Clearlake police dog helps apprehend suspected thief

A Clearlake police dog Wednesday helped subdue a 49-year-old man who was later arrested on suspicion of stealing merchandise from an auto store.

Clearlake resident Richard Kee resisted arrest and struck one of the officers who confronted him about the theft of goods reported about noon Wednesday from the Auto Zone store on Lakeshore Drive, according to a police press release.

When officers first located Kee a short distance west of the store, he appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance and initially “told the officers to shoot him,” the release stated.

When Kee broke free from the officers and began to run, an officer released police dog Zip, who apprehended the man. Kee was taken first to St. Helena Hospital for treatment of “canine bite injuries” and later to the Lake County Jail, where he was held for robbery, resisting arrest with violence and striking a police dog.

Police said they retrieved and returned the items reported stolen from the store.

- Robert Digitale