CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Kelseyville man was arrested this week in connection to an armed robbery last weekend in Clearlake.
Charles Levon Sells, 51, was arrested in the case. He is on Post Release Community Supervision out of the Redding area, according to Sgt. Rodd Joseph of the Clearlake Police Department.
Just after 2 p.m. Sunday, Clearlake Police officers responded to a report of an armed robbery which had just occurred at Cheaper Cigarettes, located at 14962 Lakeshore Drive, Joseph said.
Joseph said officers arrived and determined the lone male responsible for the robbery had entered the business via the unlocked rear door.
The male subject, described as a white male adult wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and a multi-colored mask over his face, pointed a handgun at the employee inside the business and demanded money, Joseph said.
The employee complied with the robber's demands and the robber fled the business with an undisclosed amount of currency. The store employee, though scared, was not injured in the robbery, according to Joseph.
During a check of the area, officers located a single glove on the ground of a vacant residence near the scene of the robbery. Joseph said neighbors had asked police to check this vacant property as people are often seen trespassing here.
This single glove matched gloves the male subject was seen wearing at the time of the robbery. Joseph said officers collected this glove for later DNA analysis through the California Department of Justice.
A few hours later, neighbors who were trying to resecure the entrance gate to this vacant property called police to report seeing something suspicious under a shed on the property. Joseph said it was in the same general area where officers had earlier located the single glove.
Officers returned to the vacant property and retrieved several items from under the shed. Joseph said the items seized included a replica firearm, a significant amount of cash, a mask, a gray-hooded sweatshirt and the other matching glove.
All items found appeared to match what was either used or taken during the robbery, Joseph said.
Joseph said officers coordinated with neighbors to watch for any suspicious persons and/or vehicles at this vacant property, as it was expected that the robbery suspect would likely return to claim the stolen property and evidence.
On Monday afternoon, neighbors called police to report suspicious persons on the vacant property, Joseph said. Officers responded only to find the suspicious persons had fled in a vehicle.
He said officers began checking the area for a similar vehicle. About 15 minutes later, Det. Ryan Peterson spotted a similar vehicle at Flyers gas station, located at 15010 Lakeshore Drive.
Officers and the detective conducted a high risk car stop on the vehicle and detained two persons. Though these two persons were not identified as being involved in the robbery, evidence obtained from the car stop led to a possible suspect being identified, Joseph said.
Detectives began following up on suspect leads, which took them to Clearlake and Kelseyville. Joseph said the suspect ultimately was identified as Sells.
At about 6 p.m. Tuesday, an anonymous caller telephoned the Clearlake Police Department to report that Sells was at a residence in the 14800 block of Saroni Parkway in Clearlake, Joseph said.
Clearlake Police officers quickly surrounded the home and located Sells inside. Joseph said Sells was taken into custody without incident and made incriminating statements to police.
Sells was later booked into the Lake County Jail on one count of robbery. He remains in custody with bail set at $110,000.
The Clearlake Police Department thanked those witnesses who came forward, which led to this case being solved so quickly, Joseph said.
Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact Det. Elvis Cook at 707-994-8251, Extension 315.
Police arrest Kelseyville man for armed robbery
- Lake County News reports
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