RED BLUFF — An attempted robbery at Rolling Hills Casino in Corning Thursday led to a chase north on Interstate 5 ending in Red Bluff.
Corning police officers were assisted by Tehama County Sheriff’s deputies, who responded to a robbery at the casino at around 9:45 a.m., when one officer saw the suspect leaving the lot in a tan 2010 GMC pickup, according to Corning Police Chief Jeremiah Fears.
Christopher Zerr Hernandez, 49, of Anderson, was identified as the suspect and arrested on charges of attempted robbery, felony reckless evading and driving under the influence, according to a press released issued shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday by the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office.
Hernandez approached the main cash station at the casino where he told staff he had a gun and demanded they let him into the cash cage, the release said. He fled when casino security responded, without gaining access to the cage.
Despite the threat, no firearms were found in Hernandez’s possession or vehicle and the casino lost no money.
The truck was pursued by two Corning officers until it got to Flores Avenue, when California Highway Patrol officers took over, Fears said. Rolling Hills went on lock down after the incident.
Sheriff’s deputies in Red Bluff laid down spike strips just south of Antelope Boulevard. The strips slowed the truck before the driver drove off the east side of the interstate through a fence and into a field just north of Adobe Road, starting a small grass fire that was quickly extinguished by deputies.
Traffic on Interstate 5 was backed up to at least the Diamond Avenue on-ramp. The northbound Adobe on-ramp was temporarily closed as was the right lane of I-5.
An officer at the scene said the chase reached speeds around 100 mph.
The closure of the on-ramp was lifted about 9:30 a.m. Thursday. and both lanes were open shortly afterwards.
Hernandez was booked into Tehama County Jail with bail set $105,000.
