Florida man arrested after highway chase
Rodney Lydell Hutchinson arrested and booked on multiple charges including robbery and assault with a firearm
According to information released by the Lake County Sheriff’s office, on Monday at approximately 3 a.m., Lake County Sheriff’s dispatch received a call from a woman living in the 10600 block of Bottle Rock Road in Kelseyville reporting four men broke into her house, fired several shots, and took marijuana from the residence. The suspects then left the area in a white Sprinter type van and a U-Haul truck. The victim reported that all four men were armed with handguns.
Responding deputies saw a U-Haul truck traveling north on Highway 29 near Highland
Springs Road. The deputies attempted to stop the U-Haul, but it continued on Highway 29 at 80 MPH. The deputies observed items being thrown from the truck in the area of Highland Springs Road.
The pursuit continued across the Nice-Lucerne Cutoff to Highway 20. The U-Haul continued east on Highway 20 where officers from the California Highway Patrol joined the pursuit. The pursuit continued on Highway 20 until it reached the area of the World Mark Resort. The U-Haul made a U-turn and as it did one of the suspects jumped out and fled towards the lake. The U-Haul then drove west on Highway 20 turning into the World Mark Resort. The U-Haul slowed in the parking lot and two more suspects jumped out fleeing on foot while the UHaul was still rolling. The U-Haul eventually stopped after jumping a curb and crashing into a sign for the resort.
Officers pursued the suspects, but lost sight of them in the resort. Officers were able to locate a man matching the suspect’s description who was hiding under a staircase. The suspect ran
from the officers going up to the second story and jumping off the second story balcony. The suspect continued to run a short distance before surrendering to officers. The suspect was identified as Rodney Lydell Hutchinson, 38, of Crestview, Florida. When questioned, Hutchinson told officers he was homeless and only ran because he had a
warrant for his arrest out of Florida. Hutchinson denied being one of the men that ran from the U-Haul. Officers searched the U-Haul locating several plastic containers and trash bags containing marijuana.
An officer from the Lakeport Police Department had also responded to assist locating items that had been thrown out of the U-Haul during the pursuit. Officers found handguns, cell phones, and gloves.
Hutchinson was arrested and booked at the Lake
County Jail on charges of robbery, assault with a firearm, evading, felony possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, and conspiracy. He remains in custody with bail set at $150,000.
T he Sher if f ’ s Major Crimes Unit responded and continued the investigation. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information regarding this investigation and the identity of the outstanding suspects to contact Detective Jeff Mora at 707-262- 4224.