Redding K-9 turns reckless driving investigation into drug bust

April 25, 2021 Trevor Montgomery

REDDING, Calif. — Authorities say reports of a reckless driver led to the arrest of a Sacramento man after an officer’s K-9 partner located five pounds of suspected methamphetamine inside the man’s car Saturday evening, April 24.

The drug bust was the first of two significant drug-related arrests involving Redding Police Department’s K-9 “Chase” within hours of the same overnight shift, followed by another incident just a few hours later involving a Garden Grove man who was arrested after the police service dog led to the discovery of meth, heroin, more than $3,000 cash, and a loaded handgun that had been reported as stolen from Oregon.

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City of Redding police officers responded to the area of I-5 and Cypress Avenue just after 7 p.m. after a citizen called 911 to report a reckless driver, Redding Police Corporal Wes Townsley later said of the incident and arrest.

Officers spotted the described vehicle in the Taco Bell parking lot located at 2610 Hilltop Drive and contacted the driver, since identified as Carllee Serrano Sanchez, 62, of Sacramento.

Officers arrested Carl Sanchez after a reckless driving investigation led to the discovery of approximately five pounds of suspected methamphetamine last night. Redding Police Department photos

Saying Sanchez “was acting suspicious” during their initial contact, an officer deployed his K-9 partner, “Chase”, who is trained to locate suspected narcotics, around the man’s vehicle.

After Chase alerted to the possible presence of narcotics, officers searched Sanchez’ vehicle at which time they located approximately five pounds of suspected methamphetamine hidden inside the vehicle, according to Townsley.

Based on the discovered drugs, members of the Shasta Interagency Narcotics Task Force (SINTF) were contacted and took over the investigation.

Sanchez was later booked into Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of possession of narcotics for sale, transportation of controlled substances between counties, and transportation of narcotics for the purpose of sales.

Online jail records indicate he remains in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail or bond.

Anyone with information regarding this arrest and investigation is encouraged to contact Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 21R026814 and can remain anonymous.

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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.