On June 12, 2018, at approximately 1:00 pm, a witness called to report she was following a stolen 1993 GMC van in the area of Weaver Lumber on Eastside Road in Redding. The driver and passenger stopped the van and fled on foot after they realized they were being followed by the witness.
Officer B. Cowan arrived on scene quickly and was given suspect descriptions. Officer R. Ellis located two people matching the suspect descriptions as they exited the Bonnyview Market. Samuel McDonald (36 years of Redding) and Jennifer D. Cooper (31 years of Redding) were positively identified by witnesses and confessed to stealing the van. McDonald and Cooper found the van with keys in it and took it so they didn’t have to walk into Redding. The van was returned to its owner and McDonald was booked for possession of a stolen vehicle.
On June 14, 2018, at approximately 8:55 a.m., John Senter connected his landscape trailer to his 2015 Chevy Silverado pickup and left the keys in the ignition. He returned outside and found his vehicle being driven away from his home by an unknown suspect. John Senter called 911 immediately.
Officer D. Mack was travelling on Churn Creek Rd. and responded to assist Senter. Officer Mack saw the pickup and trailer travelling northbound on Churn Creek Road. Officer Mack pulled in behind the pickup and contacted Samuel McDonald walking away from the driver’s seat. Jennifer Cooper was in the passenger seat.
Officer Mack and Officer N. Weaver spoke with both suspects. McDonald admitted to stealing the pickup and trailer because he wanted to go to Millville and was tired of walking. McDonald saw the keys in the ignition and decided to take the vehicle. McDonald picked up Cooper a few houses away from the initial theft. Cooper claimed she didn’t know the pickup was stolen. Ultimately, McDonald was arrested for auto theft and booked. The case against Cooper has been submitted to the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office.
