Full Notification

On Sunday, July 30th 2017 at around 3:30 A.M., Anderson Police Officer’s attempted to conduct an enforcement stop on two vehicles observed street racing in the area of Pleasant Hills Drive and Rhonda Road. During the attempted stop, a silver, Yamaha brand motorcycle, failed to yield and lead Anderson Police on a high speed pursuit into Cottonwood, California.

Speeds reached well over 100 MPH on I-5 and on westbound Gas Point Road during the pursuit. Due to several safety considerations, Anderson Police terminated the pursuit and began returning to the City of Anderson. While driving back to the city limits, dispatchers received information that a motorcycle collision had occurred near Gas Point Road and West Anderson Drive. Anderson Police responded to the crash and located the Yamaha and the operator, 19 year old, Michael Aaron Chitwood, of Anderson.

The Yamaha was quickly determined to be recently stolen from an address in Cottonwood, California. Michael Chitwood was found to have sustained injury as a result of the traffic collision. During the pursuit proceeding the crash, Chitwood attempted to evade police by dangerously violating a number of vehicle code statutes and attempted to evade and escape with no regard for public safety. Alcohol and or drug impairment may have been a contributing factor in this incident and the California Highway Patrol took over the collision portion of this investigation.

Chitwood was taken by ambulance to a local area hospital. Chitwood, who also has an outstanding arrest warrant for resisting, delaying, or obstructing a peace officer, will face fresh felony charges regarding this incident. The charges will be filed with the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office.