CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Sonoma County man who led a police officer on a high speed chase on a stolen motorcycle was taken into custody thanks to the work of a Clearlake Police K9.
Vincent Lee Hassenzahl, 28, of Santa Rosa was arrested late Thursday night, according to a report from Sgt. Travis Lenz.
At approximately 10:15 p.m. Thursday Officer Travis Parson and his K9 partner “Bear” were conducting routine patrol within the city when Parson observed a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle, occupied by a male driver and female passenger, traveling at a high rate of speed, as it turned off Old Highway 53 onto Ball Park Avenue, Lenz said.
Lenz said Officer Parson initiated a traffic enforcement stop on the motorcycle, which had been reported stolen to the Lake County Sheriff's Office in January.
The male driver, identified as Hassenzahl, failed to yield and accelerated to an even greater unsafe speed, as he attempted to evade Parson, according to Lenz's report.
Once on Lakeshore Drive, Hassenzahl traveled into the oncoming lane of traffic numerous times to pass vehicles ahead of him in his lane that were traveling the posted speed limit, Lenz said.
Lenz said Hassenzahl drove off Lakeshore Drive onto Pomo Road, proceeding northbound. At the intersection of Pomo Road and Arrowhead Road, Hassenzahl failed to stop at the posted stop sign, traveling through the intersection and onto Acacia Street.
Hassenzahl attempted to complete a left turn onto Sonoma Avenue, yet due to the speeds he was traveling at, was unable to do so, leaving the roadway edge before laying the motorcycle onto its side, Lenz said.
At that point, Lenz said Hassenzahl quickly got up and proceeded to run westbound on Sonoma Avenue.
Parson exited his police vehicle and deployed Bear, giving two police canine announcements, yelling at Hassenzahl to stop or he would be apprehended by the dog. Lenz said Hassenzahl did not comply with the officer's requests and kept running westbound.
Lenz said Parson deployed Bear toward Hassenzahl, with the dog giving chase and apprehending Hassenzahl after a brief foot pursuit.
Hassenzahl briefly struggled with the canine, pushing at the dog’s body with his hands as he tried to roll away from the dog’s grasp and escape. Hassenzahl’s attempt to escape the canine was futile and Officer Parson was able to detain him in handcuffs, placing him under arrest, Lenz said.
Hassenzahl has prior arrests for weapon-related offenses, resisting arrest, possession of narcotics for the purpose of sales and is a convicted felon, according to Lenz.
After being medically evaluated at St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake for injuries sustained as a result of being apprehended by the police canine, Hassenzahl was booked into the Lake County Jail on charges of evading a police officer while driving in wanton and willful disregard for public safety, evading a police officer while traveling in the wrong direction of traffic, resisting arrest, possession of stolen property, possession of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia and outstanding warrants out of the Sonoma County, Lenz said.
Hassenzahl remained in custody on Saturday, with his bail set at $150,000 for the warrants, according to jail records. He is tentatively scheduled to appear in court on Monday.
Lenz said the female passenger sustained no injuries during the incident. After being questioned, she was released from the scene with no criminal charges.
The Clearlake Police Department expressed its gratitude to the community for the continued support and financial contributions to the Clearlake Police Canine Unit. Without the continued support from the community, the canine unit – which is solely funded by donations – would be nonexistent.
The Clearlake Police Department was again able to utilize a police canine to apprehend a fleeing fugitive, which aided in keeping the citizens of Clearlake as well as the involved police officers safe, Lenz said.
Anyone with information in regard to this investigation is asked to contact Officer Parson at the Clearlake Police Department at 707-994-8251, Extension 543.
Clearlake Police K9 helps apprehend Sonoma County man after vehicle pursuit
- Lake County News reports
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