By Staff reports —
CLEARLAKE ? A pursuit ended with the arrest of a Clearlake man after a K-9 cop got a piece of him, forcing him to comply with officer commands.
On Saturday at about midnight, Clearlake Police Department (CPD) Officer Alan Collier was conducting extra traffic patrol, watching the intersection and stop sign at Acacia Street and Arrowhead Road.
Collier saw a black Acura Integra traveling west on Arrowhead Drive. The vehicle traveled through the stop sign without stopping. Collier attempted to make a traffic stop on the vehicle for the violation of running the stop sign.
When Collier attempted to stop the vehicle, the Acura immediately sped up in, what Clearlake Police described as “an obvious attempt to evade the officer.” The suspect was later identified as Jesse James Vezeau, 24, of Clearlake. He allegedly drove with disregard for public safety, while leading the officer on a pursuit through residential areas for more than two miles. According to CPD, “Vezeau was traveling in excess of 65 mph in opposite lanes of traffic, fishtailing around turns and failing to stop for stop signs while traveling at excessive rates of speed.”
Vezeau”s vehicle apparently suffered damage because of his alleged reckless driving, finally becoming disabled in the 13200 block of Lakeshore Drive. Vezeau reportedly ran from the vehicle and Collier pursued him on foot. Vezeau reportedly attempted to jump a 5-foot-tall rock wall where Collier caught up with him and grabbed onto his feet. Vezeau allegedly began to kick at the officer trying to get free. Collier was able to pull him off the fence to the ground, where he reportedly continued to resist. According to CPD, “Vezeau failed to comply with numerous commands to stop fighting with the officer and continued to violently struggle with Officer Collier.”
Officer Carpenter and his K-9 partner “Dex” arrived on scene to assist Collier. Vezeau”s violent resistance toward officers and the felonious high-speed pursuit with disregard for public safety prompted officers to deploy Dex. “It was unknown if the suspect had any weapons on him,” CPD stated. Dex was deployed to assist with the apprehension of the suspect. Dex bit Vezeau in the upper torso at which time Vezeau stopped resisting and complied with their orders. Vezeau was arrested and transported St. Helena, Clear Lake Hospital where he received treatment for his injuries related to the K-9 bite. Vezeau was medically cleared for incarceration and booked into the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility on charges of felony evasion, resisting a police officer, and driving on a suspended driver”s license. CPD officers stated that during an interview, Vezeau told them he “led them on a pursuit because he thought he had a warrant for his arrest and thought that he could get away.”
