Fake guns, real consequences, after recent Redding incidents
REDDING, Calif. — Two back-to-back Redding incidents involving realistic-looking replica firearms ended with the arrests of two men in Redding this past weekend. One of the incidents led to a nearly hour-long standoff with one of the men, who was seen waving what appeared to be a real handgun and pointing the suspected firearm at passing motorists.
Another recent incident involving a replica firearm ended with the death of a 27-year-old Redding woman after she reportedly pulled what appeared to be a handgun from her waistband in early February. The woman was fatally shot by officers who had responded to the Cypress Avenue Bridge after receiving reports of a person waving a handgun at passing motorists and others.
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The first arrest happened Friday, April 2, at around 7:50 a.m., when a Redding police officer spotted Anthony Cloyd, 22, of Redding, in the area of Adams and Shirley lanes, according to Redding PD officials. The officer immediately recognized Cloyd from prior contacts, including one arrest involving a loaded and stolen revolver, and knew he had active warrants for his arrest.
Anthony Cloyd was arrested after Redding police officers discovered he was in possession of a realistic-looking replica firearm and a collapsible baton. Redding PD photo
While arresting Cloyd, officers discovered a replica firearm and collapsible baton with a window punch concealed in his backpack.
“This replica firearm had no markings to assist in identifying it from being fake,” RPD officials explained.
Cloyd was arrested for his outstanding warrants, as well as possession of burglary tools, possession of a prohibited weapon, and violation of probation.
In addition to other arrests and law enforcement contacts, Cloyd was previously arrested during a Redding incident where he was found to be in possession of a stolen and loaded handgun at the Redding Rodeo Grounds in January 2019.
SEE RELATED: UPDATE: Woman killed after pulling replica handgun on Redding officers ID’d
The second incident and arrest happened Saturday, April 3, at around 3 p.m. when Redding police officers began receiving reports of a subject who was armed with a handgun, RPD has since reported.
911 callers reported the man was waving what appeared to be a semi-automatic handgun at passing motorists in the area of Placer Street and Pleasant Avenue.
Officers arrested a man who was seen waving what turned out to be a replica firearm and threatening passing motorists and others. The incident led to a forty-five minute standoff until the suspect surrendered to officers. Redding PD photos
When officers arrived in the area they located the man, since identified as Ronald Turner, 32, of Redding, sitting under a tree with a black and silver handgun in his waistband.
“At the time he was contacted the subject was extremely uncooperative and agitated, and was refusing to comply with uniformed officers,” RPD officials explained. “The subject was also found seated in front of a residence and within close proximity to a busy shopping center.”
Officers at the scene requested additional resources, at which time the Department’s recently acquired armored rescue vehicle was brought to the scene. CHP – Northern Division Air Operations also responded to the area to provide vital updates and information to ground officers from above.
“The Bearcat was utilized to make contact with the subject,” according to officials; who said, “Officers negotiated with the male subject for approximately forty-five minutes before he was safely taken into custody.”
Due to reports of a man seen waving a gun at passing motorists near a busy shopping center, Redding police officers used an armored tactical rescue vehicle while trying to convince the “extremely uncooperative and agitated” man to surrender. Redding PD photo
Officers subsequently discovered the suspected firearm Turner was in possession of was actually “a replica firearm with no orange or safety markings,” officials explained.
After his arrest, Turner was booked into the Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of delaying, obstructing and resisting arrest, drawing or exhibiting a replica firearm in a public place in a threatening manner, possession of a controlled substance, and an outstanding warrant.
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“In recent years officers have encountered individuals who are possessing replica firearms at an increasing rate,” RPD later said of the two incidents.
“Oftentimes criminals are in possession of these replica weapons, intending to use them in the commission of crimes,” RPD explained. “Due to these replica weapons having a realistic appearance it is difficult to differentiate what is real and fake.”
“The Redding Police Department would like to remind the public and parents in particular that when in possession of these replica firearms or airsoft weapons that they are correctly marked and transported in a safe manner,” officials continued; adding, “It is recommended that realistic firearms are not to be used as toys in a public setting, and should be used in authorized manners or trainings.”
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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.