CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department reported Tuesday morning on a series of events that led to a car crash that injured an officer, as well as the agency's investigation into a drive-by shooting.

The incidents in question happened late Monday night, according to Sgt. Rodd Joseph.

Joseph said that at about 10:40 p.m. Monday officers were dispatched to a report of threats and a violation of a court order in the 15800 block of 29th Ave.

The victim reported that a subject named Joshua Smith, 28, of Clearlake, had driven past her home in violation of a court order and had threatened her with a knife. Joseph said the woman described the vehicle Smith was last seen driving as a silver Honda.

He said officers arrived in the area and began looking for the suspect vehicle and for Smith, who is currently “Clearlake’s Most Wanted” fugitive due to outstanding felony warrants for his arrest. He is also a suspect in a recent home invasion robbery that occurred in Clearlake the previous week.

A uniformed Clearlake Police officer located a similar vehicle to the vehicle Smith was reportedly seen driving. Joseph said the officer noticed the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed away from the area.

The vehicle turned onto southbound Highway 53 from 18th Avenue and turned off its headlights while attempting to avoid the pursuing officer. Joseph said speeds reached approximately 100 miles per hour as the pursuit continued into Lower Lake.

He said a second Clearlake Police officer crashed his marked patrol car near the intersection of 18th Avenue and Phillips Avenue during the pursuit. The pursuing officer continued to pursue the fleeing vehicle onto Seigler Canyon Road from Highway 29.

The injured officer was transported to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake for injuries that were not life-threatening, Joseph said. The injured officer was treated and later released. The patrol car suffered major damage. This accident is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.

At about 10:53 p.m. – only a few minutes into the pursuit – dispatch advised of a shooting that had just occurred in the 16200 block of 31st Avenue, Joseph said. The initial information was that multiple persons had been shot, with one person being shot in the head.

Due to the seriousness of the crime, the pursuit was discontinued and the pursuing officer responded to the scene of the shooting, Joseph said.

Prior to arriving on scene, dispatch stated the single shooting victim had already been transported to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake. Joseph said a Clearlake Police sergeant responded to the hospital and found a 16-year-old male suffering a single gunshot wound to his upper head.

Joseph said details of the shooting are not being released at this time however, the injury is not life-threatening and may be gang related.

Clearlake Police detectives were called out to take over the investigation and additional uniformed police officers were called out to assist in handling calls for service, according to Joseph.

He said it is believed that the shooting may be a “drive-by shooting” and that the suspect, or suspects, possibly fled in a vehicle after the shooting. It is not known if the suspect vehicle in the shooting is connected to the vehicle that was pursued onto Seigler Canyon Road. Both incidents are still under investigation.

Joseph said Lake County Sheriff’s deputies later located and recovered an abandoned vehicle in the 11700 block of Big Canyon Road. This abandoned vehicle is believed to be the same vehicle that officers had pursued onto Seigler Canyon Road.

The Clearlake Police Department is asking anyone with information on either of these incidents or any other crime, to please contact the police department at 707-994-8251. Callers may remain anonymous.

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