CLEARLAKE — A used car dealership in Clearlake was the victim of a burglary and extensive vandalism early Tuesday morning. Initial officer response left the business owner unsatisfied with the officer”s investigation of the incident.
Winding Road Motors owner Carl Colen said he found a bit more comfort in the situation following a second visit by officers several hours later, during which evidence that Colen had previously requested be collected, was gathered and secured.
Colen reported to the Clear Lake Observer?American newsroom that he was dissatisfied with the way officers had conducted their investigation of the burglary and vandalism. He reported that Officer Kevin Hansen had refused to collect evidence such as fingerprints and DNA samples left at the scene despite several requests Colen had made for the officer to do so. Such evidence included a sample of fresh spit on a car window, a gas cap panel that had been pried open on a vehicle and an opened, crushed bottle of transmission fluid left under one of the cars that had been used to vandalize the inside of several vehicles on the lot.
“(The officer) refused to take any fingerprints because he said it wasn”t worth his time because if he found the keys then they would have the guy,” Colen reported.
Several of the keys (of the 70 sets originally thought to have been stolen) were located beneath a vehicle during the officers” second visit to the scene. A few more were located on the roof of the office building as well.
Along with damage to nearly all the vehicles on the lot, the inside of the business office was also hit. The perpetrator disengaged a fire extinguisher throughout the office possibly destroying the computer system Colen reported he uses to conduct the majority of his business transactions. A computer router and telephone were stolen as was a stereo from one of the vehicles.
Colen voiced a concern in that no one had seen the incident take place because his business is normally well lit at night and all the power had been shut off, leaving the business dark. One of the officers, Colen said, had stated that he had driven by the business around 5:30 a.m. and had not noticed any difference. It further disturbed Colen that the suspect(s) had remained on scene long enough to open every vehicle and ransack and vandalize the inside of the office without being seen.
Colen did notice that none of his personal pictures or his business license had been vandalized. Damage was limited to a collage-type picture of one of his salesmen and the salesman”s family, which had been spray painted. The can of spray paint was also left on scene.
Colen did provide information of possible suspects, which Officer Brett Rhodes, who was on scene during law enforcement”s second visit, said will assist in narrowing down the search for the perpetrator. “We are going to do everything we can as more information develops,” Officer Rhodes said. “We”ll put our best efforts where the evidence leads us.”
Officers were on scene for about 54 minutes the second time around.
Colen estimates loss and damages at approximately $8,000. He is offering a $1,000 reward for anyone providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible. Clearlake Police Department is handling the investigation and can be reached at 994-8251.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
