Search ongoing for white van linked to attempted Red Bluff kidnapping
RED BLUFF — Authorities yesterday said they are still investigating a possible attempted kidnapping, after witnesses reported seeing two people dragging a third man toward a white minivan. Witnesses said the possible victim was screaming for help as he was pushed toward the vehicle. Although officials have released few details about the reported incident, they have reportedly called the incident a “suspicious circumstance” and “possible attempted kidnapping.
Officials have since released CCTV video surveillance still images of the disturbing incident – including images of the white van involved – and are asking area residents for information about the van, alleged suspects, and reported incident.
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Red Bluff police officers were first alerted to the incident Friday evening, Feb. 15, around 6:26 p.m., when they received reports of an attempted kidnapping in the 1500 block of Walnut St., in Red Bluff
Officers learned witnesses saw a white minivan, believed to be a Dodge with a possible partial license plate number of “SB8,” parked in the driveway of a Red Bluff home.
KRCR News reported yesterday, that witnesses told officers they saw “two men trying to force a third man into the van who was calling for help.” A third potential suspect and driver of the white van was described as a woman with short, curly red hair.
The van was last seen driving eastbound on Walnut St. and possibly has front-end damage.
Although officers conducted “an extensive search of the area,” they were not able to locate the alleged suspects, their van, or the reported victim who “was said to be wearing a red sweater,” according to KRCR News. No information about the reported victim was immediately available.
During their investigation, officers located and obtained video surveillance of the reported incident and van, as well as video of the possible suspects. They are now hoping that someone in the community recognizes the vehicle and can provide information about the incident.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation or van is encouraged to contact Red Bluff Police Department at (530) 737-7807. Callers 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.