Full Notification

Car Thief Arrested by Anderson P.D.

On Saturday, May 14th 2016, at about 2320 hours, Anderson Police observed a stolen vehicle driving eastbound on Ox Yoke Road in Anderson. The stolen vehicle had earlier been reported to the Redding Police Department and Anderson Police recognized the vehicle almost immediately from a “Be on the lookout for” broadcast that was issued to allied agencies earlier in the shift.

The vehicle was an 80’s model American made CJ7 and it was being operated by 22 year old, Palo Cedro resident, Aaron William MERRILL. MERRILL was arrested in the stolen CJ7 during a felony high risk traffic stop that was conducted by Anderson Police on southbound I-5 just north of the Main Street off ramp to Cottonwood, California. MERRILL was taken into custody without incident.

MERRILL was determined to be on active parole with the California Department of Corrections for an original conviction of kidnapping. There was an active arrest warrant for a parole violation at the time APD arrested MERRILL. MERRILL was booked into the Shasta County Jail on his existing arrest warrant and for fresh felony charges including 496d(a) of the California Penal Code – Possession of a Stolen Motor Vehicle. The arrest will be filed with the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office.

The CJ7 had been spray painted and the ignition was found to be destroyed. However, no additional damage was immediately discovered and it was returned to the owner’s family.