LAKEPORT, Calif. – Police are seeking suspects in an early Thursday morning bar fight in Lakeport that seriously injured a Northshore man and led to what police said was a retaliatory break-in a short time later.
Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen reported that a 28-year-old man from Nice – whose name was not released – sustained head injuries in the fight, which occurred at the Clearlake Club, located at 210 N. Main St.
He said his officers have identified one possible suspect, but no arrests had been made early Thursday, with the investigation continuing.
Rasmussen said Lakeport Police units were dispatched at 1:45 a.m. to the bar on the report of an in-progress physical fight involving numerous subjects.
When they arrived officers found the victim down on the street, in the intersection of N. Main and Second streets, with what appeared to be a serious head injury, Rasmussen said.
Officers observed a crowd of at least 65 people on the street and sidewalk adjacent to the bar. Rasmussen said the crowd was hostile, with people challenging each other.
Rasmussen said the incident was not a gang fight. He said the people involved were intoxicated.
Lakeport’s officers requested emergency backup from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol, which each sent units, Rasmussen reported.
Lakeport Fire Protection District transported the fight victim to the old Natural High School property in the 800 block of N. Main Street, where a landing zone was set up.
There, the REACH 6 air ambulance arrived to transport the man to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. REACH 6 lifted off at 2:40 a.m., according to radio reports.
Rasmussen said N. Main Street between First and Third streets was closed for approximately 45 minutes while the investigation was ongoing.
Then, at 2:55 a.m., officers were dispatched to a Sixth Street residence to investigate the report of an in-progress break-in, Rasmussen said.
He said officers were familiar with the residence and knew the occupant was associated with the fight at the Clearlake Club.
Upon arrival, officers located four males and one female subject in the area of the residence, as well as two other subjects inside of the residence. Rasmussen said officers also located a broken window at the
home.
He said all of the subjects were uncooperative with investigating officers but the information developed so far indicates that the break-in was directly related to the Clearlake Club bar fight.
Rasmussen said police didn’t have sufficient information or evidence to make arrests related to the early Thursday break-in, which they’re continuing to investigate.
Anyone with information regarding one or both of the incidents is asked to contact the Lakeport Police Department at 707-263-5491.