Weapons, ammo found during Redding traffic stop

REDDING, Calif. — Authorities say a convicted felon was arrested after a traffic stop uncovered weapons, ammunition and narcotics-related paraphernalia early Wednesday morning, Nov. 25.

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Redding police officers spotted a 1967 Chevy Malibu being driven north on Pine Street with no headlights around 1:45 a.m., Redding Police Sergeant Gary Meadows later said of the incident and arrest.

Seeing the officers, the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle, Steven Schlapia, 56, of Redding, rapidly accelerated away from them.

Steven Schlapia, 56, of Redding, was arrested early yesterday morning after a Redding traffic stop uncovered drugs, weapons and ammunition; all items the felon is prohibited from possessing. Redding PD photos

The officers conducted a traffic stop and contacted Schlapia, who “was immediately hostile and resistant to commands from the officers”, who suspected Schlapia was stalling for unknown reasons.

Despite his resistance, officers ultimately removed Schlapia from his vehicle and detained him.

During a subsequent search of Schlapia’s vehicle, officers located a 9mm handgun between the front seats – within easy reach of Schlapia’s right hand – leaving the handgun readily accessible. Additionally, officers found a methamphetamine smoking pipe and a loaded .22 caliber rifle with an attached, loaded magazine in Schlapia’s car.

Officers also found the handgun had a loaded magazine and a round in the chamber, according to Meadows; who added that during a subsequent search of Schlapia, officers also discovered the felon, who is prohibited from possessing or owning firearms or ammunition, was in possession of another loaded magazine for his rifle.

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Based on their findings, Schlapia was arrested on multiple new felony and misdemeanor charges and booked into Shasta County Jail in Redding. However, online jail records indicated he has since been released and was no longer in custody as of this report.

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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.