How to resolve AdBlock issue? Police seek identity of subject who attempted to lure girls into van
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lakeport Police Department said Monday that it is seeking information about the identity of a male subject who attempted to lure two girls into his van on Saturday.
Lt. Jason Ferguson said Lakeport Police officers responded to the 800 block of N. Main St. at 7:30 p.m. Saturday on the report of two 11-year-old females who said that a male subject attempted to lure them into his van.
The girls reported that a man, described as 40 to 50 years old, with longer hair that had some gray color, was parked in the driveway at 800 N. Main St. in a light baby blue-colored van with no windows on the side, Ferguson said.
As the girls walked toward the van the male told them to get into the van and made an inappropriate comment – which was sexual in nature – to one of the girls, according to Ferguson.
Ferguson said the girls reported that they continued to walk and noticed the van began to follow them, so they hid behind a nearby restaurant.
The girls reported that they watched the van pass by several times, believing the male was attempting to locate them while they hid, Ferguson said.
Ferguson said the girls were able to flag down law enforcement to report the incident.
Lakeport Police officers developed information into a possible suspect, but Ferguson said both juveniles were unable to positively identify the male as the person who followed them.
Officers are continuing their investigation into the identity of the male subject in the van, Ferguson said.
Anyone with information about the subject is asked to call the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Police arrest suspect in Clearlake thefts; man had asked for water, was allowed into homes
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department said Thursday that a man suspected of being responsible for several thefts in Clearlake homes – where he had been allowed in after asking residents for water – has been arrested.
Clearlake transient Richard William O’Keefe Jr., 32, was taken into custody late Wednesday night, according to Clearlake Police Sgt. Rodd Joseph.
On Feb. 26 the Clearlake Police Department had issued a report on an unidentified male subject who was going to homes around the city, claiming to be associated with the local fire department and asking residents for water.
Victims reported that after he was admitted into their homes, he stole items and then fled, as Lake County News has reported. Items reported stolen included electronics, wallets and purses.
Following the agency's release of the report on the thefts, Joseph said the Clearlake Police Department received several tips regarding the subject's possible identity, and were able to positively identify O'Keefe as the suspect in at least two of the recent Clearlake thefts.
Officers are working to try and link O’Keefe to other similar reported crimes, Joseph said.
On Wednesday night, shortly after 11 p.m., O’Keefe was taken into custody by Clearlake Police officers on unrelated charges stemming from illegal controlled substance use in a residence he had broken into and in which he was trespassing, according to Joseph.
During the contact with police O’Keefe resisted arrest, threatened to kill officers at their residences and to blow up the police department with C4 explosive, Joseph said.
O'Keefe was booked into the Lake County Jail early Thursday morning. Jail records showed he was booked on a misdemeanor charge of entering a noncommercial dwelling, and felony obstructing or resisting an executive officer. He has a March 17 court appearance scheduled.
Joseph said that, upon completion of the Clearlake Police investigation, the reports will be forwarded to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for additional charges against O’Keefe.
The Clearlake Police Department thanked Lake County residents who called in and provided crucial information, which Joseph said ultimately led to O’Keefe’s positive identification in the theft cases.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
Clearlake Police seek male suspect in attempted kidnapping
CLEARLAKE, Calif -- Clearlake Police are seeking a suspect in a March 9 attempted kidnapping.
The suspect is described as a heavy set white male adult with gray hair approximately 5'5" to 5'7" feet tall driving a black full size newer model truck with a chrome grill and silver rims.
When last seen the suspect was clean shaven and wearing a blue shirt. On March 9, 2014 at approximately 9:45 am, the Clearlake Police Department received a report of an attempted kidnapping in area of Crawford Avenue near the intersection of Cypress Avenue.
Officers responded to the area and contacted the female victim. The victim advised police that an unknown white male adult, who was driving a newer black model full size truck, pulled alongside of her while she was walking in the area. The unknown male adult asked the female if she had any money.
The unknown male, stopped the vehicle, exited the driver door and approached the victim. The male then grabbed the female by the arm and attempted to pull her into his vehicle.
The victim reported she was able to get free and jogged to a residence.
The male then left the area in the black truck. Officers conducted a search of the area for the possible suspect and vehicle however they were unable to locate him. Do to the nature of the investigation, the victim’s name is being withheld.
The victim described the suspect as a heavy set white male adult with gray hair, with a possible height between 5’5” to 5’7”. The male was clean-shaven wearing a blue shirt. The truck is described as a black full size newer truck, unknown make with a chrome grill and silver rims.
Persons with information regarding this incident or possible suspect information are encouraged to contact Officer T. Parson at 707-994-8251 ext.507.
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- Written by: John Jensen
Sheriff's office identifies woman arrested following early morning chase
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Authorities said a vehicle pursuit that occurred early Thursday began after a local woman fled from deputies who approached her car at a local park.
Kathryn Dawn Delorenzi, 50, of Lakeport, was arrested early Thursday, according to Lt. Steve Brooks of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.
Delorenzi was taken into custody just before 2 a.m. after leading sheriff's deputies and California Highway Patrol officers on a nearly 40-minute vehicle chase that began at the Rodman Slough and ended at the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 53 near Clearlake Oaks, as Lake County News has reported.
Brooks said deputies saw Delorenzi's silver Honda parked, with the windows fogged up, at the Rodman Slough County Park parking lot, where vehicles can't be parked after 11 p.m. unless the drivers are fishing.
He said Delorenzi sat up in the car when the deputies approached but refused to roll down the windows.
Radio traffic indicated deputies had approached Delorenzi at around 1:15 a.m., and after she refused to roll down the windows or get out of the car, a deputy said they had her at gunpoint.
Brooks said Delorenzi then started the car and took off on the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff toward Nice.
When she was passing through the Nice area, Delorenzi reached speeds of about 90 miles per hour, said Brooks. She also was swerving in and out of both lanes of traffic, as well as a turning lane in Nice.
The CHP, which joined the pursuit and closed the roadway to protect other drivers, put down a spike strip near Glenhaven, which flattened three of Delorenzi's tires, Brooks said.
However, Delorenzi continued driving on her melting and flattened tires, wheel rims and her remaining left rear tire, Brooks said.
The CHP then put down a second spike strip near Key Boulevard in Clearlake Oaks, as Lake County News has reported.
Brooks said Delorenzi slowed to about 5 to 10 miles per hour after hitting the second spike strike.
During the chase, deputies had asked if CHP officers would conduct a “pursuit intervention technique” or “PIT maneuver,” which involves bumping the vehicle to make it go into a spin, but the CHP declined, according to radio reports.
Brooks explained that such a maneuver could have put Delorenzi's vehicle into a “scary” spin, which could have been dangerous. Instead, she was allowed to continue driving at low speed until she stopped.
He said the pursuit ended near the “Y” intersection of Highway 29 and Highway 53.
Deputies – assisted by a Clearlake Police K9 – conducted a “high risk” stop, Brooks said, and took Delorenzi into custody at gunpoint, handcuffing her and placing her in a patrol car.
When a deputy asked Delorenzi why she had evaded law enforcement, she began reciting the Lord's Prayer and the Serenity Prayer, Brooks said.
While conducting a search of Delorenzi's Honda, authorities found a cat in a carrier under the front seat, according to Brooks.
Brooks said Delorenzi told deputies she needed medical help. Lake County Fire Protection District's Station 70 sent paramedics to the scene to evaluate her. She was not injured and was taken to the Lake County Jail.
Delorenzi was booked into the Lake County Jail on two misdemeanor county ordinance violations and a felony charge of evading a peace officer with disregard for safety, with bail set at $35,000. She remained in custody early Friday.
A search of jail booking records showed that Delorenzi was arrested by the Lakeport Police Department on Jan. 9.
Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen said Delorenzi was arrested for misdemeanor disorderly conduct while under the influence of a drug and trespassing at the Employment Development Department at 55 First St.
He said Employment Development Department staff reported that Delorenzi had come into the office three times on Jan. 8 and 9, demanding money and that they give her a job. When they asked her to leave, she began making vulgar remarks.
When she came into the office on Jan. 9 she again was told to leave and staff attempted to block the door, then called police, Rasmussen said.
When a Lakeport Police officer arrived, he found Delorenzi in front of the building. Rasmussen said she was making statements that didn't make sense and behaving strangely, and wouldn't follow the officer's orders, leading to him taking her into custody.
Rasmussen said the Jan. 9 arrest was his agency's only contact with Delorenzi.
Her booking record for the vehicle pursuit arrest has her scheduled to appear in court on March 10.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
Man wanted for rape, burglary sentencing turns himself in to police
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A man wanted by police for failing to appear for sentencing in a rape and burglary case has turned himself in to authorities.
Douglas Scott Rupert, 40, voluntarily surrendered himself at the Clearlake Police Department just before 3 p.m. on Friday, according to Sgt. Martin Snyder.
Snyder said Rupert was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Lake County Jail.
On Jan. 28 the Lake County Superior Court issued an arrest warrant for Rupert after he failed to turn himself in for sentencing in a July 2013 rape and burglary case for which he was convicted, as Lake County News has reported.
The Clearlake Police Department thanked the community for assisting with information regarding Rupert's possible location.
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- Written by: Lake County News reports
