On September 14th, 2016, at 9:20 p.m. officers from the Redding Police Department responded to a report of a robbery and assault that had occurred at Rite Aid, located at 1801 Eureka Way. An employee of Rite Aid, Blake Erickson (23 years of Redding), observed a male juvenile select two glass bottles of alcohol and attempt to leave the business. Erickson confronted the juvenile who swung the bottles at his head, striking him multiple times, and knocking him to the ground. The juvenile then fled the business into a nearby residential neighborhood. Officers searched the area with the assistance of the California Highway Patrol helicopter and were unable to locate the suspect.
On September 14th, 2016 at 10:22 p.m., staff from Open Line Group Home contacted the Redding Police Department regarding a 17 year old group home resident they believed was involved in the robbery. The juvenile had created a disturbance earlier in the day by damaging property, assaulting staff, and then running away. The juvenile returned shortly after the robbery occurred.
Officers arrived and confirmed the juvenile was the same subject on video surveillance at Rite Aid. The juvenile was arrested and booked at Shasta County Juvenile Hall for assault with a deadly weapon, robbery and a probation hold. The 17 year old was placed in Redding by Alameda County Juvenile Probation. His name is being withheld due to his age.
Blake Erickson was medically treated for injuries to his head at Mercy Medical Center.
