Man threatens to sexually assault girl, 4, while masturbating in her direction

REDDING — A man who had just caused a disturbance at a downtown Redding business accosted a mother and her young daughter as they left another nearby store. According to officials, the man threatened to sexually assault the 4-year-old girl, while pulling down his pants and masturbating in the mother and daughter’s direction.

The man initially fled after citizen’s intervened on the mother and daughter’s behalf, but he was apprehended minutes later when witnesses directed responding officers to another parking lot where the man had fled to.

LEADING THE REDDING AREA HEADLINES:

With safe in hand, man tries to flee on foot after wild Redding pursuit, multiple crashes

Firefighters battle Redding dump blaze started by “unknown hazardous material”

Traffic stop leads to arrest of pair who burglarized Redding school

After an investigation, officers arrested Matthew Jameson Pierce, 33, of Redding. He was later booked into Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of annoying or molesting a minor, indecent exposure, and making criminal threats. Jail records indicate he remains in custody on $50,000 bail.

Redding police officers responded to the downtown area around 11 a.m., after receiving reports of a man causing disturbances at several downtown area businesses, Redding Police Corporal W. Williams said after Pierce’s arrest.

When officers arrived they learned the alleged suspect, later identified as Pierce, had caused a disturbance at Napa Auto Parts on California St. He then crossed Center St. where he encountering the mother and daughter as they left People of Progress.

The mother later told officers she and her daughter had just finished shopping at the retail store and were walking toward their vehicle when they encountered Pierce loitering near their car.

“Pierce allegedly began yelling at the victims and then threatened to sexually assault the child,” Williams explained. “Pierce pulled his pants down and began masturbating in the direction of the victims, exposing his genitalia.”

Citizens who witnessed the altercation intervened on the traumatized mother and daughter’s behalf, sending Pierce scampering away from the scene. He was last seen heading east, back toward the Napa where he had caused the earlier disturbance.

Officers began searching the area for Pierce, eventually locating and detaining him several blocks away in the parking lot of Taco Bell on Market St, according to Williams.

Pierce was subsequently positively identified by the victims and witnesses, at which time officers arrested him without further incident.

Anyone with information about this investigation or who believes they may have been victimized by Pierce is encouraged to contact Redding Police Corporal W. Williams at (530)225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 18R085888 and can remain anonymous.

 

Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 47, moved last year to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, The Valley Chronicle, and Anza Valley Outlook; 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 28 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 15 – but soon to be 16 – grandchildren.