Clearlake man sought for New Year’s Day shooting
- Lake County News reports
- Posted On
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Clearlake Police Department said Saturday that it is searching for the local man who was responsible for a New Year’s Day shooting.
Police said they are seeking Jose Ceja-Torres, 31, of Clearlake, for the felony violations of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
Sgt. Ryan Peterson said that on Friday at 4:30 p.m., officers responded to the area of Lakeshore Drive and Woodland Drive for a report of a gunshot victim. On their arrival, they located a male in his early 40s who had been shot.
In a separate report, police identified the shooting victim as 41-year-old Clearlake resident Arnulfo Barragan Garibo.
Medical personnel from the Lake County Fire Protection District arrived on scene and began treating Barragan Garibo, who Peterson said was eventually flown to an out-of-county medical facility for further treatment and released.
Peterson said the shooting is believed to have occurred at a residence in the 14900 block of Davis Avenue in Clearlake.
The Clearlake Police Department’s Investigations Bureau was contacted and arrived to assist with the investigation. Peterson said officers responded to the residence where the incident was reported to have occurred and located possible evidence.
Through the investigation, Ceja-Torres was identified as the person who shot the victim, Peterson said.
A record check of Jose Ceja-Torres revealed he also has an active $150,000 arrest warrant for being armed with a firearm while in possession of drugs and two $50,000 arrest warrants for possession of marijuana for sale and felony evading a police officer, Peterson said.
At noon on Saturday, Clearlake Police Officer Mauricio Barreto conducted a traffic stop on a black Ford F150 pickup in the 14100 block of Lakeshore Drive for a traffic violation, with the driver identified as Barragan Garibo, the shooting victim from the previous day.
During the stop, a large amount of ammunition, a large capacity magazine and an AR15 rifle hidden in the engine compartment were located. The serial number of the rifle had been removed, police said.
Barragan Garibo was arrested on probable cause for several felonies. Officers obtained a bail enhancement on Barragan Garibo from a judge with the Lake County Superior Court in the amount of $200,000.
Barragan Garibo was booked into the Lake County Jail and the truck towed, police said.
As of Saturday night, Peterson said Ceja-Torres’ whereabouts were unknown and he is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information on his location is asked to not approach him and contact the Clearlake Police Department Investigation Bureau at 707-994-8251 or their local law enforcement agency.