[UPDATE 5:16 p.m.: Sheriff Saxon Names Suspect] Trinity County Sheriff Issues a Shelter in Place for Lewiston Subdivision

Around 1:35 p.m. on February 28, the Trinity County Sheriff’s Office issued a shelter in place notification for Lewiston Subdivision residents on their Facebook page. According to the post, an active law enforcement situation is unfolding, and the sheriff’s department will notify residents when they have deemed the area safe.

A post on Trinity County Alerts and Notifications indicated that Trinity County Sheriff’s deputies were on First Avenue in Lewiston just before 1 p.m. today. Posters to the site have indicated the deputies are looking for an armed subject, though that is unconfirmed at this time.

We have requested additional information from the Trinity County Sheriff’s Department but have been unsuccessful in our requests for comment. We will update when more information becomes available.

Please remember that information gathered from initial reports is subject to revision as more facts become available.

Update 2:15 p.m.: Nicole Linguini shares that SWAT members have arrived at the scene. In addition to the SWAT members and Trinity County Sheriff deputies, Cal Fire and CHP personnel are also on scene.

Update 3:10 p.m.: According to scanner traffic, one subject is in custody. Medical is being requested. The remaining units have been released.

The photo and video below were from approximately 2:50 p.m. as law enforcement personnel were staging to make entry into a residence in the Lewiston Subdivision.

UPDATE 5:16 p.m.: We spoke to Trinity County Sheriff Tim Saxon and he provided us with an account of the events that unfolded in the Lewiston Subdivision, emphasizing the efficiency and safety with which the situation was handled.

Saxon said that around noon, Trinity County Sheriff’s deputies attempted to serve a search warrant on Derick Allen Bletcher for charges related to child sex crimes.

According to Sheriff Saxon, as the deputies attempted to enter the residence, they heard what appeared to be a gunshot from within the residence. The suspect attempted to flee through the back of the residence but was detered by deputies that were stationed out there.

At this point, Sheriff Saxon said, “They heard another shot.”

The deputies then called for assistance. Shasta County SWAT team was contacted as was the California Highway Patrol and the CHP helicopter–all of which responded to the scene.

Saxon told us that “about 3 p.m….they located the subject hiding in a closet.”

The suspect was taken into custody and booked. “The operation went smoothly,” Saxon told us. “This is what we hope for. None of the deputies got hurt and the subject himself was unhurt.”

Residents were informed later in the day that the area had been deemed safe. The shelter in place advisory was lifted and law enforcement was able to return to their regular duties.

UPDATE: Barricaded Suspect Wanted for Forcible Rape of Child Shot at Deputies, Says TCSO