Wanted for attempted murder, Burney felon nabbed after 107 mph pursuit tears through Montgomery Creek area
MONTGOMERY CREEK, Calif., — For the second time in as many days, a dangerous high-speed pursuit led to a driver’s arrest in the Intermountain area east of Redding, with today’s apprehension taking down a wanted felon who had a million-dollar warrant for attempted murder. The pursuit, which traveled nearly ten miles and hit speeds in excess of 100 mph, began about three miles east of Big Bend Road on SR-299E and ended in the area of Windy Point and Bakus roads, within the Montgomery Creek Rancheria, according to California Highway Patrol.
Today’s chase followed a Wednesday pursuit that hit speeds in excess of 140 mph as it screamed through the small mountain towns of Burney and Johnson Park, about 20 miles further up the mountain.
The 18-year-old Burney resident involved in that pursuit, who was out of jail on bail after being caught with a stolen vehicle in Lassen County, was arrested after crashing and then fleeing from an Infiniti G35 she had just paid cash for the prior day. Officials found the drugged woman was in possession of methamphetamine and thousands in cash after she was apprehended and she was later booked into jail for felony evading, DUI/drugs, possession of methamphetamine and other charges.
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CHP Officer Chris Ogden, who was the same officer involved in Wednesday’s pursuit, was traveling eastbound on SR-299E near Moose Camp Road around 1:50 p.m. when he saw a white, 1999 Toyota Avalon approaching from the opposite direction.
Thomas McCloud, 42, of Burney, was arrested at the end of a dangerous Montgomery Creek area pursuit that hit speeds in excess of 100 mph. After his apprehension, officials learned he had a million-dollar warrant for attempted murder out of Redding. CHP photos
Ogden’s radar indicated the vehicle was traveling at around 80 mph as it passed his patrol vehicle.
Based on the observed speeding violation, Ogden activated his overhead lights and as soon as was safe made a U-Turn with the intention of conducting a traffic enforcement stop.
When the driver, since identified as Thomas Leon McCloud, 42, of Burney, saw Ogden approaching with lights and siren from behind, he refused to yield and accelerated away, according to Ogden, who initiated a pursuit at that time.
As the pursuit continued down the mountain toward the Montgomery Creek area, McCloud was seen passing slower-moving vehicles against the double yellow lines into oncoming traffic, as well as while using the shoulder to the right of the highway’s fog line. He was also seen making abrupt lane changes, repeatedly slamming on his brakes, and driving without regard for the safety of other citizens traveling along the winding two-lane mountain highway.
SEE RELATED: Burney woman arrested with drugs and cash after 143 mph pursuit ends in crash near Johnson Park
When the pursuit reached Windy Point Road, McCloud made an abrupt left turn, nearly crashing in the process according to witnesses who were nearly struck by the fleeing vehicle, and then fled toward the nearby Montgomery Creek Rancheria. He then turned right onto Bakus Road, heading away from the reservation and back toward the highway.
However, before he could make it back onto the 299, Ogden performed a pursuit intervention maneuver just a few hundred feet shy of the highway, using his front bumper to force the Avalon off the dirt roadway where it crashed over a small berm and into a small ditch.
The Toyota became disabled after becoming hung up between a large bush and two trees, and once his vehicle was no longer operable McCloud immediately gave up and was taken into custody without further incident.
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After arresting McCloud, Ogden learned he was a felon with an active warrant for his arrest for attempted murder out of Redding Police Department.
McCloud was then transported to the Shasta County Jail in Redding where he was booked on his attempted murder warrant as well as new charges of felony evading with wanton disregard for public safety and driving without a valid license.
McCloud has an extensive criminal history within Shasta County, with prior arrests for possession of controlled substances, possession of narcotics and narcotics-related paraphernalia, making criminal threats, domestic violence and spousal abuse, carrying a concealed dirk or dagger, carrying a concealed weapon, brandishing a weapon, resisting or obstructing a peace officer and other charges that include multiple arrests for failure to appear on both misdemeanor as well as felony charges and violation of probation.
No citizens were injured as a result of the pursuit and intoxication was not suspected at the time of McCloud’s arrest.
Contact the writer: [email protected]
Trevor Montgomery, 51, moved in 2017 to the Intermountain area of Shasta County from Riverside County and operates Riverside County News Source (RCNS) and Shasta County News Source (SCNS). Both are stringer organizations, providing breaking news coverage and community interest stories for other mainstream media organizations throughout the two regions they serve.
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.