Staff reports
Lakeport >> A Willits man was arrested Saturday night after he reportedly held a woman and children at knife point at a motel that afternoon.
Police identified Sidney Lewis Freeman of Willits in connection with the incident, and have also identified him as the suspect in a theft at Campos Casuals in Lakeport in early September, according to the Lakeport Police Department (LPD).
At about 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, central dispatch received a 911 call reporting an armed robbery at the Regency Inn Motel office. The suspect was described as a Hispanic man approximately 25 to 30 years old wearing dark clothing with a bandana covering his face and neck.
LPD officers and county sheriff’s deputies arrived at the scene within 30 seconds.
Investigating officers learned that two girls and a women working at the office check-in desk were robbed at knife-point by the suspect, who took cash from the register.
Victims said the suspect ran toward the old Natural High School in the 800 block of N. Main Street. Officers conducted a search but were unable to find him, at which point they issued a “Be on the Lookout” alert to all Lake County enforcement.
At 8 p.m., officers identified Freeman as the suspect and learned that he has history of violent crimes, including a conviction for murder with a 19 year to life prison sentence that was later commuted and arrests for ailing to appear, marijuana sales, battery, giving false information to a peace officer and probation violation.
Investigators continued their search and at 11 p.m. determined that he was at the Anchorage Inn in Lakeport harbored by his girlfriend. When police arrived, they found Freeman and Felicia Amparo, 25, of Lakeport.
Freeman was arrested and faces charges for the felony crime of armed robbery. Amparo was arrested and faces charges of harboring fugitive from justice and active Lake County Superior Court warrants charging drunk driving, driving on a suspended license, battery and theft.
The LPD has also linked Freeman as the suspect in the Sept. 8 misdemeanor case of entering Campos Casuals with the intent to commit theft and larceny of more than $581 in merchandise.
