CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Police officers on Thursday arrested two suspects allegedly responsible for breaking into vehicles at a local hotel, with detectives also looking for possible connections to other theft cases.

James Metzger, 19, and Cynthia Lee Russell, 22, both of Clearlake, were taken into custody on Thursday, according to a report from Sgt. Rodd Joseph.

At approximately 4:22 a.m. Thursday Clearlake Police Officers Alan Collier and Bradlee Middleton responded to a report of a subject attempting to break into parked vehicles at El Grande Best Western, located at 15135 Lakeshore Drive, Joseph said.

The officers arrived on scene and contacted Metzger in the parking lot. Joseph said Metzger denied being involved in criminal activity at the time and provided officers a plausible reason for being in the parking lot.

While the officers were speaking with Metzger, a witness contacted the officers and identified a female as the person they actually had seen attempting to break into the vehicles, Joseph said.

The witness pointed to the woman, who was across Lakeshore Drive near the Magic Wok Chinese restaurant, and identified her as the suspect, according to Joseph.

Initially believing that Metzger was not involved, the officers attempted to contact the female suspect identified by the witness. Joseph said the woman fled and led officers on a short foot pursuit.

She dropped a backpack during the chase but was ultimately apprehended by the officers. Joseph said police identified the woman as Russell.

He said narcotics were found in the backpack discarded by Russell.

When the officers returned to the El Grande they discovered that several items had been stolen from a black Dodge pickup parked on the property, Joseph said.

The truck’s owner was located and identified several items which had been stolen from the truck. Joseph said the items included a GPS unit, several dollars worth of quarters in a small distinctive bag, a black bag containing miscellaneous property and a Glock handgun.

The bag containing the coins was very specific and Joseph said the officers recalled seeing Metzger holding this same bag of coins when they had originally contacted him only a short time earlier.

Joseph said officers searched the area for Metzger but were not able to locate him. Officers developed information that Metzger and Russell, who were determined to know each other, had conspired to steal property from parked vehicles.

At about 7:30 a.m., officers drove to Metzger’s listed address in the 14300 block of Pearl Ave. and found Metzger asleep in the home. He was taken into custody without incident, Joseph said.

Det. Ryan Peterson obtained a search warrant for Metzger’s residence and the home was later searched by officers. Joseph said stolen property from the Dodge truck was located inside Metzger’s residence.

While searching the home, officers discovered additional stolen property from several other reported thefts, one of which occurred the previous night from a parked vehicle at El Grande, Joseph said.

The stolen Glock handgun has not yet been located, he said.

Officers are continuing their investigation and trying to connect Russell and Metzger to other recent thefts, according to Joseph.

He said both suspects were booked into the Lake County Jail.

Russell was charged with felony violations of possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy, and misdemeanor violations of tampering with a vehicle, prowling and resisting officers, according to Joseph.

Joseph said Metzger was charged with felony violations of grand theft of a gun and conspiracy. He also was charged with misdemeanor violations of prowling and tampering with a vehicle.

Additional charges are likely forthcoming on both suspects, Joseph added.

Joseph said the police department thanked the witness who came forward and assisted police with this capture, which ultimately led to the recovery of several stolen items from several different thefts in Clearlake.

Anyone with information about this crime or any other crime is urged to contact the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251. Callers may remain anonymous.