Vehicle Burglary In Redding Leads To Vehicle Pursuit and Lockdown Of Boulder Creek Elementary School
Written by Trevor Montgomery
On Thursday November 19, a vehicle burglary led to a pursuit of a stolen truck and the arrest of a suspect involved in the burglary. The police activity and search for a second subject forced the temporary lockdown of Boulder Creek Elementary School
According to Sgt. Mellon, of the Redding Police Department, at about 10:15 a.m. a Redding Police Officer was contacted by Patrick Karch on College View Drive near Churn Creek Road. Karch reported to the officer he was following two men who had been seen burglarizing his vehicle.
Karch, 57-years-old of Redding, reported to the officer that a co-worker had witnessed a person rummaging through the interior of Karch’s Chevy pickup on Inspiration Way. The co-worker contacted Karch to inform him what was happening.
Karch told the officer when he went to investigate, the subject fled with a second subject in a late-model Dodge Ram pickup. Karch told the officer he had followed the vehicle to the area where he saw the officer.
While Karch was speaking with the officer, the officer observed the suspect’s vehicle turn south from College View Drive onto Churn Creek Road.
Based on Karch’s statements, the officer attempted to stop the vehicle as it turned on to Palacio, however the driver refused stop and attempted to elude the officer at a high rate of speed. The driver continued fleeing approximately one half mile before abandoning the vehicle at the dead-end of Olympic Street and fleeing on foot.
Spencer Taylor, 22, was arrested on Nov. 19.
The officer was able to immediately detain the passenger of the vehicle, who was later identified as 22-year-old Redding resident, Spencer Dale Taylor. The officer conducted a records check of the vehicle and determined the Dodge truck had been reported as stolen on November 14th, from the City of Redding.
Other responding officers established a perimeter in the area and searched for the driver with the assistance of a police K-9 and a California Highway Patrol helicopter. Because the outstanding suspect was a wanted felon, officers requested a temporary lockdown of Boulder Creek School to ensure the safety of nearby students during the search.
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According to officials, the driver was never located and his identity as of this report was unknown.
Karch and his co-worker who had witnessed the initial vehicle burglary responded to the location and both positively identified Taylor as the suspect who both men had seen rummaging through Karch’s vehicle.
Officers conducted a search of the stolen truck and located property associated with at least one other burglary.
Taylor was subsequently arrested and booked at the Shasta County Jail charges of vehicle tampering and possession of stolen property.
The stolen vehicle used during the Nov. 19 crime. The truck was later returned to its owner. Photo Credit: krcrtv.com
The stolen truck was not damaged and was later returned to its rightful owner.
Anyone who has information regarding this incident or any others associated with Taylor and/or the unidentified suspect, are encouraged to contact Sergeant Mellon of the Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4225.
Callers can refer to incident file number 15-82282 and can remain anonymous.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
