CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Clearlake Police Department’s K9 assisted with apprehending a suspect following vehicle and foot chases late last week.
The work of “Dex” led officers to Douglas Carroll Levine, 32, of Clearlake, on Friday, March 15, said Sgt. Nick Bennett.
At 11:18 p.m. March 15 Officer Alan Collier was on patrol in the area of Toyon Street and Arrowhead Road in Clearlake when he observed a vehicle parked on the side of the roadway with its headlights on, Bennett said.
Bennett said that when Collier drove up to the vehicle he recognized the person in the vehicle as Levine, a person who Collier knew had outstanding arrest warrants.
As Collier approached the vehicle and told Levine to turn the vehicle off, Levine suddenly accelerated and sped off at a high rate of speed. Bennett said Officer Collier began pursuing the vehicle through several streets around the area.
Collier momentarily lost sight of the vehicle then observed it crashed against a tree with Levine nowhere in sight, according to Bennett.
Other officers responded to assist in locating Levine, including Officer Mike Carpenter and Dex, who is Carpenter’s K9 partner, Bennett said.
Carpenter and Dex began tracking Levine and located him approximately 150 yards away from where the vehicle had crashed. Bennett said Levine surrendered to Carpenter and Dex without incident and was taken into custody.
After obtaining medical clearance from injuries sustained in the vehicle crash, Levine was booked into Lake County Jail for evading police, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting a peace officer and the outstanding warrant.
On Nov. 13, 2012, Clearlake Police arrested Levine for a similar offense, Bennett said. Charges have been filed by the District Attorney’s Office in that case.