REDDING: Explosives found in back yard force elementary school evacuation

REDDING — A Sheriff’s bomb squad that was called in to help search for explosives at a private Redding residence near an elementary school later located two separate packages of an explosive material similar to C4, according to authorities.

Because of the investigation’s close proximity to Buckeye Elementary School, which was the scene of a police shooting just eight days earlier that resulted in an all-day lock down, students were again placed on lock down before administrators decided to evacuate the school. Buses were eventually called in to pick up students after they were released from school early.

Redding Police officers were dispatched to the 3400 block of Hiatt Drive, Thursday, Feb. 15, at 1:16 p.m., after receiving reports of explosive devices that were possibly buried in the couple’s back yard.

Rusty Lee McAlexander, 59, and Mary Ruth McAlexander, 55, called 911 to report finding a note on their front door advising them there had been explosives concealed on their property, Redding Police Lt. Jon Poletski explained after the investigation was underway.

“The note advised the explosives were on their property,” said Poletski, who explained that the note was “not threatening in manner.”

Officers who responded to the initial 911 call and found at least one item “of concern” in the home’s back yard summoned Shasta County Sheriff’s Bomb Squad, who responded to the scene to assist with the investigation.

Bomb Squad members eventually located two packages of an explosive material similar to C4 hidden within the back yard of the residence. The two packages were collected for further investigation, according to Poletski.

Hiatt Drive was closed at Lake Boulevard while officials conducted their investigation.

“The Redding Police Department does not believe these explosives were intended to harm anyone on Hiatt Dr. or Buckeye Elementary School,” wrote Poletski. “We also do not believe there is any connection with the recent Officer Involved Shooting on Hiatt Dr. last week.”

The couple who reside at the property where the explosives were found were reportedly cooperating with Redding PD’s investigation, which is active and ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4214. Callers can refer to incident file number 18-11982 and can remain anonymous.

 

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Trevor Montgomery, who recently moved from Riverside County to Shasta County, 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 as well as 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.