October “intentional and malicious” hit and run at Sundial Bridge leads to Weaverville man’s arrest in Oregon
REDDING, Calif., — Authorities say a months-long investigation into a violent altercation turned hit and run in the parking lot of the Sundial Bridge that left two 18-year-old local men hospitalized last October has resulted in the arrest of the man who officials say “intentionally and maliciously” drove his vehicle into them.
One of the two victims suffered major head trauma after being struck and had to undergo emergency brain surgery to save his life, while the other victim also underwent surgery for his own serious injuries after the parking lot altercation, which officials last year said, “… appeared to be an intentional act, an assault with a deadly weapon, and not a hit-and-run traffic collision.”
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As reported by SCNS at the time, City of Redding police officers began investigating the incident around 11:20 p.m. on Friday evening, Oct. 15, after responding to reports of a hit and run with two victims seriously injured and down in the parking lot. The victims were later identified as Kaden Fritz and Kaden Metheny.
911 callers reported the driver and passenger who struck the two men, since identified as Lawrence Williams, 40, and Sarah Stimson, 36, both of Weaverville, had already fled the scene in a blue minivan.
Although witness accounts from the scene varied as to what exactly led to the two victims being run down, officials have said the incident began as a verbal confrontation between two groups of people who were visiting the iconic bridge and riverfront park.
“Intentionally and maliciously” struck by a van being driven by now-arrested felon Lawrence Williams, Kaden Methany suffered major head injuries and underwent emergency brain surgery to relieve swelling that threatened his life. The second victim also underwent surgery after the attack. Jed Metheny photo
Later, when that verbal confrontation spilled out into the parking lot and turned physical, things quickly escalated and spiraled out of control after Williams and Stinson got into their vehicle and began to drive away from the scene, according to Redding Police Sergeant Jon Sheldon.
“As Williams was leaving the area, he attempted to strike Metheny and Fritz and several others with his vehicle,” Sheldon explained.
Witnesses have said that although the group was able to jump out of the way of the oncoming van, Williams looped around for a second attempt at hitting the group, at which time he drove over a curb at high speed, striking and seriously injuring the two victims.
Early on in their investigation, officers and detectives were able to track down Stimson, who was a passenger in Williams’ vehicle at the time of the hit and run attack.
After being interviewed, she was released without charges pending further investigation. However, despite searching for Williams and even speaking with him on the phone, he could not be located at the time.
As their investigation continued last December, detectives gathered enough details and information about the attack to seek and obtain an arrest warrant for Williams and continued searching for the wanted felon.
Located and arrested in Oregon, Williams was extradited back to Shasta County yesterday. Redding PD photo
Then, on Jan. 7, local officials received notification that Williams had been located in Oregon during an unrelated investigation, where he was arrested based on his felony Shasta County warrant. He was later booked into the Douglas County Jail in Oregon on charges related to that warrant.
On Feb. 2, Williams was extradited back to Shasta County, where he was booked into the Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of two counts of assault with a deadly weapon.
Online jail records indicate he remains in custody in lieu of $150,000 bail or bond.
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.
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