CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Police engaged in an early morning pursuit on Friday in an effort to catch a suspect who stole a pickup and a number of tools from a Clearlake home.

The suspect wasn't captured but the vehicle and tools were recovered, according to a report from Clearlake Police Sgt. Nick Bennett.

At 2 a.m. Friday Clearlake Police officers were conducting a drunk driving traffic investigation near the intersection of Lakeshore Drive and Old Highway 53 when a call came into dispatch in regard to a burglary that had just occurred at a residence on Weyland Avenue, near Old Highway 53, Bennett said.

The reporting party stated that his garage had been burglarized with numerous tools and items taken, with his white 2002 Cadillac El Dorado and his white 2005 Dodge Dakota pickup also stolen, according to Bennett.

Bennett said Clearlake Police Department Dispatch quickly relayed the information to the officers on duty.

At that time, Sgt. Rodd Joseph, who had been assisting the officers on the DUI stop, believed the vehicles may be heading south on Old Highway 53 because he had not seen the vehicles come by their location, Bennett said.

Joseph proceeded south on Highway 53 toward the intersection with Old Highway 53, which is south of Wayland Way, according to Bennett's report.

As Joseph approached the intersection of Highway 53 and Old Highway 53, he observed a white Dodge Dakota pickp approach and drive through the intersection from Old Highway 53 and proceed northbound on Highway 53, Bennett said. Believing the Dodge Dakota pickup he observed may be one of the stolen vehicles, Joseph turned his police vehicle around to follow the Dodge Dakota.

After completing a U-turn, Joseph began to pass the Dodge Dakota, which Bennett said reached a speed of over 70 miles per hour.  

Based on the fact the Dodge Dakota was speeding, appeared to be attempting to escape from Joseph and the fact it matched the description of a reported stolen vehicle, Joseph activated his emergency lights and sirens on his patrol vehicle to conduct a traffic stop on the Dodge Dakota, Bennett said.

The Dodge Dakota did not yield to Joseph, said Bennett. Instead, it continued toward the intersection of Highway 53 and 18th Avenue and quickly turned east onto 18th Avenue. The Dodge Dakota was traveling at such a high rate of speed that the driver was unable to control the vehicle which drove up an embankment near the intersection.

Joseph parked his patrol vehicle behind the Dodge Dakota to prevent it from escaping. Bennett said the driver of the Dodge Dakota put the vehicle into reverse and rammed the front of Joseph’s patrol vehicle. Joseph then attempted to push the Dodge Dakota back toward the embankment to pin the Dodge Dakota and prevent the driver from escaping.  

Bennett said the pickup's driver then quickly put the Dodge Dakota into drive and was able to escape from being pinned by Joseph.

The Dodge Dakota then proceeded at a high rate of speed eastbound on 18th Avenue with Joseph pursuing. Bennett said the pursuit continued eastbound to the intersection of 18th Avenue and Wilkerson Avenue at which time the roadway ended.  

The Dodge Dakota continued onto dirt paths with Joseph following. Bennett said that, due to the road conditions, Joseph was unable to continue pursuing the Dodge Dakota with his patrol vehicle.  

Joseph exited his patrol vehicle and began to follow the trial where the Dodge Dakota had driven. Bennett said Joseph observed numerous tools and other property which had been thrown from the back of the Dodge Dakota due to the bumpy road conditions and the high rate of speed it was being driven.  

As Joseph was following the debris path, he located the Dodge Dakota approximately one quarter mile into the trail, unoccupied with a broken axle and other severe damages.  Bennett said the area where the Dodge Dakota was located is an undeveloped area of the city of Clearlake which is heavily covered in brush and trees.   

Joseph requested a Clearlake Police Department K-9 unit to his location to assist in a search of the area for the suspect, Bennett said.

Bennett said Officer Michael Ray and his K-9 partner “Harley” arrived shortly thereafter. Officer Ray and Harley followed a scent trail from the Dodge Dakota for approximately one mile, but the suspect was unable to be located.  

Officers Tomas Riley and Bobi Thompson arrived after securing their initial investigation to assist with the investigation. Bennett said CHP officers and Lake County Sheriff’s Office Deputies assisted in establishing a perimeter of the area where the suspect was thought to be.   

The Dodge Dakota and stolen items were processed for evidence and suspect leads, Bennett said. Items of evidence were located which will be further analyzed in an attempt to identify the suspect in regard to this incident. All the recovered property and the Dodge Dakota were turned over to the owner.

A report in regard to this case has been taken for the felony burglary and assault on a police officer, along with felony violations of California Vehicle Code including vehicle theft and evasion of a police officer, according to Bennett.

He said the 2002 Cadillac El Dorado reported stolen from the same burglary has not been located at this time.                 

Anyone with information in regard to this or any other case is encouraged to contact the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251.