REDDING: Man tracked down, arrested after threatening others with replica gun
REDDING — A man who allegedly brandished a weapon at a group of people before fleeing from responding officers was tracked down and arrested by police officials July 26. The incident and arrest happened in downtown Redding near Riverside Drive.
Redding PD K-9 Chyr and CHP’s Aviation Unit helped in tracking down a suspect who brandished a replica firearm during an argument. Redding PD photo.
The “weapon” turned out to be a replica firearm, according to officials.
At the conclusion of their initial investigation, officers arrested John Barnett, 48, of Redding. He was arrested for a parole violation and later booked into Shasta Jail.
Redding police officers responded to the area about 2:30 p.m., after emergency dispatchers were notified about a man who had gotten into an argument with several other people and brandished what officials later determined was actually a lighter in the shape of a firearm.
With assistance from CHP – Northern Division Air Operations and a Redding PD K-9 handler, officers began searching for the alleged suspect, who was later identified as Barnett.
When Barnett saw the officers approaching he fled from the area, running on foot below the railroad tracks off Riverside Drive, according to Redding Police officials. As Barnett fled into the thick brush, he stripped of layers of clothing in an attempt to elude officers by disguising himself and change his general appearance.
After a short search, Redding Police K-9 Chyr successfully tracked Barnett to a homeless encampment along the river where he “wisely surrendered to the police dog,” said officials.
He was taken into custody without further incident.
After Barnett was detained, officers determined he was on active parole for making terrorist threats. based on the witness statements regarding the original incident and threats as well as Barnett fleeing from officials, officers arrested Barnett.
The investigation is ongoing.
John Barnett was arrested for violation of parole after he fled from officers after the brandishing incident. Redding PD photo
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Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News and Anza Valley Outlook and also writes for Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County.
Trevor spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg and breaking his back in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including Robert Presley Detention Center, Southwest Station in Temecula, Hemet/Valle Vista Station, Ben Clark Public Safety Training Center and Lake Elsinore Station, along with other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team and Personnel/Background Investigations. He finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator and was a court-designated expert in child abuse and child sex-related crimes.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.
s a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 12 – soon to be 13 – grandchildren.