CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man was taken into custody on Friday with the help of a police K9 after he led officers on a vehicle pursuit.

Venancio Martinez, 26, was arrested following the incident, according to Sgt. Travis Lenz of the Clearlake Police Department.

Lenz said that on Friday at about 9:45 p.m., Officer Jesse Scott was driving a marked police vehicle conducting routine patrol when Scott observed a 2008 Smart car traveling southbound on Old Highway 53 near Hillcrest Avenue.

Scott observed the vehicle cross over the double yellow lines on the roadway, into the oncoming lane of traffic, a violation of the California Vehicle Code, Lenz said.

Lenz said Scott initiated a traffic enforcement stop on the Smart car on Palmer Avenue just north of Lakeshore Drive. The driver, identified as Martinez, failed to pull over and accelerated to an unsafe speed as he attempted to evade Scott.

Martinez evaded Scott for just over two miles until he drove into a dead end driveway with a locked gate in the 14000 block of Eastlake Drive, Lenz said.

During the pursuit, Lenz said Martinez repeatedly drove on the wrong side of the road and drove well in excess of the posted speed limit.

Lenz said Officer Scott completed a high risk traffic stop, with the assistance of Officer Michael Dietrick, Officer Mark Harden and Harden’s police K9 partner, “Zip.”     

During the high risk traffic stop officers ordered Martinez to exit the vehicle, face away from them and place his hands in the air. Lenz said Martinez exited the vehicle and faced officers, briefly placed his hands into the air then abruptly put one hand behind his back near his waistband, out of view.

Officers ordered Martinez to place his hands back in the air and he would not comply. Officer Harden, fearing that Martinez was reaching for a weapon concealed in his waistband, decided to deploy Zip for the safety of the officers, Lenz said.

Zip was deployed and apprehended Martinez by his lower right leg. With the assistance of the police K9, officers were able to detain Martinez in handcuffs and place him under arrest, according to Lenz.

After his arrest, it was determined Martinez was unarmed during the incident. Lenz said it is unclear why Martinez failed to comply with the lawful commands given to him by officers, and why he made the abrupt movement with his hand.

After being medically evaluated at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake, Martinez was booked into the Lake County Jail for evading a police officer while driving in wanton and willful disregard for public safety, evading a police officer while traveling in the wrong direction of traffic, driving while under the influence alcohol and driving without a valid California driver's license, Lenz said.

Martinez's bail was set at $35,000. He later posted bail and was released, according to jail records.

Anyone with information in regard to this investigation is asked to contact Officer Scott at the Clearlake Police Department, 707-994-8251, Extension 544.