Roads reopened & school lockdown lifted after explosive devices allegedly tossed into Cottonwood home’s yard
COTTONWOOD, Calif., — Authorities say an investigation into a pair of explosives that were reportedly were thrown into the yard of a Cottonwood home in the 3500 block of Rancho Estates Road, north of Gas Point Road, led to the closure of several Cottonwood area streets and the lockdown of a Cottonwood school Monday, March 21.
One of the devices reportedly detonated prior to the arrival of deputies according to the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office, who have since said that a second, undetonated explosive device was discovered at the residence and was later rendered safe during a multi-agency response.
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Shasta County Sheriff’s Office personnel, along with a Redding Police Department Bomb Technician, were dispatched to the home just after 2 p.m. after a homeowner said someone threw two explosive devices into his yard, Shasta County Sheriff’s Sgt. Jose Gonzalez reported yesterday.
The property owner told emergency dispatchers that one of the explosives detonated before deputies arrived, but there did not appear to be any damage from the exploded device, according to Gonzalez.
Several streets were closed, North Cottonwood School was placed on lockdown, and area residents were ordered to shelter in place after a homeowner reported that two explosive devices were tossed into the yard of his home yesterday afternoon. One of the devices reportedly detonated prior to the arrival of officials. Action News Now photo
After confirming the discovered item was an explosive device, officials requested additional resources from allied agencies to render the explosive safe, Office of Emergency Services Lieutenant Rob Sandbloom has since reported.
Due to the proximity of North Cottonwood School, officials ordered the campus go onto lockdown “out of an abundance of caution,” according to Sandbloom, who also said area residents were notified and asked to shelter in place.
Although the lockdown continued beyond the closing of the school day, students were able to safely exit the campus at the end of their classes, with deputies advising parents to pick up students from the west side of the campus furthest from the scene of the continuing investigation.
To ensure the safety of area residents and motorists, portions of Gas Point Road at Park Drive, Francis, and Rancho Estates Road, along with First and Shirley streets were closed during the investigation; however, all the affected roads were reopened after the explosive was rendered safe.
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“No emergency personnel or citizens were injured during the incident and no structures were damaged,” Sandbloom went on to say, adding, “This matter will remain under investigation by Sheriff’s Office personnel.”
The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office later thanked the Redding Police Department, Butte County Sheriff’s Office, California Highway Patrol, Cottonwood Fire, and Shasta County Public Works personnel for their assistance during this incident.
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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.