Law Enforcement Pursuit and Arrest Following Red Bluff Shooting Incident
“On 06/15/2024, Deputies with the Tehama County Sheriff’s office, Officers with Red Bluff Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and Cal Fire Police responded to northern Red Bluff regarding a reported shooting. While checking the area, law enforcement located shell casings in the street near a residence which had bullet impacts in the front side of the home.
A thorough investigation was conducted, and concluded with the understanding that an unknown suspect had fired a 9mm handgun at the home. A lead on who the suspect may have been was then promptly followed up on by Deputies. While investigating the suspected lead, a second shots fired call was reported from the initial location off of Adobe road. The reporting party noted that the vehicle and occupants were the same as the initial shooting.
Red Bluff California Highway Patrol Officers were on scene shortly after the call, and relayed a partial license plate and direction of travel for the vehicle.
Deputies attempted to stop the vehicle, however it failed to yield to the emergency lights and sirens of Deputies’ patrol vehicles. The vehicle lead Deputies on a high speed pursuit through a small neighborhood in Red Bluff. The pursuit concluded with both suspects fleeing from law enforcement on foot.
A Sheriff’s K9 Deputy was one of the lead pursuit units. [Video]
The suspects continued to flee into a local restaurant venue, which was hosting a heavily populated outdoor corn hole tournament, which included many children.
The K-9 handler recognized the immediate threat to the public, and released K-9 Silas to apprehend the suspects. Minor injuries were incurred on both suspects from the K9 apprehensions. No other injuries to any other individuals, or Deputies/Officers were reported.
Both suspects (identified as Ben Miester and Eric Mendiola, pictured in the comment section) were taken into custody, and booked into the Tehama County Jail on charges including child endangerment, shooting into an occupied dwelling, felon in possession of a firearm, resisting a police K9, battery upon a Peace Officer, and other charges. The Tehama County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank the Red Bluff Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and CalFire Police for their assistance in this investigation. Additionally, we would like to thank the citizens present at the venue, who shall remain nameless for their privacy, who assisted in the apprehension of these suspects. You can catch a clip of the dash cam footage of the pursuit below!
Side note: Next time, we’d like to compete in that corn hole tournament, so send us an invite! We will also bring Silas to visit with all of his new fans! ”
