Police K9 helps capture weekend chase suspect

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A police dog helped apprehend a Clearlake man last weekend following a vehicle and foot chase.

Jesse James Vezeau, 24, was arrested at the end of the pursuit with the help of Clearlake Police's K9 “Dex,” according to Lt. Tim Celli.

At midnight on Saturday, June 15, Clearlake Police Officer Alan Collier was conducting extra traffic patrol, watching the intersection and stop sign at Acacia Street and Arrowhead Road, Celli said.

Officer Collier saw a black Acura Integra traveling west on Arrowhead Drive. Celli said the vehicle traveled through the stop sign without stopping and Collier attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle for the violation of running the stop sign.

When Collier attempted to stop the vehicle, the Acura immediately sped up in an obvious attempt to evade the officer, Celli said.

Celli said the suspect driver, later identified as Vezeau, drove with disregard for public safety while leading the officer on a 2.4-mile pursuit through residential areas.

Vezeau was traveling in excess of 65 miles per hour in opposite lanes of traffic, fishtailing around turns and failing to stop for stop signs while traveling at excessive rates of speed, Celli said.

Vezeau’s vehicle apparently suffered damage due to his reckless driving, finally becoming disabled in the 13200 block of Lakeshore Drive, according to Celli.

He said Vezeau ran from the vehicle and Collier pursued him on foot. Vezeau attempted to jump an approximate 5-foot-tall rock wall, at which point Collier caught up with Vezeau and grabbed on to his feet.

Celli said Vezeau began to kick at the officer in an effort to get free. Collier was able to pull Vezeau off the fence to the ground, where he continued to resist the uniformed officer.

Vezeau failed to comply with numerous commands to stop fighting with the officer and continued to violently struggle with Collier, Celli said.

Officer Michael Carpenter and his K9 partner Dex arrived on scene to assist Collier, Celli said. Due to Vezeau’s violent resistance toward officers, the fact he led officers on a 2high speed pursuit with disregard for public safety and it was unknown if the suspect had any weapons on him and his failure to obey commands to stop resisting, Dex was deployed to assist with the apprehension of the suspect.

Celli said Dex bit Vezeau in the upper torso, at which time Vezeau stopped resisting with the officers and complied with their orders. Vezeau was arrested without further incident.

Vezeau was transported St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake where he received treatment for his injuries related to the K9 bite, Celli said.

Vezeau was medically cleared for incarceration and booked into the Lake County Jail for felony evasion, and misdemeanor charges of resisting a police officer and driving on a suspended driver license, according to Celli.

Bail for Vezeau was set at $70,000 and jail records indicated he remained in custody early Wednesday.

Celli said that during an interview, Vezeau told officers he led them on a pursuit because he thought he had a warrant for his arrest and believed he could get away.

Details

Written by: Lake County News reports

Published: 19 June 2013

Clearlake Police Department reports on discovery, detonation of explosive device

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department reported Tuesday that a pipe bomb found at a city residence over the weekend was safety detonated.

Lt. Tim Celli said the device was reported to police shortly before 9 p.m. Saturday, June 15.

At that time, Clearlake Police officers were dispatched to a report of a pipe bomb being found at a residence located in the 15700 block of 45th Avenue.

The reporting party told officers that the device was found by children while they were playing in the backyard of the residence, Celli said.

When the reporting party discovered what the children actually found, he immediately took the item out of the residence and out front to the street and called police, according to Celli.

Celli said when police officers arrived, they determined it was in fact an explosive device and immediately evacuated nearby residences.

Additional resources from the fire department and Napa County Bomb Squad were requested to the scene. Celli said when Napa County Bomb Squad arrived on scene, its members assessed the device and determined it could be destroyed in place safely.  

He said the device was detonated with no damage to persons or property.  

Residents were evacuated from their homes for approximately three hours. Once the scene was determined to be safe, residents were allowed back to their homes, Celli said.

Celli said Tuesday that it was unknown how the device actually ended up in the backyard of the residence.

Through an investigation officers discovered the home was purchased approximately a year and a half ago through foreclosure. At the time of purchase the residents claim to have cleaned property out of the backyard, but had never seen the device before, according to Celli.

This case remains under investigation and. anyone with information regarding this case is asked to contact Clearlake Police Officer Mike Carpenter, Celli said.

He reminded citizens that if they find a suspicious device to leave the item in place and notify authorities immediately.

Celli said the Clearlake Police Department thanked all involved in bringing this incident to a safe conclusion, including Napa Bomb Squad, Lake County Office of Emergency Services and Lake County Fire Protection District. 

Details

Written by: Lake County News reports

Published: 18 June 2013

Police arrest two for allegedly purchasing alcohol for minors

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Two Clearlake residents were arrested late last week in a police operation targeting those purchasing alcohol for minors.

Shawn Kossow and Lourdes Torres were arrested, issued citations and released during the “shoulder tap” operation that occurred on Friday, June 14, according to a report from officer Aaron Winslow of the Clearlake Police Department.

Winslow said that on June 14 Clearlake Police officers conducted shoulder tap operations at various businesses in Clearlake.

Shoulder tap operations are law enforcement programs that the Alcoholic Beverage Control and local law enforcement agencies use to deter and detect alcohol related crimes involving the sale/ furnishing of alcoholic beverages to minors, police reported.

During the operations, police said a minor is used as a decoy to solicit the purchase of alcoholic beverages from an adult. Operations are conducted outside ABC-licensed businesses.

During the operation, numerous people were contacted by the minor decoy and two arrests – those of Kossow and Torres – were made by Clearlake Police officers for criminal violations involving the furnishing of alcohol to minors, Winslow said.

This project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Minor Decoy/ Shoulder Tap Grant Project, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Details

Written by: Lake County News reports

Published: 17 June 2013

Person of interest in May 30 stabbing surrenders to police

This story has been updated with additional details.

CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A man who police had been seeking in connection to a stabbing that occurred last week has surrendered to authorities.

Randy Carl Beebe, 56, of Clearlake Park turned himself in to police on Thursday morning, according to Clearlake Police Sgt. Nick Bennett.

Bennett said police had been “playing phone tag” with Beebe since the stabbing occurred last week.

“He finally decided to turn himself in this morning,” said Bennett.

Beebe has been sought in connection with the stabbing on the afternoon of Thursday, May 30, of 27-year-old Clearlake resident Donald Woita.

Police had found Woita in the 3000 block of 10th Street with a stab wound to his chest, as Lake County News has reported.

Based on the investigation, police said Woita was involved in an altercation at Beebe's home on Arrowhead Drive, with evidence located at the home to back up that conclusion.

Woita was flown by air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for treatment. Officials said he was released later that same night from the hospital.

Det. Ryan Peterson said he spoke with Beebe by phone on Wednesday, at which time Beebe agreed to turn himself in.

Peterson said Beebe will be charged with assault with a deadly weapon not a firearm and for possession of a controlled substance.

According to Lake County Jail records, Beebe has previous arrests for charges including assault and battery, false imprisonment and threatening a school or public officer.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.

Details

Written by: Elizabeth Larson

Published: 06 June 2013