K-9 takes down wanted sexual predator, ending Anza standoff

ANZA, Calif. — Authorities say a wanted felon and out-of-compliance sexual predator was arrested after an hours-long standoff in Anza Friday, March 26. Officials have since said the registered sex offender had three felony warrants, including one for violation of parole and two others for failing to properly register as a sex offender.

The parolee who was arrested, Thomas Shuffield, 53, sustained minor injuries when he attempted to flee from the residence where he had been hiding from deputies and was taken down by a Sheriff’s K-9.

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At just after noon, deputies assigned to the Hemet Station – Mountain Communities Station responded to a property in the 59000 block of Upper Tule Peak Road to search for Shuffield, who was known to frequent the area and had been seen there as recently as last week, according to sheriff’s officials.

Thomas Shuffield, a 53-year-old parolee and out-of-compliance/non-registered sexual predator was arrested after a lengthy standoff in Anza on Friday. RSP booking photos

When deputies arrived they spotted a man at the front door of one of the trailers; however, when the man saw deputies, he ran into and hid inside the trailer, said officials.

“The male answered to the name Thomas and yelled to deputies he had a gun and was not going to come out,” officials described; adding, “Many announcements were given for him to surrender peacefully; however, he refused.”

Based on the circumstances and threats made to deputies, the Sheriff’s SWAT Team responded to the scene with an armored tactical rescue vehicle, battering ram, and other resources.

Several hours into the standoff, with the home and property surrounded by deputies and SWAT members, the man suddenly bolted from the trailer at which time a Sheriff’s K-9 was deployed.

After a short foot chase, the man was apprehended by the K-9 and taken into custody. At that time he was positively identified as Shuffield.

A SWAT armored battering ram is seen moving into position during an hours-long standoff involving a wanted sexual predator who had multiple outstanding felony warrants. Frank Wicker/Anza Crime Watch photo

The wanted felon was provided first aid by paramedics at the scene and then transported to an area hospital for treatment of injuries sustained while being taken into custody by the Sheriff’s K-9.

Shuffield was later booked into Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility on his multiple felony warrants and online jail records indicate he remains in custody where he is being held without bail.

No Sheriff’s personnel or other citizens were injured during the incident, said officials.

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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 (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS).

Additionally, he writes or has written for several other news organizations; including Riverside County-based newspapers Valley News, Valley Chronicle, Anza Valley Outlook, and Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle; the Bonsall/Fallbrook Village News in San Diego County; and Mountain Echo in Shasta County. He is also a regular contributor to Thin Blue Line TV and Law Enforcement News Network and has had his stories featured on news stations throughout the Southern California and North State regions.

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.