Full Notification

LOCATION: Planet Fitness parking lot, 242 Walnut Street, Redwood City 

DATE/TIME: April 19, 2024, at 6:03 pm 

Media Information: On April 19th at around 6:03 pm, RCPD Officers responded to Enterprise Rent-a-Car on the report of a tow truck that was just stolen by a female, later identified as Monterey resident Laura Kettell (age 35). A short time later, an RCPD Officer located the vehicle parked and unoccupied at Jack in the Box in San Carlos. 

 They attempted a high-risk traffic stop as Kettell re-entered the truck. Kettell proceeded to repeatedly ram both officer’s vehicles causing major damage. One police vehicle was pushed a significant distance through the parking lot and the officer barely escaped severe injury. 

 The tow truck then fled towards Hwy 101, and an RCPD Officer initiated a pursuit when the tow truck failed to yield traveling 80-90 mph southbound on Highway 101. The California Highway Patrol was requested to respond and take over the pursuit, and Menlo Park PD assisted as well. As Menlo Park PD caught up at SR-85 & Hwy 101, the tow truck veered across the roadway colliding with another motorist before continuing to flee. The pursuit was immediately terminated by all RCPD officers, and the other involved motorist was found to be uninjured. 

CHP located the tow truck shortly after Redwood City PD and Menlo Park PD terminated the pursuit on SR-85. As the CHP officer overtook the tow truck, the driver immediately braked and CHP unit collided into it, disabling the patrol vehicle. 

It was determined that there was a GPS tracker on the tow truck. RCPD Officers used this to safely track Kettell’s movements. The GPS location showed the tow truck returning to Redwood City on Farm Hill Blvd from Hwy 280. Kettell ultimately parked the tow truck at 1000 block Silver Hill Rd and proceeded to burglarize a residence with a nanny and children inside the home at the time. 

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office was requested to the scene to deploy spike strips, as well as a drone from the Redwood City Fire Department, but Kettle again fled in the tow truck. SMCSO Deputies then pursued the tow truck onto Woodside Rd. and into downtown Redwood City. Deputies terminated the pursuit a short time later due to the GPS tracker updating locations.    

The GPS updated to the area near Sports Basement and stopped. RCPD dispatch received 911 calls from Planet Fitness prior to their arrival. Kettell left the tow truck parked in the parking lot, entered Planet Fitness and assaulted and injured her boyfriend who was an employee at the gym.  

Officers converged on the tow truck at this time, attempted to detain an uncooperative Kettell. Given the unbelievably high risk Kettell posed to the public as well as law enforcement, Officers on scene needed to use all resources at their disposal to keep her from getting back into the tow truck. An RCPD Officer deployed his canine partner who bit Kettell on her hip. Kettell stopped resisting at this time and was taken into custody. 

Kettell was determined to be out on bail from a domestic violence case last week and was also arrested for another residential burglary four days ago that occurred in Redwood City. Kettell was treated at the San Mateo County Hospital for injuries to her hip and leg. She was medically cleared and then booked into the Maguire Correctional Facility for a variety of charges including felony charges for assault with a deadly weapon, failure to yield, vehicle theft, residential burglary, domestic violence, resisting arrest and for committing a felony while out on bail. 

One RCPD Officer was injured when Kettell struck his vehicle in the San Carlos Jack in the Box parking lot. He was treated at a local hospital and released. 

We appreciate the assistance of the California Highway Patrol, San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office and the Menlo Park Police Department in getting this dangerous person off the streets. 

 If anyone has any information regarding this matter, please contact the Redwood City Police Department at 650-780-7100. 

Nick Perna 
Lieutenant 
Investigations Commander 
Redwood City Police Department 
650-780-7672 
[email protected] 

This press release is approved for distribution by the Investigations Division Commander, Lieutenant Nick Perna