CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Police have arrested a Clearlake man in connection to a Friday commercial burglary, with the arrest helping to resolve about a dozen other burglary cases that have occurred in the city.
Michael Matthew Jenson, 20, was arrested Sunday for several felonies, according to Sgt. Nick Bennett of the Clearlake Police Department.
Bennett said Jenson was in possession of a simulated firearm that had been stolen during a commercial burglary at Lakeshore Sports Friday night.
Jenson had brandished the simulated firearm at a citizen who reported the incident to the police department, Bennett said. While checking the area, Officer Tyler Paulsen observed Jenson brandish the simulated weapon at a second person.
Seeing Paulsen, Jenson began to run and threw the simulated firearm. After a short foot chase Paulsen took Jenson into custody, according to Bennett.
Lakeshore Sports staffer Erik Burgess told Lake County News that two simulated training pistols were taken during the burglary, which occurred around 10 p.m. Friday.
The store's surveillance video showed the suspect – wearing a ball cap, red plaid shirt and jeans – hanging around the front of the store before smashing out the front window with a rock, Burgess said.
He said it only took the suspect a few minutes to get in, smash a case that already was open and take the nonworking training pistols.
The previous weekend Burgess said the Metro PCS store in the same building also was broken into, with dummy phones taken.
“It just shows that criminals aren't smart,” said Burgess.
Bennett said Clearlake Police have been interested in Jenson for some time and suspected him in several commercial burglaries.
During Paulsen's initial contact with Jenson he began to admit involvement in burglaries in addition to that of Lakeshore Sports, Bennett said.
Bennett said Det. Ryan Peterson was called and conducted an interview of Jenson.
As a result of that interview, Bennett said at least 12 open commercial burglary cases which occurred within the past year – some of which Jenson was a suspect in – will be closed.
Jenson was transported to the Lake County Jail, where jail records showed he was booked for misdemeanor obstructing or resisting a peace officer, brandishing a replica firearm and receiving stolen property of $950 or less, and felony charges of threatening a crime with the intent to terrorize, second degree burglary and a felony probation violation.
He remained in the Lake County Jail on Monday due to a no-bail hold on the felony probation violation, according to jail records.
Anyone with information about this case or any other similar incident can contact Det. Ryan Peterson at 707-994-8251, Extension 320.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
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