CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake Police investigation this week linked a man arrested on drug charges to local burglary cases.
Clearlake resident Alejandro Zuniga, 33, is believed to be the suspect in the burglaries, according to Clearlake Police Sgt. Rodd Joseph.
On Monday morning witnesses called to report that Zuniga was exhibiting odd behavior in the 4200 block of Old Highway 53, Joseph said.
Clearlake Police Officer Trevor Franklin responded to the area, and Joseph said Franklin subsequently arrested Zuniga at around 9 a.m. that day for possession of controlled substances and drug paraphernalia.
Joseph said Zuniga had a duffel bag with him at the time of his arrest which contained archery equipment, a surveillance video camera and a chainsaw.
Police determined that the video surveillance camera in Zuniga’s duffel bag had been stolen from Cheaper Cigarettes, located at 14962 Lakeshore Drive, only a few hours earlier, Joseph said.
Officers watched the surveillance video of the crime and were able to positively identify Zuniga as the suspect in the theft. Joseph said Zuniga additionally was charged with theft, possession of stolen property and vandalism.
It is believed that the archery equipment and the chainsaw also are likely stolen items, Joseph added.
Zuniga was transported to the Lake County Jail and booked. While at the jail, Clearlake Police Officer Joseph Myers interviewed Zuniga regarding a residential burglary which was reported to the Clearlake Police Department on October 10, Joseph said. That residential burglary occurred in the 14500 block of Palmer Avenue.
Joseph said Zuniga was a person of interest in this residential burglary, but had not been identified as a suspect.
However, during the interview, Zuniga made incriminating statements linking him to the burglary. Joseph said the case will be forwarded to the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for filing of additional charges on Zuniga.
On Oct. 22, a concerned citizen and business owner turned over some property to the police department which had been found abandoned in the 3700 block of Laddell Avenue, Joseph said.
The property includes a portable DVD player, a portable speaker system, a small MP3 player and a small old sickle, a hand tool for cutting grass. Joseph said police obtained information linking Zuniga to this lot of found property as well.
Joseph said none of this found property is reported to be stolen but it is also believed to be.
Anyone with information on any of the listed property – archery equipment, chainsaw, MP3 player, portable speaker system, DVD player or hand tool – is asked to contact Evidence Technician Nicki Burrell at 707-994-8251, Extension 308.
Drug arrest leads to discovery of stolen property; suspect linked to burglaries
- Lake County News reports
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