REDDING— On November 12, 2020, Donn Lurrinda Hayden, 36, of Anderson was arrested on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud, filing a false police report, and witness intimidation for allegedly reporting her vehicle stolen after a crash in which she allegedly fled the scene, possibly in an attempt to avoid DUI charges while on parole, according to the California Department of Insurance.
In January 2020, Hayden filed a police report and insurance claim stating her 2006 Ford Mustang was stolen while she was drinking at a bar in downtown Redding. Police discovered Hayden’s vehicle crashed into an embankment and abandoned about one mile from downtown Redding. The vehicle had severe front-end damage. Police also discovered a trail of Hayden’s personal belongings leading away from the crash scene and a lone suspect who matched Hayden’s description was witnessed fleeing the scene on foot.
An investigation by the California Department of Insurance revealed that several hours after the vehicle was discovered, Hayden called the Redding Police Department and her insurance company to report the car stolen. She made multiple inconsistent statements to investigators of the night’s events and stated that she was “buzzed” from drinking when an unknown person stole her vehicle.
“Actions such as those alleged in this investigation lead to higher auto insurance premiums for all of us,” said California Statewide Law Enforcement Association (CSLEA) President Alan Barcelona. “California Department of Insurance detectives and investigators are very good at their jobs, and they will thoroughly investigate suspicious claims.”
During an investigation, Hayden’s parole agents identified her voice in the background of a 911 call made by a bystander at the crash scene in which Hayden was heard on the 911 recording yelling aggressively at the bystander to end the call. It is alleged that Hayden fled the scene of the crash and made a false report of vehicle theft. Her insurance company was paid over $6,500 for the loss of the vehicle and by allegedly fleeing the scene of the crash, Hayden evaded a DUI investigation.
Hayden received enhancements to the charges because she is on parole for a violent felony. She was booked at the Shasta County Main Jail and the case is being prosecuted by the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office.
