Yreka men arrested after two dogs shot, one killed

YREKA, Calif. — Two convicted felons were arrested on a variety of charges Saturday morning, Aug. 9, after an animal cruelty-related search warrant uncovered four firearms and various types of ammunition at a Yreka area residence.

As reported by officials, one of the seized firearms was an assault weapon as defined by California Penal Code, while another “assault-type weapon” that was seized had its serial number removed.

The search warrant was the result of an animal cruelty investigation involving a man who reported that his landlord, 51-year-old, William Harvey Childs, had shot two of his dogs multiple times; killing one and seriously injuring the other.

William Childs, 51, of Yreka, a convicted felon who is prohibited from owning firearms, was arrested after allegedly shooting two of his tenant’s dogs at a Yreka property. SCSO photo 

Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Deputy Lensing initially responded to a home in the area of Bennet Dr. and Greenhorn Rd., just outside Yreka, around 9:30 a.m., after the victim called 911 to report the shooting.

The man, whose name has not been released, told Lensing that his landlord, since identified as Childs, admitted to shooting the dogs, Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office described in a social media release after the violent incident and arrests.

“One of (the victim’s) dogs was killed by an apparent gunshot wound and the other dog was severely injured, also as a result of one or more gunshot wounds,” SCSO reported.

The victim said that when he told Childs he was going to report the deadly shooting to law enforcement officials, Childs “retrieved a military-style ‘M-4’ type carbine (assault-type) rifle from his residence and pointed it at the complainant,” SCSO’s release described.

“The complainant claimed the suspect threatened to kill him if he contacted law enforcement or if he attempted to leave the property,” SCSO continued, saying, “The man chose to wait until the following morning to report the incident.”

As the investigation continued, Lensing discovered Childs was a convicted felon and prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.

Based on his investigation, Lensing authored and obtained a search warrant for Childs’ property and home.

On the afternoon of August 9th, SCSO deputies served the search warrant at Childs’ property. Law enforcement officers and officials from several allied agencies, including California Highway Patrol, the Siskiyou Unified Major Investigation Team (SUMIT), and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection assisted during the warrant service.

Childs and five others were found to be inside the home and were detained without incident while officials searched the residence and property.

During the search officials located four firearms and various types of ammunition, according to SCSO’s release; which explained that one of the firearms was a State prohibited assault weapon, while another “assault-type weapon” was found to have an illegally obliterated serial number.

Based on their investigation deputies arrested Childs and he was later booked into Siskiyou County Jail on suspicion of being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, making criminal threats, false imprisonment, and shooting at an occupied building.

Animal cruelty and abuse charges and other criminal offenses related to the dogs’ shootings are being considered, according to SCSO.

As a result of the search, Joseph Edward Garibay, 40, was also arrested and later booked for being a felon in possession of ammunition.

Additional charges are being considered against Garibay as well, according to officials; who did not specify if any of the other detained individuals were arrested or faced any charges.

Calling Lensing’s handling of the case “exemplary”, SCSO Sheriff Jon Lopey later said, “His actions … led to the seizure of crucial evidence and the arrest of two ex-felons.”

“The arrest of the suspects for mainly serious felony violations of law, with additional criminal offenses pending … also protected the interests of the victim in this case,” Lopey said in praise of Lensing’s investigation; adding, “He ensured the main suspect in this case will answer for his reckless, deliberate, and senseless actions.”

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Trevor Montgomery, 48, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and runs Riverside County News Source and Shasta County News Source. Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County based newspapers, Valley News, (the now defunct) Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; 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 29 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 16 grandchildren.