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Police report: arrest in child-exploitation investigation; chief warns public about entering emergency scenes
Summary
Mount Shasta Police reported an arrest in an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) investigation and warned residents not to enter or impede active emergency scenes; the arrested individual, identified as Colin Nelson, was booked in Siskiyou County Jail on child‑exploitation charges, according to the chief.
Mount Shasta’s police chief reported two public-safety items at the council meeting.
First, the department, working with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s high‑tech/ICAC unit, served a warrant based on an IP address and arrested Colin Nelson in the Mount Shasta area. The chief said investigators found child‑exploitation material on a phone; Nelson was booked into the Siskiyou County Jail on possession charges, including a charge listed as possession by a person previously convicted of serious offenses. The chief said that during interviews Nelson allegedly admitted to historical sexual‑assault incidents occurring approximately 30–45 years ago in Southern California; investigators are working with partners to identify any possible victims and asked anyone with information to contact the Mount Shasta Police Department. The chief said there are no currently identified local victims from Mount Shasta at this time.
Second, the chief reminded the public that entering or impeding emergency‑response scenes is a misdemeanor under California law, punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine (as discussed at the meeting). The chief urged residents and visitors to follow directions of officers and firefighters, avoid arguing at scenes, and not to enter closed areas to retrieve pets or belongings because doing so can endanger responders and delay emergency operations.
Why it matters: the arrest is an ongoing criminal investigation involving multiple jurisdictions; public cooperation in respecting scene closures protects responders and reduces response delays.
The chief’s full comments urged patience and compliance with emergency responders’ directions and provided the name of the arrested person and the department’s request for anyone with information to contact police.
