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ByAndreByik abyik@redbluffdailynews.com @andrebyik on Twitter RED BLUFF Nearly 24years ago, Teri Banks of Red Bluff was shot in the shoulder at a Sacramento electronics store, where gunmen had taken more than 40 hostages. Banks, who was 27 at the time and living in Elk Grove, was shopping for a boom box at the Good Guys store as four gunmen stormed in and started shooting out security cam- eras. What followed was an hours-long drama on April 4, 1991, when Banks and her then-6- year-old daugh- ter, Heather, were taken hostage along with other customers and store employees. On Saturday, the television se- ries "In an Instant" is scheduled to air an episode about that hostage crisis that left two store employ- ees, a customer and three of the four gunmen dead. The episode, "Bad Guys at the Good Guys," is scheduled to run at 9 p.m. on ABC. Banks, now 51, said she hasn't been involved in the show's pro- duction, and first learned about the episode when she saw a com- mercial for it last weekend. Banks, who was born in Red Bluff, said she's been generally tight-lipped about the deadly inci- dent since moving back here about a year after she was taken hostage. On what was a Thursday af- ternoon, Banks said she wasn't in the Good Guys store very long before four gunmen — identified in news reports as Cuong Tran, 16, Pham Khac Nguyen, 19, Long Khac Nguyen, 17, and Loi Khac Nguyen, 21 — stormed the store and began shooting at security cameras. Banks said she initially suffered a cut to her neck from the result- ing flying plastic. "It was like, what in the world is going on. What's happening," she said. Banks recounted that at some point her daughter needed to use the restroom, and the two were escorted to a break room area with a gun aimed at their backs. "That was nerve-wracking." RED BLUFF Localwoman recounts hostage crisis ahead of show ABCseriesgoesback to 1991 shootout in Sacramento store RED BLUFF A pair of Red Bluff businesses will be hold- ing fundraisers Saturday for the Tehama County Sheriff's K9 program. M & M Ranch House res- taurant, 645 Antelope Blvd., will donate a portion of its food receipts from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. toward the program. Dutch Bros. Coffee, in the parking lot in front of the restaurant, will also donate a dollar for every cup of cof- fee sold during the same time. T-shirts will be sold and ex- tra donations accepted at the event. K9s Booker and Streiter will be doing demonstrations throughout the event. The fundraiser assists in the financial cost of keeping the K9s on the street, accord- ing to a release from the Sher- iff's Office. All of the money raised from the event will be put into the K9 Against Crime fund. The fund supports veteri- nary bills, training, food, toys, equipment and other monthly maintenance. TEHAMA COUNTY SHERIFF K-9 BENEFIT PLANNED FOR THIS SATURDAY COURTESYPHOTO Tehama County Sheriff's Deputy Ryan Frank is pictured with his K-9partner, Booker. By Rich Greene rgreene@redbluffdailynews.com @richgreenenews on Twitter RED BLUFF A lawsuit for dam- ages in excess of $25,000 has been filed against the city of Red Bluff by a woman who was hit in the head by a falling tree branch at the Farmers Market in 2013. Betty Stohler was 77 in August 2013 when a tree branch fell at the Wednesday Farmers Market on a booth set up by St. Peter's Epis- copal Church in front of the his- toric Tehama County Courthouse. Stohler was struck in the head and rendered unconscious. She was taken to St. Elizabeth Community Hospital for treat- ment and late released. A 76-year-old woman was also struck on her right forearm. Stohler filed a damages claim with the city Feb. 18, 2014 that was rejected two months later. She is being represented by Reiner & Slaughter of Redding. On Oct. 1, 2014 she filed a com- plaint in Tehama County Supe- rior Court. The city of Red Bluff filed its answer to the complaint March 20. The city is being represented by Randall Harr of McArthur. Stohler's complaint says the city was liable for the premises of 633 Washington St., was gener- ally negligent of the tree's condi- tion and failed to warn residents of its risks. Stohler's complaint alleges the injury she sustained may result in some permanent disability. She is seeking general dam- ages, medical expenses, damages for loss of income and earnings, interest, suit costs and any other relief the court may deem proper. The city of Red Bluff's answer to complaint denies all allega- tions. Its complaint says Stohler was careless, reckless and negligent to the point it contributed to her in- jury and that weather conditions were reasonably apparent for a person to exercise due care. A case management conference is scheduled May 4. The tree that fell was part of a 2008 protest by residents. At that time the city was re- moving a number of trees near the courthouse as part of a joint city and Tehama County sidewalk replacement project. RED BLUFF City faces lawsuit over fallen tree branch Woman was struck in head in August 2013 By Andre Byik abyik@redbluffdailynews.com @andrebyik on Twitter RED BLUFF A Corning man had 36 minutes of freedom Wednes- day evening. The Tehama County Sheriff's Office said 21-year-old Juan Luis Diaz escaped from custody at the Tehama County Jail after jail staff failed to notice an interior door's electronic locking mechanism didn't property secure. Diaz was found and arrested without in- cident about 36 minutes later in the area of Elm and Main streets here. Diaz was lodged and being booked into the jail about 6:26 p.m. Wednesday on a misde- meanor battery charge, accord- ing to a Sheriff's Office press re- lease. About 8:17 p.m., jail staff opened exterior doors and gates to let an officer exit the facility. "At this point Mr. Diaz went through the unlocked door and en- tered the pre-booking area," ac- cording to the release. "The exte- rior doors in this area of the jail were open to allow the officer to go out and Diaz exited the facility." Diaz allegedly fled on foot from jail staff, who im- mediately noti- fied area agencies such as the Red Bluff Police De- partment and the California High- way Patrol, ac- cording to the release. Diaz was located about three blocks from the jail, arrested and was returned to the jail, ac- cording to the release. He was booked into the jail on the original battery charge, and faces an additional escape charge, according to the release. The Sheriff's Office said it has reviewed the "operational proce- dures surrounding this incident and have identified the issues di- rectly involved in the escape." Diaz is being held with bail set at $103,000. TEHAMA COUNTY Manescapesfromjail,caught Door's locking mechanism failed before escape Community.....A3 Lifestyles........A5 Opinion............A4 Sports.............. B1 Comics ............B3 Education........A6 INDEX Red Bluff FFA members attended the Regional FFA Meeting and Contest in Chico. PAGEA3 COMMUNITY RedBluffFFAstudents attend regional events The bottom of Corning's ladder led the Cardinals to a 6-3over league rival West Valley. PAGE B1 SPORTS Corning tennis beats West Valley 6-3 Investigation indicates co- pilot, alone at the controls, in- tentionally slammed into Alps, killing all 150aboard. PAGE B4 FRANCE Co-pilot may have crashed jet on purpose Plan OK'd by Legislature aims to expedite infrastructure spending, aid communities and target waste. PAGE A7 DROUGHT $1 billion water bill heads to the governor Businesses to donate portion of sales Banks Diaz HOSTAGE PAGE 9 LAWSUIT PAGE 9 » redbluffdailynews.com Friday, March 27, 2015 50CENTS AN EDITION OF THE CHICO ENTERPRISE-RECORD 7 58551 69001 9 Volume130,issue91 Good morning, thanks for subscribing Brian Laheney WEIGHTLIFTING Dave Mobilio competition Sports B1 VISTA PREP Students combat bullying Education A6 FORECAST High: 83 Low: 53 A10 Checkoutourcontinuous news feed, short Tout videos, photo galleries and more. VISITREDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM EVENMORE ONTHEWEB