“Alert citizens” credited after 1 of 2 would-be Redding robbers arrested

REDDING — Alert citizens are being credited with the capture of one of two men who allegedly attempted to rob a Redding business Sunday afternoon, Feb. 24. The two alleged suspects reportedly fled the scene after an employee refused to give the pair the money they demanded. The attempted robbery happened at Dollar General on Meadow View Dr.

Officials later said that after the attempted crime, the would-be robbers stripped off the clothing they had been seen wearing in an attempt to conceal their identities after they fled the business.

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Redding police officers, with assistance from a police K-9, Shasta County sheriff’s deputies, CHP officers, and a CHP helicopter, responded to the Dollar General around 1:30 p.m., after receiving reports of a possible robbery at the business, Redding Police Sgt. Brian Torum later said. Several 911 callers told SHASCOM emergency dispatchers they were following two masked men seen running from the business.

When officers arrived they learned from employees that the two masked men had entered the business and demanded money. “The employee refused to give the suspects any money causing both to flee the area,” explained Torum.

Citizens in the area, “who were not in the store at the time the incident occurred but saw the two men running from the store,” were among others who called 911, according to Torum.

“Even though the citizens didn’t witness the crime, they saw the suspects’ suspicious clothing and demeanor and felt something was ‘not right’,” the Sgt. explained. 

According to Torum, the witnesses followed the suspects “from a safe distance” and were able to direct responding law enforcement officers to one of the two fleeing men, later identified as Anthony Castaneda, 22, of Redding.

With citizens’ help, Shasta County sheriff’s deputies quickly apprehended Castaneda on Airport Rd., about one-quarter mile from the business.

Dollar General employees and other witnesses later positively identified Castaneda as one of the two men who tried to rob the business.

Additionally, Castaneda “had items in his possession that linked him to the crime,” according to Torum.

Based on their investigation, witness statements, and recovered evidence, officers arrested Castaneda and he was later booked into Shasta County Jail on suspicion of attempted robbery.

Despite an extensive ground and air search for the second alleged suspect, he was not found.

The man was described as a white male adult with a medium build. When he entered the store he was wearing a two-tone light and dark jacket with blue jeans and blue sneakers. However, during their search, officials found the man’s clothing near the crime scene.

“The unknown suspect clearly stripped off (his clothing) to change his appearance,” explained Torum. “At this time, he is still outstanding but is not considered a danger to the public.”

Redding PD later thanked all those who assisted in the attempted robbery investigation, including the citizens who followed the suspects, Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, and California Highway Patrol.

Anyone with information regarding this crime or who believes they may know the identity or whereabouts of the second suspect is encouraged to contact Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 19R012273 and can remain anonymous.

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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.