuffs as well, Lenz said.
During a search of Shaw’s person, Dietrick found crack cocaine packaged for the purpose of sales, in 59 individual bags. Lenz said the total weight of the cocaine was in excess of 34 grams, having an approximate street value of $1,100.
When asked, Morales consented to a search of her residence by officers. Lenz said additional Clearlake Police officers arrived on scene and searched the residence.
During a search of the house, multiple people were located inside. Lenz said one of the subjects contacted was Clearlake resident, Rocky Rayfield. A records check of Rayfield revealed an outstanding warrant for possession of narcotics.
Officers also located numerous items during the detailed search which linked Morales to forgery, manufacturing false checks, possession of identification to commit forgery and manufacturing false identification which was used to commit fraud, Lenz said.
In addition to those items, Lenz said the forged check which Morales attempted to cash in Lakeport Police Department’s investigation was located, and in Morales’ bedroom officers found methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
When questioned, Morales admitted to possessing the located evidence for the purposes of fraud and identity theft, Lenz said.
Lenz said Dietrick's investigation has led to the identification of more than 600 victims of identity theft.
Morales was booked into the Lake County Jail on charges of forgery, manufacturing false checks, possession of identification to commit forgery, identity theft, identity theft with prior convictions, forging an official seal, possession of false checks, manufacturing false identification, possession of narcotics and possession of drug paraphernalia, Lenz said.
Her bail was set at $15,000 and she is tentatively scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 9, according to her booking sheet. Jail records show she has posted the required portion of bail and been released.
Shaw was booked into the Lake County Jail on a charge of possession of narcotics for the purposes of sales, with bail set at $25,000. He also is due to appear in court on Feb. 9, and has since posted bail and been released, according to jail records.
Rocky Rayfield was released at the scene on a citation for his warrant, Lenz said.
Lenz said the investigation is ongoing and has been turned over to the Clearlake Police Department Investigation Unit.
Anyone with information regarding this case can contact Det. Elvis Cook at 707-994-8251, Extension 315.
Police investigate Clearlake double shooting
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Authorities are investigating an early Monday morning shooting that injured two people and which appears to have been connected to marijuana.
Just after 5:30 a.m. Monday Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to the 15900 Block of 20th Avenue for a report of an unknown type of disturbance, according to Sgt. Martin Snyder.
Snyder said the reporting party was a Spanish-speaking female who asked for officers to respond but was unable to identify why police presence was requested.
Officers arrived on scene and discovered that there were two shooting victims who had left the residence and went to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake for treatment. Snyder said officers responded to the hospital and located a male and female who were both victims of apparent gunshot wounds.
The victims were a male and female, both Clearlake residents. Due to the nature of the incident their identification is being withheld for safety reasons, Snyder said.
The female victim had a gunshot wound to the arm and the male had a gunshot wound to his face. The female's injuries were treated at S. Helena Hospital Clearlake and she was later released, according to Snyder.
Snyder said the male shooting victim was transported via air ambulance to a trauma hospital in Sonoma County for medical treatment as his injuries were more severe. As of Wednesday afternoon, the male was in stable condition.
The female victim advised two unknown masked males had broken into the residence by kicking open the front door. They identified themselves as being from an out-of-county law enforcement agency, Snyder said.
He said the victims advised that the two male subjects attempted to assault them while they were inside the residence near the rear bedroom. During a struggle the subjects shot through the bedroom entry door, injuring the two victims.
Snyder said the two masked subjects fled the scene in what witnesses believed was a smaller vehicle, possibly a Honda accord or Honda Civic with modified exhaust.
The two subjects were described by the victims as black males. The female victim reported that both were wearing ski masks and gloves to conceal their identity, Snyder said.
Snyder said that, at this time, there is minimal suspect information.
He said the residence and scene of the shooting were secured and a search warrant was obtained for the property.
Detectives with the Clearlake Police Department were on scene for several hours processing the crime scene. The residence was then turned back over to family members later Monday evening, Snyder said.
During the processing of the scene there were several indicators of large scale marijuana production occurring on the property, Snyder reported.
Snyder said the victims were unable to identify a motive but investigators believed it was regarding marijuana cultivation or related activities which were occurring on the property.
Any person with information in relation to this case is encouraged to contact Det. Ryan Peterson at the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251, Extension 320.
The Clearlake Police Department encourages citizens to be vigilant to subjects impersonating police officers at their residences.
Snyder said citizens can ask the officers to produce identification as to their law enforcement credentials or call the local law enforcement agency to verify the contact.
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.
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.