CLEARLAKE — Clearlake Police Department (CPD) officers arrested John Ferrell, 26, of Lucerne on several charges Wednesday including vehicle theft.
CPD is seeking information that may link Ferrell to any of the vehicle thefts that occurred in Clearlake during the past few weeks.
At 5:15 a.m. a car was reported stolen from Flyer”s Gas Station on Lakeshore Drive. Witnesses provided a description of a possible suspect seen on a bicycle at the station prior to the theft. Officers searched the area but were unable to locate the stolen Toyota Yaris.
Just before 7 a.m. a witness reported he was walking on Mullen Avenue when a man approached him. The man told the witness he stole a car from Flyer”s short time earlier and left his bicycle in the area. He allegedly asked the man to retrieve the bicycle and he would pay him. The witness went to Flyer”s, located the bicycle and called police.
According to Sgt. Rodd Joseph, the witness described a home on the 3900 block of Mullen Ave. where the possible suspect was located. As officers arrived, a car drove away from the home and parked in another driveway across the street. An unidentified man driving the car left it and ran back toward the home. The car was identified as the one stolen from Flyer”s. Officers contacted several people at the home, one was identified as Ferrell.
Ferrell allegedly gave officers a false name. He matched the description provided by the victim and witness and was detained. Joseph said Ferrell was uncooperative with police and denied stealing any vehicles. Stolen property inside the car was allegedly located in the home. Additional property was allegedly found linking Ferrell to at least one other recent car burglary, which was not yet reported to police. The property owner was contacted and identified the stolen property. It was determined the property was stolen from a parked car at the Travelodge on Old Highway 53 between Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning. Ferrell was charged with vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, providing a false name to police and identity theft. When his true name was determined, Ferrell was found to be a wanted parolee with several warrants issued for his arrest. Joseph said while Ferrell was being processed an officer recognized him from a recent case the officer investigated. On June 16 a car was reported stolen from the 15200 block of Lakeshore Drive. No suspect was identified at the time, but when the car was located, the owner said several checks were stolen.
On July 2, several unidentified suspects allegedly cashed the stolen checks at Foods, Etc. in Clearlake. Store employees provided police with video surveillance. False names were used on the checks and no suspects had been identified. Upon review of the surveillance footage, Ferrell was positively identified. Based on this discovery, Joseph said Ferrell was additionally charged with possession of stolen property, burglary, forgery and identity theft.
Officers are seeking leads that link Ferrell to recent stolen vehicle cases in the city. Those with information should call 994-8251. Callers may remain anonymous.
