Officer-Involved Shooting during Struggle with Male Subject

REDDING – On Thursday, April 11, at approximately 2:00 in the morning, an officer in uniform with the Redding Police encountered two bicyclists in the 800 block of Mistletoe Lane. The suspicious officer stopped them to investigate their activities.

The two bicyclists were stopped at 2 am on Mistletoe Lane

During the officer’s investigation SHASCOM – the Shasta Area Safety Communication Agency, or 911 service for Shasta County- notified the officer that the two men, Robert Gaylord Barron and Alexander Thomas Restuchi, had outstanding warrants. Restuchi had been arrested earlier this year for theft, and Barron had past drug and driving charges.

When the officer tried to take the men into custody, the 35-year-old Barron turned violent and assaulted the policeman.  The two struggled, and during the fight the officer fired his weapon, striking Barron in the chest. Despite his wound, Barron continued to brawl with the deputy and then fled on foot. After an abrupt foot pursuit, Barron was apprehended by the officer, who also sustained injuries in the encounter.

Barron received medical assistance and was taken to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his chest. His condition remains critical.  The unnamed subject who was with Barron remains unharmed and is at present being interviewed by investigators.

The officer’s non-life threatening injuries were treated and he was released from the local hospital.

The Redding Police Department has requested the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office take over the case per interagency protocol. This investigation is now in the hands of the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes Unit, assisted by the Redding P.D. and the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office.

Read more:

KCRTV.com:  Update:  Redding Officer-Involved Shooting Sends Suspect to the Hospital

Redding Record Searchlight: Second man in Thursday’s shooting in Redding ID’d