CLEARLAKE OAKS – Sheriff's deputies and California Highway Patrol officers spent several hours involved in the pursuit of an armed suspect on Tuesday afternoon.

Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said that shortly before 1:30 p.m. Tuesday a man called to report that a male subject in a green Ford Explorer had pulled a handgun on him near Morine Ranch Road in Clearlake Oaks.

The case was unfolding all afternoon, as officials tried to determine if what occurred was a road rage incident or a basic case of brandishing a weapon.

Both sheriff's deputies and CHP officers responded to the scene only to find the suspect had fled into the west entrance of the Clearlake Cinder Chip Co.'s quarry, said Bauman.

The sheriff's office received information that the suspect in question was 22-year-old William Cressey, with whom the agency has had previous contacts, Bauman said. Cressey also appeared to have an out-of-state warrant for his arrest.

Deputies and officers found the green Explorer with no weapon inside, said Bauman. The suspect was believed to be on foot from that time forward, although one deputy was reported to be in pursuit of a dirt bike. Later the bike also was found abandoned.

Bauman said five deputies were on scene, with CHP Officer Steve Tanguay reporting that five CHP units also were assisting.

Shortly before 2 p.m. the CHP requested air support. At that point the place was mostly surrounded, said Bauman.

Bauman said before the close of business on Tuesday that he didn't know the severity of the initial crime.

The search was later called off, apparently without an arrest of a subject. There was no information on the status of the case at day's end.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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