CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Authorities have identified the man who died after being shot by a Clearlake Police officer early Tuesday morning.

Joseph Louis Melvin, 46, of Clearlake was shot after he struggled with an officer who was attempting to detain him during an early morning burglary, according to District Attorney Don Anderson.

Anderson's office is conducting the investigation into the shooting according to the Lake County critical incident protocol.

On Friday Anderson said he was not releasing the name of the officer involved, as it's his policy to not make that information public until the investigation is complete and his report is final.

He said the investigations usually last about six months.

According to the initial Clearlake Police reports on the incident, officers were dispatched just before 12:30 a.m. Tuesday to a burglar alarm at a location in the 3200 block of Park Street in Clearlake Park.

Minutes later, the first officer on scene – and the one who would be involved in the shooting – confronted Melvin, who appeared to have been burglarizing the property, and attempted to detain him in a nearby wooded area, according to the report.

A fight ensued between the two men, with the officer deploying his Taser, which didn't end the struggle, police said.

During the fight, Melvin struck the officer in the head, injuring him. As for what Melvin used to hit the officer, “We're surmising it was a steel flashlight,” Anderson said.

The officer subsequently drew his service weapon and shot Melvin, who was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.

Anderson said the officer was taken to the hospital for treatment of a large laceration on his forehead from being struck during the fight. “He was released from the hospital that night.”

Regarding Melvin's criminal history, Anderson said the reports were still being done, but added, “He is well-known in Clearlake.”

According to a review of local arrest records, Melvin, a Clearlake native whose occupation was listed as a carpenter, had been arrested by the Clearlake Police Department in 2003 for misdemeanors including driving on a suspended license and obstructing or resisting a peace officer.

In December the Lake County Sheriff's Office arrested Melvin for misdemeanors including possessing burglary tools, receiving stolen property and controlled substance paraphernalia.

Lake County Superior Court records showed that Melvin had been scheduled to be in court on the day before he died in two separate criminal cases.

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