Sheriff’s K-9 helps nab Cottonwood car theft suspect

February 28, 2020 Trevor Montgomery

COTTONWOOD — A man found inside a parked and running stolen vehicle was arrested with the help of a sheriff’s K-9 after resisting deputies in Cottonwood early Thursday morning, Feb. 27. Yesterday’s incident and arrest happened at the Chevron Gas Station, on the 20000 block of Fourth St.

LEADING THE SCNS HEADLINES:
Redding traffic stop yields heroin, meth, $13,000
Family, nearby church saved after Burney house blaze
Always ready for any emergency, Shasta County Search and Rescue training never ends

At around 3:19 a.m., a Shasta County sheriff’s deputy was patrolling in the area of Cottonwood when he noticed a white Chevy Tahoe parked and running near the gas station’s pumps, Shasta County Sheriff’s Sgt. K. Bodner said after the arrest.

The deputy recognized the vehicle matched the description of a recently stolen vehicle and confirmed the vehicle was recently stolen out of Redding; at which time other deputies, including Deputy Gusaas and his K-9 partner “Fritz”, responded to the area to assist.

Deputies arrested Travis Ryan after finding him slumped behind the wheel of a parked and running stolen vehicle in Cottonwood yesterday morning. SCSO photo

Once additional deputies arrived at the scene they attempted to make contact with the occupant of the vehicle, who was later identified as 30-year-old, Travis Ryan.

Despite making numerous attempts to contact Ryan using the deputies’ public announcement system, Ryan did not respond to the deputies’ announcements.

Deputies eventually approached the vehicle and contacted Ryan, “who was seated in the driver’s seat of the vehicle slumped over the center console,” explained Bodner.

“As deputies contacted Ryan, he became physically resistant to deputies and would not comply with orders or control holds in attempt to gain his compliance,” Bodner continued. “Due to Ryan’s active resistance to deputies, Deputy Gusaas deployed K9 Fritz … at which time Ryan was apprehended and subsequently taken in custody.”

After his arrest, deputies transported Ryan to an area hospital to be treated for minor dog bite injuries and he was later booked into Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of vehicle theft, possession of a stolen vehicle, and resisting or obstructing officers.

Anyone with further information regarding this incident or Ryan’s alleged criminal activities is encouraged to call SHASCOM at (530)245-6540. Callers can refer to incident file number 20S006583 and can remain anonymous.

This article sponsored by:

For more information about Junior’s Westside Auto Sales visit them on Facebook or online.

Spectrum O & P is a leader in providing exceptional quality prosthetic and orthotic products throughout Northern California & Southern Oregon. They are committed to giving each patient personalized and attentive care, understanding that their needs are unique and they deserve our best!
Spectrum O & P’s desire is that everyone should feel comfortable knowing their goal is to tailor every product to meet each person’s specific goals while using the highest quality orthotics & prosthetics and best technology available.
To learn more about Spectrum Prosthetic and Orthotics’ services, make sure to visit them online or on Facebook.

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.