Officials seek man who carjacked woman, fled from officers
REDDING — Authorities are searching for a man they allege attacked a woman and fled the area in her husband’s stolen pickup truck after the victim located her family’s stolen vehicle at Win-River Casino in Redding early Saturday morning, Jan. 18.
According to officials, the victim and a friend had been driving around Shasta County searching for the truck after it was stolen from Sierra Pacific Industries in Anderson the previous evening.
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CHP was first alerted to the theft around 6:30 p.m., when a 38-year-old Redding man reported his blue, 2001 Chevrolet Silverado had been stolen from his place of employment, Redding Police Corporal Rob Garnero later reported.
Officers who searched the area were unable to locate the truck and notified other surrounding law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the purloined pickup.
Throughout the evening and into the next morning, the victim’s 31-year-old wife and her friend were driving around searching for the stolen Chevrolet, when they found it parked and unoccupied in the parking lot of Win-River Casino.
After locating her husband’s stolen pickup the woman was inspecting the vehicle when she was approached by an unknown white male.
“The suspect had possession of the Chevrolet’s key and ordered Martinez to move out of his way,” explained Garnero. “Martinez attempted to block the driver door as her friend called 911.”
When the victim refused to move and continued blocking the man from getting into her husband’s truck, the suspect punched her in the face, knocking her away from the driver’s side door.
“He then entered the Chevrolet, and fled the scene,” Garnero continued.
Moments later, a Redding PD officer was patrolling the Win-River parking lot when he simultaneously spotted the stolen Chevrolet speeding out of the Casino’s parking lot just as he was being flagged down by the victim.
As the unknown suspect fled southbound on SR-273 at a high rate of speed, officers began converging on the area and soon located the stolen pickup truck; which had crashed into a stop sign at the intersection of Happy Valley Rd. and Majestic View Dr., according to the Cpl.
Official radio traffic at the time indicated officers witnessed the collision and that the suspect was last seen fleeing on foot from the wrecked truck.
With assistance from sheriff’s deputies, CHP officers, and a police K-9, Redding PD began searching for the suspect. However, despite an extensive manhunt the alleged carjacker was not located, identified, or apprehended.
The suspect has been described as a white male adult in his forties, with a shaved head, goatee, and an unknown face tattoo. He was wearing a black sweatshirt, baggy light sweatpants, and brown boots, according to Garnero.
As Redding PD’s investigation was continuing, Garnero used the opportunity to caution citizens from confronting suspects associated with stolen vehicles or who are involved in other crimes.
“Citizens who witness crimes are encouraged to call 911 and wait for an emergency response,” Garnero continued; saying, “Your safety is our top priority.”
Anyone with information regarding this incident and investigation is encouraged to contact Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200. Callers can remain anonymous.
This is a developing story that will be updated as new information becomes available.
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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.
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