Man seen waving replica firearm while trying to carjack multiple Redding vehicles arrested
REDDING, Calif., — Authorities say a local man wielding a realistic-looking air pistol was arrested after allegedly attempting to carjack several motorists Friday morning, March 18.
The incident, which left multiple area motorists traumatized and fearing for their safety and forced at least two nearby school campuses to go onto lockdown, happened in the area of Hartnell Avenue and Churn Creek Road, according to officials.
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City of Redding police officers were dispatched to the scene around 9:20 a.m. after receiving multiple 911 calls from citizens reporting that a man with a gun was “attempting to steal several cars at gunpoint, as well as pointing his gun at people in the area,” Redding Police Corporal Wes Townsley later said of the incident and arrest.
While officers were responding to the scene a 911 caller updated that the gun-wielding man had just jumped a fence behind the carwash across from Jiffy Lube, according to official radio traffic at the time.
Kaleb Kissinger was arrested after allegedly waving a realistic-looking air pistol and pointing it at passing motorists while trying to open vehicle doors in Redding Friday morning. Redding PD photos
Responding officers quickly located the subject, later identified as Kaleb Forest Kissinger, 27, of Redding, walking northbound on Blue View Street.
Although the suspected firearm was no longer in his hands, “(Kissinger) was completely uncooperative initially and ignored all of the officer’s commands while continuing to walk north on Blue View Street,” according to Townsley.
Due to the incident occurring near several schools, including Redding Collegiate Academy and Parsons Elementary, officials requested the campuses go onto lockdown to ensure the safety of nearby students and educators.
“Eventually Kissinger stopped walking away and after a short standoff with police, officers were able to de-escalate the situation and take him into custody,” the Corporal continued.
Upon searching his backpack, officers located an air pistol he had been seen waving and pointing at passing motorists.
Once Kissinger was safely in custody, officials lifted the nearby school lockdowns.
Based on their subsequent investigation, officers arrested Kissinger and he was later booked into the Shasta County Jail in Redding on suspicion of multiple counts of attempted carjacking, brandishing a replica firearm, and obstructing or resisting arrest.
Online jail records indicate he remains in custody in lieu of $10,000 bail or bond.
Friday’s incident and response forced at least two nearby school campuses to go on lockdown. The lockdowns were lifted a short time later, around 9:30 a.m. Parsons Elementary lockdown notification (L), Redding Collegiate Academy lockdown notification (R).
Redding resident Amber Lynn, who has known Kissinger since high school, today told SCNS that she has seen his mental health declining for years and said, “This incident is just a reminder that cries for help are real.”
“I truly don’t know what could have prevented him from this escalation over the years and nothing he’s done is ok,” she explained. “But he needed to be taken to a serious mental health facility many years ago and once again, our area has failed with providing adequate mental health resources to those who need them.”
“I don’t know what we could have done as individuals, but this breaks my heart,” she continued. “I’m glad no one was hurt, and that this didn’t end worse, but I wish something had been done for his mental health before jail had to be the answer.”
“He had a whole life ahead of him and he just snapped. He’s been snapping,” she added sadly.
Anyone with further information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Redding Police Department at (530) 225-4200. Callers can refer to incident file number 22R017051 and can remain anonymous.
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.