KELSEYVILLE >> Law enforcement officials took Joshua Caleb Brown into custody shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday following a search that had lasted more than seven hours. The Kelseyville man is suspected of firing on shots at officers and then fleeing on foot Monday morning.
The search involved road closures, a perimeter involving some 70 law enforcement officers from several units and aircraft searching the brush south of Kelseyville from above.
As of 5 p.m. on Monday, Brown was still on the loose. But the Lake County Sheriff’s Office secured a warrant to search his residence along Highway 29. He was located there and placed under arrest.
The incident began around 10:30 a.m. on Monday. A crew from Caltrans were set to begin work to remove concrete poured illegally along Highway 29 by Brown just south of Kelseyville. A CHP unit was also on hand to assist with traffic control.
A man believed to be Brown emerged from a residence in the area, confronted the officers and workers and then fired two shots in their direction. Lake County Sheriff’s units responded. Shortly after a Sheriff’s unit arrived on scene the male subject fired another shot towards the officer’s direction.
Shortly before 11 a.m., the suspect fired two additional shots at a State Parks Officer who was at a neighboring residence assisting with a perimeter.
The suspect fled on foot in the area which consists of brush and trees. According to scanner reports, he also sent a text message to his mother, warning that he would “blow down” aircraft committed to the search.
He was reportedly armed with a rifle and perhaps a handgun.
Officers were able to safely escort several residents from the area. At 12:34 a man was spotted lying down in a driveway. Officers went in to investigate but learned he was not the suspect.
Law enforcement officers worked quickly to establish a perimeter around the area, near Live Oak Dr. and Cole Creek Road. They called upon additional resources, including air search and a SWAT team from Mendocino County.
Officers from the California Highway Patrol, Lakeport Police Department, Clearlake Police Department, Lake County D.A.’s Office, Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office, and Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office responded to assist.
California Highway Patrol and Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office assisted with air support. Authorities closed Highway 29 to all traffic between Live Oak Drive and Bottle Rock Road as the search continued yesterday afternoon.
Brown had been involved in an apparent dispute with a neighbor. Authorities allege he had poured the concrete in order to block his neighbor’s access to the highway.
Caltrans Public Information Chief Phil Frisbie said, “Our crew was there to install concrete barriers to block the illegal driveway. It was then when shots were fired at our crew at CHP officers.”
By 4:45 p.m. Sheriff Brian Martin advised the public to “stay away from the area. This is an active situation at this point and time until we bring it to a conclusion.”
At press time there were no details on the arrest, other than officers had Brown in custody.
