CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A man who was reported to have robbed an auto parts store in Clearlake on Wednesday was taken into custody by a police K9, and is facing charges for striking the dog and assaulting an officer.
Clearlake resident Richard Kee, 49, was apprehended by K9 “Zip” not long after the robbery at Auto Zone on Lakeshore Drive, according to Sgt. Tim Hobbs of the Clearlake Police Department.
At about 12:10 p.m. Wednesday, officers were dispatched to Auto Zone for a report of a theft from the store, Hobbs said.
Witnesses described the responsible individual as a white male adult, wearing a black jacket, sweat pants and white socks, according to Hobbs.
Hobbs said the subject already had left the scene after attempting to fight the clerk who confronted him about walking out of the store with stolen merchandise.
Officer Michael Dietrick and K9 Officer Mark Harden arrived a short time later and observed Kee – who matched the subject's description – sitting on a retaining wall behind Taco Bell, just to the west of Auto Zone. Hobbs said several Auto Zone employees also were pointing at Kee.
Hobbs said Kee appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance and would not cooperate, telling the officers to shoot him.
When the officers attempted to detain Kee, he physically resisted arrest and struck one of the officers, Hobbs said.
Kee was able to break free and began running toward the front of Taco Bell. Hobbs said Harden deployed his K9 partner Zip, who apprehended Kee near the front entrance of the Taco Bell parking lot.
Hobbs said Kee struck Zip several times in the head before officers were able to place Kee into handcuffs.
The items stolen from Auto Zone were recovered and returned to the store, Hobbs said.
Hobbs said Kee was arrested for robbery, resisting arrest, resisting arrest with violence and striking a police dog.
Kee was transported to St. Helena Hospital Clear Lake where he was treated for canine bite injuries and medically cleared for incarceration before being transported to the Lake County Jail, Hobbs said.
Clearlake Police K9 apprehends man accused of robbery, assaulting officer
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