Clearlake >> A suspected burglar was pronounced dead after a physical struggle with an officer in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The officer was transported to hospital following the altercation.
The incident began at about 12:26 a.m. when Clearlake Police Department (CPD) officers were dispatched to investigate a burglar alarm, Lt. Tim Celli said in a press statement. The alarm came from a structure located in the 3200 block of Park Street in Clearlake Park.
Within four minutes the first officer arrived. He confronted the apparent burglar in an adjacent wooded area and attempted to detain the suspect. A brief but forceful struggle ensued.
The unidentified officer suffered significant injury when the suspect struck him in the head with an object, Celli said. The officer responded, used a Taser to no avail before resorting to firing his service weapon. The suspect was later pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Lake County District Attorney’s Office has taken over the case. Investigators were out on the field by 2 a.m and continued to work well into Tuesday afternoon.
There have been no updates regarding the health of the officer or identity of the subject as of press time. Information will be released as it becomes available.
