UPDATE: Anderson PD K-9 shot while apprehending suspect

UPDATED: Saturday, Dec. 29, 1 p.m.

See original story, photos below.

ANDERSON — Additional details have been released after an Anderson PD K-9 was shot while apprehending a man who first fled from Redding PD officers and was then pursued by Anderson PD officers.

At around noon today, Anderson PD’s Lt. Steve Blunk told Elizabeth Zelidon of Action News Now that APD’s K-9 “Chance” sustained a “through and through” gunshot injury to his ear. Despite being shot, Chance still managed to apprehend the alleged suspect, who sustained several dog-bite injuries.

According to Blunk, Chance is receiving treatment for his injury and expected to make a full recovery.

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Blunk told Zelidon the incident began when a Redding police officer spotted a suspected stolen car leaving a parking lot on Kenyon Dr. just before 4 a.m.

When officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the suspected stolen vehicle the driver, who has not yet been publicly identified, swerved into the northbound lanes of traffic and began driving the wrong way into oncoming traffic on Hwy. 273, at which time officers terminated their pursuit for safety reasons.

Redding officers notified Anderson PD regarding the reckless driver heading in their direction, at which time Anderson police officers began converging on the area.

Anderson PD spotted the vehicle again near the intersection of Parallel Rd. and Hill St. and began pursuing the driver south on Highway 273.

The fleeing driver eventually turned onto Barney St., where he “spun around, hitting another pursuing vehicle head-on,” Blunk explained.

After the head-on crash the suspect, described by Blunk as a “Hispanic male adult,” got out of the car and ran.

“At that point in time the officer who accompanied the struck officer released his K-9 to apprehend the suspect and they traveled underneath the bridge section; between the walking bridge, the railroad bridge, and Highway 273,” explained Blunk.

At some point during the foot pursuit, “the suspect turned around and shot at the K-9, striking the K-9 in the ear,” said Blunk. Despite being shot, Chance continued pursuing the alleged suspect, eventually catching and apprehending the fleeing man.

According to Blunk, the alleged suspect sustained dog bite injuries and was later treated at an area hospital.

The officer who was driving the car that was involved in the collision with the suspect was also injured and is reportedly being treated for what Blunk described as “a minor wrist injury.”

Citing their ongoing investigation, officials have not released any further information or details.

Highway 273 has since been re-opened to through traffic.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.

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Original story: Officials investigating Anderson shooting that injured police K-9

ANDERSON — Authorities in Anderson are investigating a shooting that reportedly injured an Anderson PD K-9 this morning, Saturday, Dec. 29. Few details are known about the incident and Anderson PD has not yet responded to requests for additional details and information about their investigation, which is ongoing at the scene.

CalTrans District 2 wrote in a 6:17 a.m. Tweet today that SR-273 is closed at South St. in Anderson “due to a police involved shooting.” The Tweet also said there was no estimated time when the highway would be re-opened.

Video posted to social media by Elizabeth Zelidon of Action News Now showed crime scene tape set up at and around a bridge that crosses Anderson Creek, near Anderson Handy Storage. Several patrol and unmarked vehicles remained at the scene, as did a Shasta County Sheriff’s Crime Scene van.

Other than the K-9 that was reportedly shot, as of this report it was not known if any officers, suspects, or citizens, were injured in the shooting; or if anyone has been taken into custody.

Anderson PD’s investigation is active and ongoing at the scene and no further details were immediately available.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.

Click any image to open full-size gallery.

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ALERT: SR 273 is CLOSED at South Street in Anderson due to police involved shooting. No ETA for reopening.

— Caltrans District 2 (@CaltransD2) December 29, 2018

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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.