CLEARLAKE OAKS — An extensive investigation and coordinated effort between sheriff”s deputies, Major Crimes Unit detectives and burglary victims from the Clearlake Oaks area has resulted in two felony arrests and the recovery of nearly $2,000 worth of stolen property.
In late June and early July, several residential burglaries in the Clearlake Oaks area were reported to the Sheriff”s Office.
An estimated $3,500 worth of jewelry, coins, stamp collections, clothing, artwork, and home electronics were reportedly stolen as a result of those burglaries.
On July 5, sheriff”s deputies were alerted by one of the burglary victims that some of the property stolen from their home had been located in a second-hand store in the Big Oaks Plaza in Clearlake Oaks.
Some of that victim”s stolen property was ultimately recovered from the second-hand store and due largely to the cooperation of the store owner, the person responsible for selling the stolen items to the store was identified the following day as Michael Christopher McDaniel, 25, of Clearlake Oaks.
Further investigation by detectives with the Sheriff”s Major Crimes Unit during the next two weeks led to the identification and recovery of additional stolen property from another one of the burglaries at another second-hand store in Clearlake Oaks. On July 22, detectives secured an arrest warrant for McDaniel and a search warrant for McDaniel”s Clearlake Oaks home.
On Wednesday sheriff”s detectives served the search warrant at McDaniel”s home on Shoreview Drive. Detectives learned from McDaniel”s girlfriend, Alicia Michelle Moore, 24, that McDaniel moved out of the home two days prior.
However, detectives also learned that some of the property stolen in the burglaries was seen at the home prior to McDaniel leaving.
A relative, who became aware that McDaniel was wanted, coordinated McDaniel”s surrender to sheriff”s detectives later that day and he was arrested without incident.
McDaniel was transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility and booked for first degree burglary.
He remains in the custody of the Sheriff with a $30,000 bail. During McDaniel”s arrest, detectives learned that his girlfriend, Moore, had alerted him that he was being sought and to “run,” shortly after detectives left his home that day.
Moore was therefore arrested the following day on charges of felony accessory and booked at the Hill Road Correctional Facility as well.
She too, remains in the custody of the Sheriff with a $10,000 bail.
Sheriff”s detectives have since located additional stolen property at the home of one of McDaniel”s relatives.
To date, nearly $2,000 in stolen property has been recovered and the investigation continues.
Anyone with information on any other burglaries in the area or McDaniel”s activities is encouraged to contact the sheriff”s Major Crimes Unit at 262-4200.
