Clearlake Police Detective Richard Towle was involved in a traffic collision while responding to an emergency call that involved a subject threatening to kill an off-duty peace officer. A CPD investigation determined that Towle was at fault because he failed to ensure that cross traffic had come to a stop before entering the intersection where the traffic collision took place.
On Friday, Nov. 16, Towle was working a patrol shift. At approximately 8:42 p.m., officers responded to the emergency call. Towle responded “Code 3” with lights and sirens as necessary from the area of 40th Avenue when he came to the intersection of State Route 53. At the same time, Desiree Perez was driving southbound on State Route 53 in her Honda Civic.
Patrol Sergeant Tim Celli was also responding to the call and had crossed through the intersection prior to Detective Towle coming up to it. According to witness statements, Perez and another vehicle traveling toward the intersection had reportedly slowed for Sgt. Celli”s patrol vehicle, but then accelerated again after he cleared the intersection.
Due to natural vision obscurements at the location, Perez and other southbound vehicles were unable to see Detective Towle”s patrol vehicle until he actually entered the intersection. After seeing each other”s vehicle, both drivers attempted to avoid a collision but were unable to. Perez”s vehicle struck the passenger side of Detective Towle”s vehicle causing major damage to both vehicles.
Both drivers were transported to Redbud Hospital where they were treated for minor injuries and released.
Police Lt. Mike Hermann reported late Monday, Nov. 19, that the CPD had completed an investigation and that its report had been reviewed by a California Highway Patrol Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team. The CPD noted that while Section 21056 of California Vehicle Code states that the “driver of an emergency vehicle is exempt from the rules of the road while responding to an emergency,” it also states that drivers of emergency vehicles need to drive with “due regard” for the safety of all persons using the highway. Unfortunately in this situation, Towle failed to ensure that all cross traffic had come to a stop or that it was clear to enter the intersection against the red light. As a result, Towle was determined to be “at fault” for the collision.
Hermann added that in regard to the initial report of a subject threatening an off-duty officer, Scott Billings, 24, of Clearlake, was contacted and arrested for public intoxication. While Billings had reportedly been making some threats, it was determined that he was too intoxicated to properly care for himself. He was transported to the Lake County jail where he was housed.
