Wanted parolee arrested after dangerous Redding pursuit

REDDING, Calif. — A wanted parolee was arrested after leading officials from several agencies on a dangerous high-speed pursuit, Saturday evening, September 19. The chase, which began in Redding and reached speeds in excess of 100 mph, ended more than 21 miles away when officers managed to successfully use spike strips to bring the pursuit to a halt.

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Saturday’s chase began in the area of Caterpillar Rd. and Highway 273 just before 9 p.m., when a Shasta Lake Sheriff’s Station deputy’s vehicle was nearly struck by a Chevrolet four-door sedan occupied by two people, Shasta County Sheriff’s Sgt. Ken Koenen later said of the incident and arrest.

The suspect’s vehicle “entered the roadway in an unsafe manner, nearly colliding with the deputy’s marked patrol vehicle,” described Koenen; saying, “The deputy attempted to initiate a traffic enforcement stop but the vehicle … failed to yield and fled from the deputy.”

The deputy initiated a vehicle pursuit that continued on Caterpillar Rd., where an occupant of the vehicle threw a container out the window. 

“The container ruptured when it hit the roadway,” explained Koenen; adding, “It was later determined to be a large amount of methamphetamine.”

Gregory Cooley, 37, was arrested after leading officers on a dangerous, 100 mph pursuit that traveled more than 21 miles before spike strips were successfully deployed, bringing the chase to a safe conclusion. Shasta County Sheriff’s Office photo

The pursuit continued on Caterpillar Rd. to Oasis Road, and onto Lake Boulevard; then continued through the City of Shasta Lake, before finally heading southbound on Interstate 5.

During the pursuit the driver, since identified as Gregory Michael Cooley, 37, fled “with wanton disregard” for the safety of pursuing officers or other citizens, according to Koenen; who said Cooley committed numerous vehicle code violations including crossing double yellow lines, making unsafe lane changes, and failing to stop at stop signs.

With speeds reaching more than 100 mph on Interstate 5, a California Highway Patrol helicopter took over the chase as it continued southbound.

Assisting officers who got ahead of the pursuit managed to successfully deploy spike strips in the area of Interstate 5 and South Bonnyview, bringing the pursuit to a safe conclusion.

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“Deputies, Officers with the Redding Police Department, and Officers with California Highway Patrol were able to take the driver into custody without further incident,” said Koenen; adding that a female passenger from the vehicle was released at the scene without charges.

After his arrest, Cooley was booked into the Shasta County Jail in Redding for felony reckless evading of a peace officer, as well as charges related to possession and sales of controlled substances, possession of prohibited weapons, and the warrant related to being a wanted parolee.

Online jail records indicate Cooley remains in custody without bail.


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Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 49, 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 30 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 18 grandchildren.