UPDATE: Suspect remains hospitalized after pursuit that ended with ramming, beanbag deployment

UPDATE: Sunday, Aug. 8, 3 p.m., With additional details regarding suspect.

Originally Published: Friday, Aug. 6, 10:30 a.m.

REDDING, Calif., — Authorities say a dangerous high-speed pursuit of a stolen pickup truck that involved multiple area law enforcement agencies ended when a Redding police officer rammed the truck in the driveway of Redding Fire Station 6, at the intersection of Beltline Drive and Oasis Road, Thursday morning, Aug. 5. 

Although the intoxicated suspect, Kevin Dunbar, 55 years of Redding, attempted to flee from the disabled vehicle, officers at the scene deployed less-lethal beanbag shotgun rounds, which ended the man’s attempted flight for freedom. He reportedly underwent immediate surgery after his arrest and remained hospitalized as of this morning.

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City of Redding police officers were dispatched to the area of Brookridge Drive and Stonethrow Court just before noon after receiving reports that a man had just stolen an older model, blue Dodge Power Ram truck, Redding Police Corporal Michael DiMatteo said after the pursuit and arrest.

An officer who responded to the area soon spotted the stolen pickup leaving the neighborhood and began following the vehicle while waiting for additional officers to arrive in the area.

Officers were forced to ram a stolen pickup truck in the parking lot of Redding Fire Department’s Station 6 to end Thursday morning’s dangerous high-speed pursuit. Ernie Fuller Fire Information photo

Once additional officers arrived, they attempted to conduct a stop on the vehicle but Dunbar failed to yield and immediately sped away from officers who initiated a vehicle pursuit.

As the chase continued in the area of Oasis Road and Interstate 5 a CHP Northern Division Air Operations helicopter arrived in the area and began to track the fleeing vehicle from above.

“At this time ground units discontinued the pursuit for safety reasons but remained in the area,” said DiMatteo.

However, a few minutes later, CHP reported from above that Dunbar had just “intentionally rammed an occupied citizen’s vehicle” on a roadway as he was trying to flee from a residential area.

“Due to the suspect’s assault on the citizen, Redding Police officers re-engaged in a pursuit with the suspect,” DiMatteo explained.

Despite the successful deployment of spike strips by an RPD officer, Dunbar continued fleeing with at least one flattened tire and refused to stop for pursuing officers.

“The pursuit continued through the areas of Oasis Road, Cascade Boulevard, Pine Grove Boulevard and a residential neighborhood,” DiMatteo described; adding that a Shasta County Sheriff’s Sergeant was successful in deploying a second set of spike strips on Oasis Road.

“However, the vehicle continued to flee,” the Sergeant explained.

As the chase continued, “for the safety of the public and those involved,” officers made the decision to ram the stolen pickup as it fled through RFD Fire Station 6’s parking lot.

“After the vehicle was immobilized, the driver attempted to flee on foot,” DiMatteo continued; adding, “Less lethal bean bag rounds were used to prevent his escape and overcome his resistance” and the suspect was ultimately taken into custody at the scene.

A Redding PD patrol vehicle sustained major front-end damage after taking on the much larger pickup truck head-on in the fire station’s driveway. Redding Police Department photo

Dunbar was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment of injuries sustained in the collisions and subsequent use of the beanbag shotgun rounds. Subsequent reports from the scene by Ernie Fuller Fire Information indicate he was immediately taken in for surgery due to his unspecified injuries.

Although Dunbar was expected to be booked into the Shasta County Jail on suspicion of two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, auto theft, felony pursuit, grand theft, resisting arrest and driving under the influence after receiving medical treatment, as of this morning online jail records indicate he had not yet been booked into custody on his multiple charges.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Redding Police Department at (530) 225 4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 21R051160 and can remain anonymous.


Click any image to open full-size gallery.

Ernie Fuller Fire Information photos above, video below.



Contact the writer: [email protected]

Trevor Montgomery, 50, 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.