REDDING: Knife, stick-wielding man arrested after stabbing victim at South City Park

REDDING — Officials arrested a Redding resident after he allegedly attacked another man with a knife and a large stick, Monday morning, Sept. 4. The “stabbing and beating” happened at South City Park, near Shasta County’s Redding Main Branch Library in Redding.

After an investigation, officers located and arrested Guillermo Jose Peña, 31, of Redding. He was booked into the Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and to separate violations of probation.

An online jail records search revealed Peña remains in custody and is being held without bail.

Redding police officers were dispatched to the park at 8:49 a.m., after the victim called 911 to report that he had just been stabbed and beaten with a large stick. Witnesses at the library also called 911 to report that a blood covered man was outside the library.

The first arriving official, Redding Police Officer J. Labbe located the victim, identified as Harry Williby, 48, of Redding, near the public library. He was “suffering from a laceration to his left forearm,” Corporal Will Williams explained in a written press release after the violent incident and arrest.

Before being transported to an area hospital for treatment, Williby provided a statement and description of the suspect to officers investigating the violent and unprovoked attack. 

Officers investigating the attack learned Williby was in South City Park when he was approached by a man carrying a large stick and a knife. The man was later identified as Peña. 

 

Although Williby had never met Guillermo, Williby told officers the enraged man accused him of rifling through his property and stealing from him. The man threw a box of cereal at him and then attacked the victim as he tried to stand up to defend himself. 

“As he attempted to protect himself and raised his left arm in defense, he was struck with the large stick or knife,” Williams explained. “The suspect then ran from the location.”

Although officers searched the park and surrounding areas for the suspect, they did not find him at that time.

Williby was transported to an area hospital where doctors stitched up the laceration to his arm. His injury was considered minor.

About four hours later Officer K. Corrigan spotted and detained Peña near Safeway in downtown Redding. Officers located the stick Peña had used in the attack; however, they were not able to find the knife. Officers conducted a records check and determined Peña was on two, unrelated felony probations for burglary and possession of a stolen vehicle.

Peña explained to investigating officers that the violent incident happened because earlier that morning someone had gone through his property when he left it unattended. For an unknown reason, “Peña formed the belief that (Williby) was responsible, even though the victim was found to be completely unrelated to any theft,” said Corrigan.

Anyone with information about this incident or who has information regarding Pena’s criminal activities is encouraged to contact Redding PD officials at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 17-64921 and can remain anonymous.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for Riverside County based newspapers Valley News, The Valley Chronicle 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, breaking his back and suffering both spinal cord and brain injuries 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.