CLEARLAKE — A Clearlake man was arrested Friday following an alleged attempted carjacking. Two other people were also arrested including a juvenile.
Jeffery Smith III, 18, was arrested following identification by the alleged victim. He was arrested and charged with attempted carjacking, armed with a firearm in the commission of a felony, shooting at an inhabited vehicle and assault with a firearm. He was booked into Lake County Jail.
According to Clearlake Police Sgt. R. Joseph, at about 10:45 p.m. Friday dispatch received a call from a woman who claimed she was shot at while driving in Clearlake. Joseph as did Officers T. Paulsen and T. Lenz. Paulsen contacted the woman on the 153000 block of Lakeshore Drive.
The woman reported that she was driving northbound on about the 5200 block of Old Highway 53. She said she observed several people in the roadway and slowed her vehicle. “As she approached the group a black man, about 5 feet 8 inches tall with a thin build and wearing a red jersey, pointed a black handgun at her and told her to stop her car while calling her a derogatory name,” Joseph said. “The woman did not stop and sped away. The black male suspect then fired two shots at her from his handgun.”
Joseph said the rounds did not hit the woman or her vehicle and she left the area and called police.
Joseph said he and Lenz immediately began checking the area. He said as Lenz was passing Flyer”s gas station at Lakeshore Drive and Old Highway 53 he observed a group of three subjects near a car parked in the parking lot, who appeared to be in an argument. “One of the subjects was a black man matching the general description of the shooting suspect and who was also wearing a red jersey,” Joseph said. “Based on the fact that a gun was used in the commission of a felony and believing this to possibly be the suspect, Officer T. Lenz held the group at gunpoint.”
The three subjects were detained into handcuffs; assistance was provided by a Lake County Deputy Sheriff.
Two handguns were allegedly located inside the vehicle along with several spent casings. One of the firearms located was reported stolen out of the Lake County Sheriff”s Department, Joseph said.
An “in-field show-up” was conducted with the alleged victim, who Joseph said was able to identify Smith as the shooter.
While Chris Taylor, 18, of Kelseyville was not identified as participating in the alleged assault, he was booked into Lake County Jail on a charge of public intoxication.
A 16-year-old girl from Middletown was also arrested. She was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of an open container of alcohol and possession of a concealed firearm inside a vehicle. She was booked into Lake County Juvenile Detention Facility and the vehicle was released to her parents.
Additional investigation resources were provided by Det. Sgt. Tom Clements and Det. Ryan Peterson.
Anyone with information regarding this incident or any other Clearlake Police Department investigation is urged to contact the police department at 994-8251.
Joseph said those with information can remain anonymous.
