CLEARLAKE ? Boyles Avenue was closed to traffic for about an hour Wednesday morning when a motorcycle pursuit ended in a crash with a patrol car, according to a police report. Both vehicles sustained only minor damage.
At about 11:25 a.m. Clearlake Police Department (CPD) Officer Michael Carpenter reportedly saw a dirt bike motorcycle being ridden by two subjects eastbound on Davis Avenue, according to CPD Sgt. Rodd Joseph. Allegedly, neither subject was wearing a helmet as required by state law, and it is also illegal to ride a dirt bike motorcycle on a city street.
Carpenter attempted to conduct a traffic stop; however, the motorcycle sped away from the officer at a speed reported to be at about 50 mph, Joseph stated. The motorcycle made a right turn onto southbound Boyles Avenue at the intersection of Boyles and 39th avenues. The motorcycle reportedly crashed into the driver”s side of the pursuing patrol car in an alleged attempt to turn the motorcycle around.
The driver, identified as Clearlake resident Dennis Fry, 20, who is also on felony probation out of the Lake County Probation Department, was arrested and charged with a felony violation evading a peace officer, Joseph stated. The passenger, an uninjured 17-year-old boy was arrested and charged with a minor municipal code violation and cited to the care of a parent on the scene.
Fry sustained minor injuries and was later treated at St. Helena Hospital, Clear Lake, Joseph stated.
The pursuit investigation is being conducted by the CPD, but the California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to investigate the traffic collision portion of the incident at the request of CPD, Joseph stated. Boyles Avenue was closed to traffic for about an hour.
Fry was additionally charged with a misdemeanor count of driving without a license and a felony violation of endangering a child. Fry was later booked into the Lake County Hill Road Correctional Facility.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Carpenter at 994-8251 ext. 542 or CHP at 279-0103. Callers may remain anonymous.
