Ethan Hanson,David Benda,Jessica Skropanic,Matt Brannon,Michele Chandler|Redding Record Searchlight
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Investigation ongoing after gunshots heard in Round Mountain, man found dead
Tuesday, Sept. 29
Deputies from the Burney Patrol Stationwere in a remote area of Shasta County, near Highway 299 East and Bakus Road, in Round Mountain on Monday when they heard gunshots at 10:02 p.m.
The deputies heard several gunshots from the area of Windy Point Road, about a quarter mile east of their location.
Deputies responded to findan unidentified Hispanic man deadnear the roadway, with apparent gunshot wounds to the upper body.
During an investigation by detectives from the Shasta County Major Crimes Unit,witnesses in the area reported overhearinga verbal altercation prior to the gunshots.
The case is continuing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the major crimes unit at 530-245-6135 or by email at MCU@co.shasta.ca.us.
Bella Vista man arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting 2 minors under age of 14
Saturday, Sept. 26
Authorities arrested a Bella Vista man Friday on allegations that he sexually assaulted two minors under the age of 14.
Gabriel Bartholomew Peterson, 43, was arrested after a traffic stop in Redding and is being held in jail without bail, a Shasta County Sheriff’s Office news release said.
On Tuesday, the Shasta County Major Crimes Unit was told of a possible sexual assault between 2016 and 2018. The victim was subsequently removed from the home by other family members after the allegations came to light, investigators said.
Peterson was identified as the suspect, investigators said, adding that he left a “vague suicide note” at his home and was believed to be in southern Oregon and possibly had a handgun.
Sheriff’s detectives then spoke to several witnesses and were able to locate a second victim, investigators said.
Both victims identified Peterson as the person who sexually assaulted them, investigators said.
Detectives learned that Peterson was back in Shasta County and believed to be no longer suicidal based on what family members told investigators.
Peterson was arrested Friday and was booked into the Shasta County Jail on suspicion of two counts of lewdandlasciviousactswith a minor under the age of 14.
This investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending, authorities said.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Shasta County Major Crimes Unit at 245-6135 or by email at MCU@co.shasta.ca.us.
U.S. Attorney accuses woman of hiring hitman to kill ex-husband in Chico
Friday, Sept. 25
A Nevada woman has been indicted on allegations of a murder-for-hire plot on her ex-husband while he was traveling to Chico, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Thursday.
The U.S. Attorney's Office accuses Kristy Lynn Felkins, 36, of Fallon, of sending 12 bitcoins, valued at approximately $5,000, to a dark web hitman website to have her ex-husband killed and continuingto communicate with the administrator of the site from February to May 2016 to arrange for the murder, according to court documents.
“When her ex-husband was traveling to Chico, Felkins gave the administrator the specific location of her ex-husband in an attempt to have him murdered,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said in a news release.
Before she movedto Fallon in December 2019, Felkins livedin Orland from about February 2018 to December 2019, the office said.
The website was a scam and is no longer in operation, and Felkins was not refunded the bitcoins she sent to the site, investigators said.
News: Shasta County reports new single-day high of COVID-19 cases: 27 more people test positive
Felkins faces a maximum of 10 years in prison if she is convicted, U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott said.
The Northern California Illicit Digital Economy Task Force investigated the case.
RPD: Man who broke windows was trying to get a relative to pay for drug treatment
Friday, Sept. 18
A Redding man arrested Friday and accused of breaking storefront windowstoldpolice he was trying tobring awareness to a family member in hopes they would pay for him to attend drug treatment.
Brian Scott McCain, 40,could face charges for at least four counts of vandalism after police said he "senselessly broke windows at five locations causing thousands of dollars in damages." They're still investigating the fifth alleged offense, according to a Friday night news release from the Redding Police Department.
The incident began around 2:55 p.m. when citizens reported seeing someone walking through downtown Redding breaking windows and throwing rocks at buildings. Officers found McCain while he was walking near downtown on Cypress Avenue.
According to police, McCain indicated he was trying to bring awareness to a family member in hopes the family member would pay fees for McCain to attend a rehabilitation program for an addiction to methamphetamine.
McCain was booked into jail in Shasta County. RPD is asking people who believe they were victimized by McCain to call 530-225-4200.
Man accused of vandalism spree in Shasta Lake
Friday, Sept. 18
Authorities say aman went on a vandalism spree that included breaking out the windows of businesses and a church and damaging a city of Shasta Lake vehicle.
Shasta County sheriff’s deputies arrived at the Dollar Tree parking lot on Shasta Dam Boulevard in Shasta Lake around 6:45 a.m. Thursday after a witness saw a man breaking out windows at the Lions Club, investigators said.
Another witness saw the same man allegedly bust the windows of a church on Shasta Dam Boulevard.
Deputies contacted Nathan Ray Osterday, 20, of Redding, outside Dollar Tree and saw a metal stake on the ground near him. Osterday admitted to breaking out windows and was detained, a Shasta County Sheriff’s Office news release said.
But when Osterday was placed in the backseat of the patrol vehicle, he spit in one of the deputy’s face, investigators said.
A followup investigation revealed that the windows of five business buildings had been broken and Osterday also was identified as the suspect who damaged a city of Shasta Lake vehicle, the news re.
Osterday was arrested on suspicion of battery on an officer, resisting a peace officer and vandalism, all felonies.
Redding man accused of shootingwoman
Tuesday, Sept. 15
A 43-year-old Redding man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide after Shasta County sheriff’s investigators said he shot a woman on Monday morning at a home on Placer Street.
The woman, who was not identified, was shot once and is at a hospital being treated for her injuries, investigators said.
Josh Carlson was booked into Shasta County Jail after being interviewed by authorities, a Shasta County Sheriff’s Office news release said.
Deputies responded to the 9400 block of Placer Street around 7:40 a.m. Monday after receiving multiple emergency dispatch calls about the sound of gunshots and people arguing.
Carlson also called emergency dispatchers to say he had shot someone on his property, investigators said.
Carlson was waiting outside the house when deputies arrived.
Investigators said Carlson was cooperative. They later learned that Carlson had been in a dating relationship with the victim and until recently they were living together, according to the sheriff's office.
“Based on the evidence and Carlson’s statement, he was standing inside his residence when he fired a handgun once through a window striking the victim in the upper torso while she was on the back porch,” the sheriff’s office news release said.
Investigators said they found text messages between Carlson and the victim that revealed “he threatened to shoot the victim if she returned to the residence,” the news release said.
Sheriff: Whitmore man shot dead in domestic dispute
Saturday, Sept. 12
A Whitmore man was found dead with a gunshot wound Friday night after what sheriff's deputies described as a domestic dispute that became violent.
Around 7:20 p.m., deputies responded to a report of a gunshot victim on the 10500 block of Tessa Lane in Whitmore. Theyfound Patrick James Sims, 46, dead when they arrived.
According to the sheriff's office, Sims and his wife, whose name was not released by authorities, had been in a "physically abusive" relationship for over 20 years. On Friday, Sims and his wifegotintoa "verbal dispute that turned physically violent."
During the confrontation, a 16-year-old, who was not identified by deputies other than the fact that he is related to both Sims and his wife, retrieved a gun from inside the home and "came to the aid" of the woman, according to deputies.
"During that intervention, Sims was shot and killed," read the news release.
The news release did not specify whether the 16-year-old or someone else shot Sims.
Deputies said Sims has a violent history stemming back to 1996, including a conviction for stabbing a police officer in Modoc County. He had other convictionson his record, including fromassault and domestic violence cases.
No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information regarding the case, they are encouraged to call the sheriff's major crimes unit at 530-245-6135.
Trinity County man arrested, accused of illegally burning garbage during suspension
Friday, Sept. 11
Trinity County authorities arrested a Hayforkman this week,accusing himofburning garbage illegally during a burn suspension and brandishing a weapon at firefighters.
Officials identified the man as 59-year-old Darryll Russell.
The incident began Thursday morning when the Hayfork Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection responded to a report of a vegetation firenear the intersection of Morgan Hill Road and Highway 3, according to a Cal Fire news release.
On arrival, firefighters saw two fires burning on the 800 block of Morgan Hill Road.They found Russell nearby, and when they tried to extinguish the fires, Russell "threatened them by cursing, acting in a threatening manner and brandishing a knife," which delayedputting out the fires, according to Cal Fire.
About 15 minutes later, Trinity County sheriff's deputies came and detained Russell. He was determined to have an outstanding warrant and was arrested, according to Cal Fire.
Deputies took Russell to the Trinity County Jail. He could face potential charges of brandishing a weapon, illegally burning during a suspension, two illegal garbage burns and delaying firefighters from extinguishing a fire, according to Cal Fire.
"Residents are reminded that outdoor residential burning within the State Responsibility Area of Shasta and Eastern Trinity Counties is still prohibited," read a Cal Fire news release.
Redding man arrested on suspicion of drug possession with handguns
Friday, Sept. 11
A 33-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of possessing drugs together withweapons Thursday night after Redding police stopped the vehicle he was driving.
Redding Police Officer Tim Jaegel stopped thesilver Nissan Xterra at 10:39p.m.after the driverfailedto stop at a stop sign and was speeding, according to a police report issued Friday.
Jordan Webb of Redding informed police he had a firearm in the car during traffic stop, police said.
Officers found a loaded Glock handgun and an unloaded Beretta handgun in the vehicle. They also foundmethamphetamine, heroin, a methamphetamine smoking pipe and multiple hypodermic needles inside the vehicle.
Webb is a valid concealed weapon permit holder, butcarrying handguns in conjunction with narcotics is illegal.
He was arrested on suspicion of drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony possession of narcotics while possessing a loaded firearm.
Webb wasbooked into the Shasta County Jail.
A passenger in the car with Webbwas a convicted felon, currently on probation, police said.The passenger is not named because he was later released without charges.
Fresno man leads RPD on foot chase
Friday, Sept. 11
A Fresno man wanted for possiblefelony weapon violations in Clovis was arrested on Thursday by Redding Police officers during a traffic stop, according to an RPD report.
According to police, officerswere actively searching forTyrone Williams, 30, whenthey conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 1900 block of 10thStreet in Redding,the report said.Williamsinitially provided them false identifying information. He then fled on foot, leading officers on a chase for several blocksbefore policeapprehended him.
Police arrested Williams on suspicion of felony weapons violations — the outstanding felony warrant — and on new charges of obstructing a police officer andfalsely identifying himself to police.
Williamswas booked into the Shasta County Jail.
Williams has previousconvictions forfelony crimes in California includingassault with a firearm on a person, felony evading, possession of a firearm by a felon and felony obstructing or resisting an executive officer.He has served time in state prison.
Happy Camp man arrested after driving dispute during Slater Fire evacuations
Thursday, Sept. 10
A 36-year-old Happy Camp man was arrested Tuesday after the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office accused him ofshootingsomeone during the Slater Fire evacuations.
Investigators said the incident occurred on Lower Airport Road after an argument between him and a maleoverreckless driving.
Authorities did not provide an age or the name for the victim, who received what they described as a minor injury in his arm as a result of the shooting.
Deputies arrested Jam Ryan Tivis and booked him into Siskiyou County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder andfelon in possession of a firearmandammunition.
During the arrest, deputies seized a handgun, ammunition and a holster, the sheriff's office said.
Anyone with more information about the incident is asked to call the dispatch center at 530-841-2900.
RPD accuses man ofdragging girlfriend
Tuesday, Sept. 8
A 24-year-old Redding man was arrested Tuesday afternoon on suspicion of domestic violence and kidnapping after police said he dragged his girlfriend into a wooded area off Jaxon Way.
Officers arrived and arrested Seth Anthony Fontaine after Todd Pitner, 39, tackled Fontaine and separated him from the kidnap victim, police said.
Police said Fontaine’s girlfriend and her friend came to Jaxon Way around 3 p.m. to purchase a vehicle. While they were waiting, Fontaine arrived and ordered his girlfriend to leave with him. She refused and Fontaine grabbed her in a headlock, and brandished a tire iron at the friend while dragging his girlfriend into a nearby wooded area, investigators said.
Fontaine dragged his girlfriend about 150 yards from the house on Jaxon Way and also threatened her life, investigators said.
About that time, Pitner, the boyfriend of the friend, arrived and learned of the alleged assault.
With the help of his girlfriend, Pitner located Fontaine and his girlfriend andtackled him.
Police said Fontaine was on post-release community supervision and had been sentenced to prison for a vehicle pursuit.
Redding home raided for fifth time in two years for alleged drug sales
Friday, Sept. 4
An east Reddinghome onthe 1900 block of Cameo Court that has been thesource of neighborhood complaints over suspected drug sales got one more visit from police on Thursday.
Police making their fifth trip over drug-related investigations served a search warrant and arrested Ashley Peterson, 30, after officers founda half ounce of methamphetamine, packaging material and drug paraphernalia, according to a statement released Thursday evening.
Related: With neighbors' help, Redding police crack down on suspected drug houses
Peterson was booked into Shasta County Jail.
The drug-related arrest was Peterson's secondsince Aug. 13, police said. At that time, officers found 3 ounces of meth, scales and packaging material.
The investigation was carried out by the force's Neighborhood Police Unit.
