Police: Man, 76, robbed in Clearlake park

Burns Valley Elementary School in Clearlake was briefly on lockdown Thursday while police were searching for two men suspected of robbing a 76-year-old man in a park.

Clifford McDonald, 18, of Clearlake and Darius Louis, 18, of Contra Costa County were eventually found and booked into the Lake County Jail on suspicion of felony robbery, elder abuse and misdemeanor resisting arrest, Sgt. Rodd Jospeh said.

A 76-year-old Clearlake man reported the robbery just before 11 a.m. at Austin Park located at 14077 Lakeshore Dr., Joseph said. The man told police he was physically held by one suspect while the second person removed his wallet, and then both fled on foot.e

Detective Mark Barnes spotted two men matching a description of the suspects near Howard Avenue and Ridge Road, but the men fled when the detective approached them.

The teens reportedly jumped fences and ran through several residential yards. Uniformed and undercover officers began searching the area, and requested the school be locked down.

McDonald and Louis were apprehended near the Tire Pros on Lakeshore Drive. Police officials said that both teens admitted to the robbery and that Louis said he needed the money to get back to Contra Costa County. They told police they noticed the man’s thick wallet and thought it might contain cash, Joseph said.

You can reach Staff Writer Julie Johnson at 521-5220 or julie.johnson@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @jjpressdem.