Community
Redding Police Cite Overdoses, Arrests and Safety Concerns Linked to New Life Discovery Project
Redding police say recent incidents involving New Life Discovery Project residents, applicants and affiliated individuals have required significant public safety resources.
REDDING, Calif. The Redding Police Department says overdose investigations, narcotics arrests, violent encounters and a child welfare investigation involving a newborn are among recent incidents involving New Life Discovery Project residents, applicants and affiliated individuals.
In a public statement titled “Public Safety Impacts Associated with New Life Discovery Project Locations,” the department outlined law enforcement contacts it said were documented over the past two months. Police said the organization, also known as NLDP, primarily uses motels in downtown Redding and along North Market Street to house program participants.
The department said many of the incidents required multiple officers, supervisors, specialized units, medical personnel and jail staff. Those responses, police said, commit resources that are then unavailable for other public safety needs throughout Redding.
Overdoses and encounters with officers
Police cited overdose investigations that included a fatal overdose and multiple responses related to overdoses. The statement listed cases RPD26-008927 and RPD26-009332 in that category.
The department also described violent encounters involving threats against officers, resisting arrest and incidents in which officers used force. Police said those encounters required significant law enforcement resources, citing cases RPD26-009040, RPD26-009080 and RPD26-009717.
The statement did not provide detailed narratives or court outcomes for those cases.
Narcotics arrests and enforcement activity
Redding police reported numerous narcotics arrests involving methamphetamine, fentanyl and drug paraphernalia. The department identified cases RPD26-009631, RPD26-010539, RPD26-010575, RPD26-010613 and RPD26-010827.
Police also cited warrant arrests and enforcement actions involving parolees, probationers and individuals from outside Shasta County. Those were listed under cases RPD26-009717, RPD26-009770 and RPD26-010799.
The department separately described ongoing probation compliance checks and enforcement at multiple locations affiliated with NLDP throughout Redding. It listed cases RPD26-009382, RPD26-009384, RPD26-010539, RPD26-010575 and RPD26-010613.
Several case numbers appear in more than one category in the statement, so the categories should not be added together as a count of separate incidents.
Newborn taken into protective custody
The statement also described a child welfare investigation involving a newborn who police said tested positive for fentanyl and was taken into protective custody.
The department identified that investigation as case RPD26-010152. Its summary did not explain the circumstances of the exposure or identify those involved.
Property crime investigations
Police said other contacts involved stolen property recovery, vandalism and theft. The department cited cases RPD26-006954, RPD26-010836 and RPD26-010850 in its property crime category.
The statement did not list specific motel addresses or explain each person's connection to NLDP in the individual cases.
What the statement establishes
The department described the contacts as involving residents, applicants and affiliated individuals. Those descriptions do not establish that everyone involved was enrolled in the program or that NLDP caused the incidents.
The statement did not provide the total number of people served by NLDP, a comparison with other housing locations or a citywide comparison for similar calls. It also did not include a response from the organization.
Arrests and investigations are not findings of guilt.
Redding police said it would continue sharing information about significant incidents and public safety trends associated with NLDP locations as part of its commitment to transparency and informed public discussion.