Autistic girl, 4, rescued after tumbling 70′ down cliff overlooking Sacramento River

REDDING, Calif. — Authorities say charges will be filed against the mother of an autistic child after the youth went missing in downtown Redding Wednesday morning, June 3.

Two officers involved in the search eventually found the young victim about 70 feet down a steep and rocky embankment according to officials; who later reported the little girl became “suspended and entangled in the thick berry bushes” of the dangerous embankment after tumbling from a cliff overlooking the Sacramento River.

Firefighters later used ropes to rescue the child and one of the officers from their precarious position along the embankment.

The rescue was the first of two to happen in the Redding area on Wednesday. The other rescue involved a man who was swept downstream into the treacherous and swift-moving whitewater of Clear Creek Gorge after attempting to rescue a child who was struggling while swimming in Clear Creek.

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City of Redding police officers were dispatched to the area of Trinity and East streets shortly before 11:30 a.m., after receiving reports of a missing 4-year old autistic girl, Redding PD has since reported.

Once at the scene, officials launched an unmanned aerial vehicle to search for the missing child from overhead, while patrol officers searched from the ground.

After spotting a missing autistic girl 70 feet down a steep and treacherous embankment overlooking the Sacramento River, two officers raced to the little girl’s rescue. Redding PD photo

While searching a cliff at the north end of East St. along the Sacramento River, officers spotted the little girl about 70 feet down the steep embankment.

“The child (was) suspended and entangled in the thick berry bushes along the embankment,” officials later wrote in a social media release.

After spotting the 4-year-old, Redding PD Officer Joe Labbe and Corporal Sheldon quickly descended the slope attempting to rescue the child.

Firefighters performed a rope rescue to bring the injured 4-year-old and Officer Labbe back to safety after the little girl tumbled 70 feet down a steep embankment overlooking the Sacramento River. Redding PD photo

With the small child in his arms, Officer Labbe was unable to safely climb back up the dangerously steep embankment and Redding Fire Department was called in to assist in pulling both the officer and terrified girl to safety.

Once she was brought back from the embankment paramedics evaluated and treated the girl, who sustained minor injuries from the fall, according to officials.

The juvenile was later taken into protective custody and criminal charges of child endangerment are being sought against the victim’s mother, who has not been publicly identified.

“It’s not the first time this has happened, but it will be the last,” one family member familiar with the case later said on social media.

“(The) mother is an unfit parent and always has been,” the woman explained; saying, “There are other things involved than just (the victim) walking away from home.”

“I can’t and won’t go into detail since it’s not my place or my right, but just know that little girl is safe,” the concerned family member continued.

After spending the night with CPS, the girl was turned over to her father, who will now be seeking full custody, according to the victim’s family.

Redding PD’s Officer Labbe gives a thumbs up while re-hydrating after yesterday’s dramatic rescue. Redding PD photo

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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.