3 officers hospitalized after Shasta College melee with parolee

REDDING — A man, already on parole for assault with a deadly weapon and who is classified as a “high-risk” offender, was arrested again today after attacking and hospitalizing several Redding police officers during a violent encounter at Shasta College.

Officers responded to the college this morning, Tuesday, April 23, to assist campus security personnel in removing the violent subject from the college campus, as he has been ordered to stay off the campus grounds and property while being investigated for sexual misconduct at the school, according to Redding PD.

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After an investigation into the violent attack against RPD officers, officials arrested David Wuco, 29, of Redding. After receiving a medical clearance for minor injuries he sustained in the attack against officers and during his arrest, Wuco was booked into Shasta County Jail on suspicion of battery causing serious bodily injury, resisting officers with the use of violence, and violation of parole, Redding Police Sgt. G. Meadows later reported.

This morning’s incident began the previous day, Monday, April 22, when campus security personnel “attempted to serve Wuco with paperwork ordering him to stay off campus while they investigated sexual misconduct allegations against him,” Meadows explained.

Wuco refused to accept the paperwork and ultimately left the campus without further incident.

David Wuco, a parolee formerly convicted of assault with a deadly weapon who was released from prison last November, was arrested again this morning after a violent melee that sent three Redding police officers to the hospital with injuries later described as “significant”. Redding PD photo

This morning, at around 7:43 a.m., Redding officers were notified that Wuco had returned to the campus despite being ordered to stay away.

Although Wuco was initially cooperative with campus security officers and agreed to accompany the officials to their office, Meadows said “Due to Wuco’s violent history and the fact he is on parole for assault with a deadly weapon, multiple Redding police officers responded to assist Shasta College with his removal.”

When officers arrived at the campus they made contact with Wuco and campus security personnel.

“Officers asked Wuco several times to leave the campus but he refused,” said Meadows. “When officers attempted to physically remove him, he quickly jumped up from his chair, put up his fists, and took a fighting stance.”

During the ensuing melee, as officers tried to arrest the violent subject, “he punched multiple officers in the facial area causing significant injuries to three officers,” according to Meadows. As the struggle continued, the officers put out a priority call requesting emergency assistance, at which time numerous additional officers raced to the college to help the injured officers as they continued trying to arrest the violent man.

Despite his continued resistance officers eventually overpowered Wuco, and he was taken into custody.

SEE RELATED FOLLOW UP: Seriously injured after vicious attack, RPD SRO returns to work

The three injured officers were taken to a local hospital where they were treated for various, but unspecified “significant” injuries. It was not immediately known if the officers have been able to return to work or if they are off-duty while convalescing from their injuries.

Wuco previously served a five-year prison sentence for a previous assault with a deadly weapon case and he was released from prison last November, according to Meadows.

Officials have not released any further details or information and their investigation is ongoing.

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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.