UPDATE: Officers arrest man they say fled after running down Redding teen

UPDATED: Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2:30 p.m.

See Original and updated Stories below.

REDDING — Authorities in Redding today announced the arrest of a man they say confessed to fleeing the scene after running down a teen who had been walking home from school earlier this month.

The hit and run collision, which happened as the boy walked on a sidewalk on N. Court St. near Riverside Dr., left the boy seriously injured, and he is continuing to recover after undergoing several surgeries, according to family members.

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Redding PD began investigating the hit and run Friday, Dec. 13, after learning that a man in a dark-colored, Dodge Ram pickup truck drove over a curb and ran the teen victim down before fleeing the scene.

As their investigation was getting underway, officers discovered video surveillance from a nearby business that showed the suspect’s vehicle fleeing from the area after hitting the teen.

During the course of their investigation officers interviewed a number of witnesses while gathering information and developed leads that eventually led them to identifying Terry Bessey, 49, of Redding, as the person who fled the scene of the accident.

On Monday, Dec. 30, at around 1:20 a.m., officers received a tip that Bessey was in the area of Buenaventura Blvd and Placer St. with the truck he was driving when he hit the victim, according to Redding Police Cpl. Timothy Renault.

Officers converged on the area and quickly located Bessey and the pickup truck he was driving at the time of the accident.

After detaining Bessey, officers learned the alleged hit and run driver had removed and hidden a large tool box and broken side view mirror “in an attempt to alter his vehicle to disguise it so he would not be caught,” according to Renault.

Officers took Bessey to the Redding Police Department Investigations Division to be interviewed, while his vehicle was seized and towed as evidence to the hit and run.

While being interviewed, Bessey admitted to officers that he had hit the teen and fled the scene, according to the Cpl.

He also eventually directed investigating officers to the location where he had left the truck’s toolbox and broken vehicle side mirror. Both were also taken as evidence.

Bessey was later booked into Shasta County Jail on suspicion of felony hit and run, according to Renault.

Redding PD’s investigation is ongoing and officials have asked that anyone else who may have seen the collision and not provided a statement, or who has any further information related to this investigation to contact Redding PD at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 19R082008 and can remain anonymous.  


Original Story and Updates: New details in search for truck that ran down Redding teen

UPDATED: Sunday, Dec. 22, 12:30 p.m.

REDDING — Authorities investigating a hit and run that left a teen severely injured have released additional details and information about the vehicle that ran the boy down as he was walking home from school last Friday, Dec. 13.

According to officials, the victim has undergone several surgeries and is now recovering at home. He is expected to survive his injuries.

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Redding police officials began investigating last Friday’s hit and run collision around 3 p.m., after receiving reports that a pickup truck had hit a 15-year-old as he walked on a sidewalk on N. Court St. near Riverside Dr., before fleeing the area at high speed.

Although a witness who saw the gruesome collision attempted to chase the fleeing vehicle down, they were unsuccessful and the hit and run driver managed to get away.

Officers are continuing to search for a hit and run driver who fled the scene after driving over a curb onto a sidewalk, where the motorist ran down a teen who had been walking home from school. RPD images

When officials arrived they found the boy down along the side of the road suffering from major injuries. He was rushed to an area hospital where he underwent several surgeries.

As their investigation was getting underway, officers interviewed witnesses and located surveillance footage that captured video of the truck as it was fleeing the scene of the collision.

Officials have described the vehicle as a dark blue, early 2000’s Dodge 2500 pickup truck. Video also showed the truck had a tool box in the bed and a sticker in the upper left rear window.

Furthermore, the passenger side mirror was damaged during the collision, according to Redding Police Cpl. Jon Sheldon; who said officers will continue to actively investigate this incident as they search for the hit and run driver, as well as justice for the teenage victim.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation or who knows the whereabouts of the truck and/or the identity of the driver who fled is encouraged to contact the Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 19R082008 and can remain anonymous.


Updated Story: Search for truck that ran down Redding teen continuing

UPDATED: Thursday, Dec. 19, 12 p.m.

See Original Story below.

REDDING — Authorities in Redding are continuing to search for a hit and run driver who fled the scene after running down and seriously injuring a teen last Friday, Dec. 13. According to officials, the 15-year-old boy was hit while using a sidewalk in the area of N. Court St. and Riverside Dr.

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City of Redding Police and Fire personnel responded to the scene of the crash just after 3 p.m., after receiving reports of a hit and run, Redding Police Corporal Jon Sheldon reported after the hit and run.

When officials arrived they found a boy who had been hit by a vehicle that fled the area prior to officer’s arrival. The victim, who suffered a broken leg and facial injuries, was rushed to an area hospital for treatment of what officials described as non-life threatening injuries.

During their subsequent investigation, officers determined the victim was on the sidewalk when he was struck by a vehicle described as a dark blue or black, late 90s to early 2000s, Dodge pickup truck. The truck was further described as having an extended cab and short bed and officials say the passenger’s side mirror was hanging off when the truck was last seen fleeing the collision on Riverside Dr.

Anyone with information about this investigation or who knows the whereabouts of the truck and/or the identity of the driver in encouraged to contact Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 19R082008 and can remain anonymous.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.


Original Story: Officials investigating possible hit and run that injured Redding teen

REDDING — Officials are at the scene of a vehicle versus pedestrian traffic collision that seriously injured a teen this afternoon, Friday, Dec. 13. The accident happened in the area of N. Court St. and Riverside Dr., according to official radio traffic at the time.

Officials were first alerted to the collision at 3:02 p.m., after receiving reports of a possible hit and run accident that left a boy injured.

The victim, believed to be 15-years-old, was taken to an area hospital for multiple injuries including a broken leg. His condition at the time of this report was not known.

Official radio traffic indicated officers were possibly searching for a Dodge pickup truck that fled the scene after hitting the boy, but no further details were available regarding Redding PD’s ongoing investigation.

This is a developing story that will be updated as new information is available.

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Contact the writer: [email protected]

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.