A Lake County Sheriff's Office statement from Lt. Patrick McMahon said LCSO deputies and officers with the California Highway Patrol responded at 9:40 p.m. Tuesday to a report of several subjects stopping vehicles on Highway 20 near Robinson Rancheria Bingo & Casino.

The reports said the subjects were attempting to steal the vehicles while armed with a firearm.

Deputies responded to the area and made contact with three male victims who reported attempts to carjack their vehicles. The victims reported that a male, wearing all dark clothing, was trying to stop vehicles in the area while a second male approached from the shoulder of the road with what appeared to be a shotgun.

While checking the area deputies chased several juveniles who were in the area. They arrested a 17-year -old from Lucerne after he was knocked to the ground by one of the victims while running from deputies. That teen was booked into the Lake County Juvenile Hall.

Early Wednesday morning LCSO arrested two other juveniles -- both age 15, one from Upper Lake and the other from Nice -- after citizen tips provided their identities.

On Wednesday afternoon, LCSO reported that a fourth victim, a woman, contacted the department to report being a victim.

That victim, whose name is not included in this story for her protection, said she was driving home to Clearlake at about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday when she saw a man run across the road in front of her. She said he then stopped in her lane and started running toward her car.

“My first reaction was I was going to hit the guy,” she said.

She said she then looked over and saw another subject running toward her car with what looked like a shotgun.

The victim said she swerved around the subjects and drove to Sentry where she called 911.

“I'm so scared,” she said Thursday morning.

All three teens have confessed to their involvement in the crime, according to McMahon's report.

The three suspects indicated the weapon was a BB gun; however, when they took deputies to the location where they had reportedly hidden it, it was gone.

Detectives investigating the case believe the weapon involved was an actual firearm.

The teens face charges including attempted car jacking, conspiracy, resisting arrest, throwing an object at a moving vehicle and brandishing a weapon.

The investigation is continuing and more arrests are possible. Anyone with information is requested to contact the Lake County Sheriff’s Department Detective Division at 262-4200.

 

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

 

{mos_sb_discuss:2}