On Wednesday, August 31, 2011, at 3:50 p.m., the Redding Police Department received a report of gunshots fired at a suspect during an attempted break-in at a residence in the 1800 block of Crestwood Drive, off of N. Bechelli Lane. The resident, Robert Martin, 53 years, described the suspect as a man wearing a blue baseball cap. He said the suspect fled into the wildland on the bluffs along the east side of the Sacramento River. The area has steep terrain and heavy vegetation. Officers arrived and conducted an extensive search for the suspect, including using both the CHP helicopter and a RPD K-9, but could not locate the suspect.
Martin told investigating officers he was on his pool deck when he looked down and saw the suspect attempting to break into a door below him, which leads into the basement level of his home. Martin went into the house and armed himself with a handgun. He went to the basement level of his house. Because he felt threatened, Martin fired several shots through the door at the suspect. Martin then returned to the pool deck and fired several more shots at the suspect, as the suspect fled.
Officers did not have any information about whether the suspect was wounded by the gunfire. Anyone with more information is asked to call the Redding Police Department Investigations Division at 225-4214. At the conclusion of the investigation the case will be referred to the District Attorney’s Office for review.
-from press release
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