Det. Richard Towle's totaled police cruiser on Friday. Courtesy photo.

CLEARLAKE – A Clearlake Police officer responding to an emergency call late Friday received minor injuries after his car was hit by another vehicle and totaled.

A report from Sgt. Tim Celli of Clearlake Police said that the incident took place 8:42 p.m. Friday.

Det. Richard Towle and other Clearlake Police officers were responding “Code 3” – with lights and sirens – to an emergency call regarding a subject threatening to kill an off-duty police officer in front of the officer’s residence, according to Celli.

Towle was assigned to a patrol shift and was working in uniform and driving a marked police vehicle while responding to the call, reported Celli.

As Towle entered the intersection of Highway 53 and Lakeshore Drive, a vehicle traveling south on Highway 53, driven by 19-year-old Desiree Perez of Kelseyville, struck the passenger side of his patrol unit at a high rate of speed, Celli reported. Both vehicles were totaled as a result of the collision.

Towle and Desiree Perez were transported from the scene to Redbud Hospital, where they were later released after treatment for minor injuries, according to Celli.

The intersection of Highway 53 and Lakeshore Drive was shut down to southbound traffic for approximately two hours, said Celli, while officers investigated the collision scene.

Celli reported that the investigation is still ongoing and the cause of the collision is yet to be determined. The investigation will be submitted to the California Highway Patrol for review once completed.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Also totaled was the vehicle driven by Kelseyville resident Desiree Perez. Courtesy photo.

Another view of Towle's police cruiser. Courtesy photo.

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