Man who fled in halter top, high heels taken down by RPD K-9

REDDING — A distinctively dressed Redding man who fled from officers while wearing a halter top, high heels, and tight jeans earlier this afternoon, Sunday, June 2, was apprehended with assistance from a CHP aviation crew and a police K-9. Today’s arrest happened in a heavily-wooded area northeast of S. Bonnyview Rd. and Bechelli Ln.

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This afternoon’s incident began around 3:30 p.m., when Redding PD K-9 handler Officer Williams spotted a man he recognized as Leo Graham, 42, of Redding. The officer knew Graham from prior contacts and knew he had a felony warrant,  Redding Police Sgt. Rex Berry later told SCNS in a telephone interview after the arrest.

“Because the officer knew Graham had been violently resistant to arrest in the past” he notified SHASCOM emergency dispatchers he was following the subject and waiting for additional officers to arrive in the area, the Sgt explained.

Moments later, the officer updated dispatchers and responding officers that Graham had fled northeast from the location and that the fleeing man was last seen running toward a wooded area that sits north of S. Bonnyview Rd, between Bechelli Ln. and Interstate 5.

Officers arrested Leo Graham, 42, of Redding, after the wanted man fled from them this afternoon in the area of S. Bonneyview Rd. and Bechelli Ln. RPD photo

Numerous officers that were in the area began to converge on the location and officers quickly set up a perimeter around the area where Graham was last seen running. An aviation crew in CHP’s H-14 arrived and began providing vital information and updates to officers on the ground; including the fact that a large homeless encampment with numerous tents was in the area Graham was last seen running toward.

Despite the man’s attempt to flee and evade apprehension, his distinctive choice of clothing – described as a “camo” hat, halter top, high heels, and black jeans; with brightly-colored sunglasses and purse – made it hard for him to hide in the thick woods and K-9 “Otto” soon located a pile of Graham’s discarded clothing and personal items. 

Several minutes later and about ten minutes after the incident began, CHP’s aviation crew updated that officers had possibly located Graham and were attempting to take the violently resisting man into custody.

“With K-9 Otto’s help, the officers found Graham hiding in the bushes, but he refused to come out,” Berry explained to SCNS. “Graham was not complying and began to reach into a bag he had with him, at which time K9 Otto was deployed and helped take Graham into custody.”

Graham was later taken to an area hospital to be treated for dog-bite injuries, before he was transported to Shasta County Jail in Redding. He was booked on his felony warrant, as well as resisting arrest, according to Berry.

No officers or citizens were injured during this afternoon’s arrest.

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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.