- Lake County News reports
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New details offered in Monday officer-involved shooting in Clearlake
The agency said the new details it released are based “on a preliminary and ongoing investigation which continues to evolve as investigators interview witnesses, review physical and electronic records and analyze forensic evidence. Our understanding of the facts and circumstances may change as the investigation continues.”
At 8:40 p.m. Monday, the Clearlake Police Department received a call from a residence on Mullen Avenue. The caller reported a family member was attempting to kill them with a knife, according to the report.
The caller disconnected before the dispatcher could obtain further information. Multiple officers were dispatched to the location, authorities said.
The agency said the first officer arrived on scene and contacted a female adult in the front room of the residence who had two children with her. She directed the officer to a back room of the home.
The officer proceeded down the hallway to a bedroom and heard a male calling out for help. The police report said the door to the bedroom was partially ajar but there were items behind it preventing it from fully opening.
The report said the officer requested the backup units expedite their response and called out to the subjects to stop fighting. The officer forced open the door and entered the room.
Police said one male adult subject was found over another male adult and was striking him. The officer attempted to take control of the subject by grabbing his arm and gave commands to stop.
The male subject pulled away and the officer noticed that he had a knife in his hand and was stabbing the victim. The officer removed their firearm and fired a shot at the man, police said.
Despite being shot at, police said the male subject was undeterred. The officer fired a second shot at him, this time resulting in him dropping the knife.
At about this time, the first backup officer, followed by additional officers, entered the room. Medical aid was immediately requested for the suspect and the stabbing victim, police said.
The Lake County Fire Protection District responded, treated the subject who committed the assault and the victim and transported them, police said. The stabbing victim was immediately transferred to an air ambulance while the suspect was taken to a local hospital and then transported by air ambulance.
The officer was taken to the hospital for exposure to blood and was released, police said.
Pursuant to a countywide critical incident protocol, the Lake County District Attorney’s Office was contacted. District Attorney Susan Krones along with a team of District Attorney’s Office investigators responded to the scene to conduct an investigation of this incident.
The District Attorney’s Office investigation will include whether the force used by the officer violated any criminal laws as well as whether anyone else in the incident violated any criminal laws.
The Clearlake Police Department Investigations Bureau also responded and is serving in a supporting role to the investigation.
The Clearlake Police Department said it is conducting an administrative investigation into this incident.
“Officer involved shootings and other uses of force resulting in serious injury or death are a significant event for the officer, the person on whom the force is directed and the community. The administrative investigation will focus on the officer’s compliance with department policies,” the agency said in a statement.
The officer who discharged the weapon has been placed on administrative leave per department policy. The officers involved in the initial incident response were equipped with body worn cameras. The Clearlake Police Department intends to release video footage in a forthcoming critical incident briefing video.
If you have additional information relevant to the investigation, please contact District Attorney’s Office Chief Investigator Bruce Smith at 707-263-2251.