Photo: Drug evidence collected | Redding PD
Suspect Aikeem Bernstine | Redding PD
“Since March 2023, Redding Police Detectives have been investigating multiple commercial marijuana collective burglaries. It has been determined that the burglaries occurring within the City of Redding are similar to other marijuana burglaries occurring throughout the State. Detectives have been working continuously with allied agencies to investigate, identify and apprehend the responsible parties, who appear to be part of an organized crime ring.
On May 16, 2023, at around 4:23 A.M., Redding Police Officers responded to the report of a marijuana cultivation commercial burglary occurring within the 4000 block of Mountain Lakes Blvd. As officers converged on the area, an officer located three vehicles known to be involved in the burglary fleeing from the scene. The officer attempted to stop the cars; however, they failed to yield, and a vehicle pursuit ensued. Officers pursued the vehicles through the City of Redding and onto southbound Interstate 5 (I-5). Once on I-5, officers with the Redding Police Department summoned the assistance of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). CHP ultimately assumed the pursuit and continued to pursue the vehicles as they fled through multiple counties south of Shasta.
Through coordinated efforts of the Willows and Colusa County CHP Office Officers, a spike strip was deployed south of Williams and successfully disabled one the fleeing vehicles. Unfortunately, the other two were able to evade capture. The driver of the disabled fleeing vehicle, who was later identified as Aikeem Bernstine, 27 years of Berkley, fled on foot from the car; however, he was ultimately located and apprehended without further incident.
Redding Police Detectives traveled to Colusa County and served both a search warrant and an arrest warrant for Mr. Bernstine. The investigation revealed Bernstine and his outstanding co-conspirators had stolen over $300,000.00 in marijuana from the marijuana collective on Mountain Lakes Blvd. Over 100 pounds of marijuana was recovered from Mr. Bernstine’s vehicle, along with the tools used to commit the burglary. It was also determined that the car Mr. Bernstine had been driving was previously reported as stolen. Mr. Bernstine was booked into the Colusa County Jail for charges related to willful evasion in a motor vehicle, resisting, delaying, or obstructing arrest, possession of stolen property, commercial burglary. A bail enhancement was granted by a Colusa County Judge. Mr. Bernstine is held in the Colusa County Jail on $600,000.00 bail.
The Redding Police Department would like to thank our partners at the California Highway Patrol, specifically the Willows and Colusa County Office officers, for their unwavering commitment to assisting allied agencies with holding those who terrorize our communities accountable. Due to this being an ongoing investigation, no further details will be released at this time; however, we encourage anyone with information regarding this investigation to contact the Redding Police Department at 530-225-4200.”
