Motorcyclist arrested after fleeing from, fighting with Redding officers, K-9
UPDATED: Friday, Dec. 4, 3:35 p.m. See Writer’s Note below.
(Writer’s Note: Shasta County Superior Court records indicate that all charges against the person accused in this incident were dismissed May 4, 2018. As such the person’s name, identifying characteristics and other personal information have been removed from this article.)
REDDING — An allegedly intoxicated and combative person was arrested after allegedly fleeing from and fighting with several Redding police officers, late Wednesday evening, Dec. 27. During the incident, the subject allegedly struck a police K-9 service dog, which had responded to the area to assist in apprehending the confrontational person.
The violent incident began at 10:22 p.m., after a citizen called 911 and reported a reckless motorcycle rider to SHASCOM emergency dispatchers, Redding Police Lt. Brian Barner explained after the incident and arrest. According to the 911 caller, the motorcyclist was riding recklessly in the area of the North Bechelli river trail access.
Nearly one hour later an officer located a motorcycle matching the description of the previously reported reckless rider. The officer observed that the motorcycle did not have license plates and conducted a traffic enforcement stop.
According to the lone officer who stopped the motorcyclist, the rider was exhibiting “very bizarre” behavior and “would not follow instructions given by the officer,” said Barner; who explained the officer was by himself because all other available officers had responded to two other major incidents, including an armed robbery at Gas For Less and a stabbing at the Castle Lounge.
Based on his investigation and due to the person’s erratic behavior, the officer attempted to arrest the motorcyclist.
As the officer went to handcuff the subject, the person resisted arrest and during a subsequent struggle managed to break free from the officer and fled on foot. The fleeing motorcyclist managed to elude the officer after running across Interstate 5, according to Barner.
At about that time, a Motel 6 security officer called 911 to report a person acting suspiciously in the motel’s parking lot at 1640 Hilltop Drive.
A few minutes later, a police Lt. located the subject a short distance from the Motel 6, in front of Planet Fitness at 1725 Hilltop Drive.
After being spotted, the subject fled into the Planet Fitness where they “took a fighting stance,” Barner explained. Backup officers began arriving in the area and assisted in trying to take combative person into custody.
The alleged suspect continued to refuse officer’s commands and rather than be taken into custody, chose to fight with responding officers, according to Barner.
During a subsequent melee, the person “attempted to punch officers multiple times,” Barner described; saying the subject “was struck with batons and sprayed with pepper spray with no reaction.”
At some point during the violent scuffle, the combative person again managed to break free from arresting officers and fled northbound on foot across Presidio Street, just as Redding PD Officer Tracy and his K-9 companion “Njord” arrived at the scene.
The K-9 handler released and deployed Njord, who caught up with the “violently resisting” person in the parking lot of Sportsman’s Warehouse. The subject continued resisting arrest and hit the K-9 “several times.”
Neither Njord or any of the officers were injured during the confrontation and arrest.
Officers transported the arrested subject to Shasta Regional Medical Center for treatment of dog bites sustained while being taken into custody.
After being medically cleared, the person was booked into the Shasta County Jail in Redding for DUI, resisting arrest, and battery on a police officer.
Anyone with information about this investigation and arrest is encouraged to contact Redding Police Department officials at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 17-95473 and can remain anonymous.
This article sponsored by:
Recently recognized by Enjoy magazine for one of the North State’s top ten best burgers, Chatty Kathy’s serves mouth watering burgers, talk-of-the-town sandwiches, delicious milk shakes and a variety of ice creams. Located just east of Burney in Johnson Park, Chatty Kathy’s is run by local resident Kathy Ragsdale, who says, “We’ve been in the food business for 20 years and have met a lot of great people who have touched our hearts. We serve our meals with special pride; making sure all our customers are happy and full and get what they ordered.”
For more information about Junior’s Westside Auto Sales visit them on Facebook or online.
With breaking news articles, videos, podcasts, opinion pieces and more, Law Enforcement News Network has all the latest news and information related to law enforcement issues across the nation.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 49, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; as well as Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County and Mountain Echo in Shasta 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. (Click here to see segment of Discovery Channel documentary of Trevor’s 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 30 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and his “fluid family” includes 13 children and 18 grandchildren.