LAKE COUNTY — A vehicle pursuit of armed robbery suspects ended with two in custody. One suspect is still outstanding, according to Lake County Sheriff”s Office (LCSO) Sgt. Steve Brooks, public information officer.
On Tuesday at approximately 12:48 p.m., deputies responded to a residence located on Bridge Arbor Road in Upper Lake for a reported armed robbery.
The victim reported that three black men, one of whom was armed with a handgun took approximately 30 pounds of processed marijuana and $4,800.
The suspects reportedly left the area in a black Honda Accord with bright green dealer plates.
Responding deputies located the suspect vehicle traveling South on Highway 29 in the area of Hill Road and went into pursuit.
They pursued the vehicle, which took the 11th Street exit and turned onto Scotts Valley Road.
The suspect vehicle turned onto Riggs Road and hit a fence.
The vehicle continued onto Martin Street and eventually stopped just West of Keck Road.
John Taylor Lawson, 19, and Ben Etilo, 19, both of Antioch were arrested.
The third suspect, whose identification is unknown at this time, ran from the vehicle toward Keck Road.
A search of the area was conducted by numerous LCSO deputies with apprehension K9s, Lakeport Police officers and California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers also responded.
A CHP fixed wing aircraft was also brought in to assist with the search.
At approximately 5:22 p.m. a resident on Martin Street reported seeing a man carrying a handgun run down a driveway toward Keck Road.
A perimeter was set up and a CHP helicopter equipped with a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) unit conducted a search of the area.
Deputies also searched the yards of several residences in the area. The suspect was not located and the search concluded at approximately 7:30 p. m. The suspect at-large is described as a black man, approximately 20 years old, 6-feet tall with a thin build. He was last seen wearing blue pants, a white T-shirt and a red hat.
Both Lawson and Etilo were transported to the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Lawson was charged with armed robbery, conspiracy to commit a crime and evading a peace officer. Etilo was charged with armed robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime.
The investigation is ongoing and anyone who may have information regarding this case is encouraged to contact the Lake County Sheriff”s Office at 262-4200. Callers may remain anonymous.
