Burglary suspects caught by APD K-9

A house on Brigman Street was burglarized early Tuesday at 12:41 a.m. By chance, a PG&E worker spotted the stolen property near Beacon Street. With the stolen items reported, Anderson police confiscated the items for safe keeping, which included a computer, rifle and ammunition. The same person who reported the suspicious property contacted the APD again at 12:47 p.m., reporting two suspicious people in the area where the stolen goods were removed, APD Captain Robert Kirvin said.

The suspects, Jonathan Hillhawkins, 22, of Cottonwood, and Krystal Kerby, 19, were described as driving a blue Mercury. APD’s first contact with the suspects came when Officer Nevens was westbound on Beacon Street when the blue Mercury nearly collided with him.

Jonathan Hillhawkins, 22, of Cottonwood, led Nevens and other Anderson police officers on a high-speed chase on Diamond Street, reaching speeds of 60 mph in the residential area.

Hillhawkins crashed the Mercury he was driving on an embankment between West Center Street and Hwy. 273. Hillhawkins abandoned the vehicle with Kerby and fled across Hwy. 273. CHP helicopter and APD K-9 unit continued in pursuit to Lindsey Lane, where APD’s K-9 Nikita detained the suspect. Hillhawkins declined medical attention from Anderson Fire Protection District, Kirvin said.

Further investigation yielded about two grams of crystal methamphetamine in the Mercury. Hillhawkins was booked into Shasta County Jail for felony evading, burglary and possession of a controlled substance.

Kerby was not arrested on scene, as her connection with the burglary was not established. APD is now seeking to apprehend Kerby on burglary charges based on “probable cause,” Kirvin said.