REDDING, Calif. — Police have identified the suspect still at large after jumping into the Sacramento River during a police chase in Redding early Sunday morning.
The chase started early Sunday, Feb. 8, when a driver, later identified as Michael Smith, 38, drove away from a traffic stop for false license plates in south Redding.
With three others in the car, including two women who reportedly asked to be let out multiple times, police said Smith drove near the Turtle Bay Arboretum and onto the Sacramento River Trail, continuing west through Caldwell Park, before stopping near the boat ramp. That’s where Smith and a male passenger, identified as Alex Abrams, of Redding, tried to escape by jumping into the Sacramento River. The two female passengers, who remained in the backseat of the vehicle, were detained, interviewed and eventually released.
Smith swam back to shore but refused to get out for around 20 minutes before he was helped out by the Redding Fire Department’s Rescue Team, police said. After being medically cleared, he was booked at Shasta County Jail.
Mugshot of 38-year-old Michael Smith of Redding. (Courtesy:{ }Shasta County Sheriff’s Office)
Abrams, however, has not been found. “The second passenger was reported to have jumped in and was refusing to swim to the shore,” RPD Lieutenant Jon Sheldon said. “Officers last saw him at the fish ladder, at which point they lost sight of him.”
Sheldon told the Northstate’s News that officers continued to search for Abrams Sunday evening and on Monday, but didn’t find anything. “Because the river is moving and the environment’s constantly changing, there’s really only so much that we can do without any more pieces of evidence or hints to look in other spots,” Sheldon added.
For now, Abrams has been listed as a missing person. The RPD said Abrams has charges associated with this incident and officers have filed a report and sent it to the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office for review. They said warrants will be issued for Abram’s arrest, regardless of whether he’s found.
Anyone with any information related to this incident should contact the Redding Police Department. Their number is (530) 225-4200.
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