FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 16, 2025

Chico, CA – The Chico Police Department investigated a fraudulent phone call where the caller falsely identified themselves as a Lieutenant of the Chico Police Department. The caller was able to mask their number to show as 530-897-4900, which is the Chico Police Department’s phone number.

 

The caller identified themselves as a Lieutenant and provided a fake badge number. The caller claimed the victim missed mandatory jury date and needed to pay a fine. The caller continued to make false claims demanding the victim pay money to avoid jail.

 

The caller was able to provide personal information, such as past addresses, and asked the caller to look up the Chico Police Department phone number to further the belief he was a real Police Officer.

The Chico Police Department will never contact citizens to ask for any monetary compensation. Technology exits which allows individuals to “spoof” their phone number either providing a fake number or a specific phone number as in this case.

 

Please call and report any suspicious phone calls or activity to the Chico Police 
Department at 530-897-4911.

Location: Chico, CA
Suspects: Unknown
Victims: Withheld 
Supervisor: Officer T. Cox
Incident Command: Lieutenant Love

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 14, 2025

Chico, CA – On Monday January 13, 2025 at approximately 2:35 p.m., the Chico Police Department (CPD) responded to a vehicle-versus-pedestrian collision at the intersection of Nord Avenue and W. Sacramento Avenue.

 

Upon arrival, CPD Traffic Officers learned that a mother and her three children (ages 3, 5, and 6) were crossing the roadway in a marked crosswalk with a green light. Two of the children were in a stroller, while the 6-year-old walked alongside.

A pickup truck, also proceeding on a green light while turning left, struck the mother and all three children. The driver stopped, remained at the scene, and cooperated with officers. The family was transported by ambulance to a local hospital for treatment. While most sustained minor injuries, one child was kept overnight for observation and did receive some sutures for a laceration. 

Investigators determined the driver of the truck was distracted, reading a text message, and failed to see the family in the crosswalk. The driver was cited at the scene and released. 

We want to remind the public that using a cell phone at a red light can still be a violation and contributes to distracted driving.

Pedestrians: Names withheld
Driver: Milo Conlin, 48-yr old from Chico
Supervisor: Sgt. Todd Lefkowitz
Acting Lieutenant: Scott Harris

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 9, 2025

 

Chico, CA – On Thursday, January 9, 2025, at approximately 2:07 a.m., the Chico Police Department responded to a vehicle-versus-pedestrian collision near the intersection of Esplanade and Mission Ranch Boulevard.

 

Upon arrival, officers discovered a pedestrian in the roadway with severe injuries. The pedestrian, who did not have any identification, was pronounced deceased at the 
scene, and his identity remains unknown at this time.

The driver of the vehicle, a 21-year-old Chico resident, remained on the scene and cooperated with authorities. The Chico Police Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.) is conducting the investigation. Preliminary findings suggest the pedestrian was skateboarding in the middle of the roadway when he was struck.

The Butte County Sheriff’s Office is working to identify the pedestrian. If you witnessed the collision, please contact the Chico Police Traffic Division at (530) 897-4970.

Pedestrian: John Doe, unknown age.
Driver: 21-year-old female from Chico
Supervisor: Sgt. Todd Lefkowitz
Lieutenant: Lt. Peter Durfee

Date: January 6, 2025

 

Chico, CA – On January 5, 2025, at approximately 10:10 p.m., the Chico Police Dispatch Center received multiple reports of gunshots heard in the area of Montecito Avenue and Mission Santa Fe Circle. Officers responded to the scene and located witnesses and evidence confirming a shooting occurred.

 

The Chico Police Department is still actively investigating the incident. Anyone with information related to the incident is asked to call the Chico Police Department.

 

Location: Montecito Avenue and Mission Santa Fe Circle
Suspect: Withheld
Supervisor: Sgt. Mike Consiglio S3
Lieutenant: Lt. Mike Rodden C6

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: January 3, 2025

 

Chico, CA – On January 3, 2025, at 8 p.m., Chico Police Officers located a stolen Cadillac Deville near 3156 Esplanade. The vehicle was originally reported stolen out of Butte County.

 

The suspect failed to yield when officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop. A pursuit was initiated as the vehicle fled onto Eaton Rd and south on Highway 99. The suspect drove back to the area where the pursuit began and then surrendered.

 

Leon Bedford Ward was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle and a parole warrant. 

There were no collisions or injuries reported with this incident. 

Location: North Esplanade
Suspect: Leon Bedford Ward (age 47) of Chico
Victim: Withheld
Supervisor: Sgt. Alex Fliehr
Lieutenant: Lt. Mike Rodden

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Date: January 1, 2025

 

Chico, CA – The Chico Police Department began investigating Robert Allen Smith (55-yrs-old) in August 2024 after receiving a complaint from a victim. The victim reported to a school counselor that Smith was involved in numerous molestation incidents when they were 4-6 years old. 

Chico Police Detectives began conducting numerous interviews. They discovered that Smith was the suspect in approximately five other sexual assaults of children and adults as far back as 1996. 

After obtaining enough probable cause to arrest Smith, Detectives obtained a warrant for Smith’s arrest. He was located at the Chico Pallet Shelter. Detectives took Smith into custody without incident. Smith was in possession of methamphetamine during his arrest. 

While interviewing Smith at Chico Police Department Temporary Holding Facility, Smith attempted to assault a Chico Police Officer. He was detained in a full body restraint device that protects both Smith and Officers from incurring any additional injuries. While in this full body restraint device, Smith continued to try to assault 
Officers by spitting on them. Smith was subsequently transported to Enloe Hospital for a medical clearance for incarceration. 

Smith was placed under arrest for the following criminal violations. Several of these violations included multiple counts:

If you have any further information regarding this investigation, please contact Chico Police Detective Bureau at (530)897-5820.

Location: 2280 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, Chico
Victims: Witheld
Suspect: Robert Allen Smith (55-yrs-old)
Supervisor: Sgt. Nick Bauer
Commander: Lt. Ben Love

Date: December 20th, 2024

Chico, CA – On Friday, December 20, 2024, Chico Police Traffic Investigators arrested Jeremy Jurek at a local hospital. Jurek had been receiving treatment since the collision occurred. Upon his release, officers were present and placed him under arrest. Jurek was medically cleared for incarceration. Jurek was arrested for Driving Under the Influence 23152 (g) CVC, Reckless Driving 23103 (a) CVC and Violation of Probation 1203.2 (a) PC.

 

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Date: December 19th, 2024

Chico, CA – On Wednesday December 18, 2024 at approximately 12:18 p.m., Chico Police responded to a multiple car collision involving high speed. The crash occurred in the 1000 block of East Ave, just east of North Avenue. The driver was later identified as 42-year-old Jeremy Jurek from Oroville.

 

Jurek was reportedly driving near 100 MPH on East Ave and rear ended an unoccupied parked vehicle. The force of the collision pushed the parked vehicle into a tree and sheered it into two pieces. Jurek’s vehicle overturned several times, and he was ejected. Jurek was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

 

The Chico Police Department Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.) was on scene and took over the investigation. This investigation is still ongoing. No further information will be released at this time.

Driver: Jeremy Jurek, 42-year-old male from Oroville, CA
Supervisor: Sgt. Todd Lefkowitz
Lieutenant: Lt. Terry Tupper

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 12/06/2024

Chico, CA – On Friday December 6, 2024, around 10:05 p.m., Chico Police Officers responded to the area of Bruce Road and Highway 32 for a report of battery. A taxi driver reported he was battered by a customer and the customer possibly fled in his taxi. Upon arrival, officers discovered the taxi was still in the roadway, but the suspect had fled on foot into a large open field at the northwest corner of Bruce Rd. and Highway 32.

Officers utilized a drone to locate the suspect. The suspect was uncooperative when officers attempted to detain him, but he was detained after a brief struggle. He was later booked into Butte County Jail for battery and resisting arrest.

During this incident officers blocked traffic along Highway 32 between El Monte Avenue and Bruce Rd. The roadway was re-opened within 30 minutes.

Suspect: Darren Ferguson (40) of Forest Ranch
Supervisor: Sgt. A. Fliehr
Lieutenant: Lt. Mike Rodde

Date: November 17, 2024

Chico, CA – On November 16, 2024, around 11:00 A.M., Chico Police Officers responded to 101 Silver Dollar Way for a reported stabbing. Officers located the victim on the north side of Silver Dollar Way. The suspect, David Saunders, age 55, was located nearby and arrested without incident.

The victim was taken to a local hospital and is in stable condition.

Saunders was booked into Butte County Jail for Assault with a Deadly Weapon.

Suspect: David Samuel Saunders of Chico (age 55)
Supervisor: OIC J. Ditty
Lieutenant: Lt. M. Rodden

Date: 11/9/2024

Chico, CA – On November 9, 2024, at 11:50 AM, Chico Police were dispatched to the Chico Mall for a report of a subject who had pointed a firearm at a person and took property from him. The suspect then fled into the mall. As officers were enroute to the scene the suspect, later identified as Adrian Gallardo, had exited the mall and was contacted by officers on Forest Avenue a short distance from the scene. Gallardo was taken into custody without further incident. During the investigation a firearm was located in a bag belonging to Gallardo.

Gallardo was arrested for the following violations:

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Chico Police Department at 530-895-4911 and reference case # 24-008226.

Location: 1900 Block of E. 20th Street
Suspects: Adrian Gallardo (36 years old)
Victim: Confidential
Supervisor: Sgt. Ed Marshall
Lieutenant: Lieutenant Peter Durfee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 11/3/2024 

 

Chico, CA – The Chico Police Department prepared for the 2024 Halloween weekend by once again increasing the police presence particularly in the south campus and downtown area. Historically, this weekend is filled with large crowds, large parties, and out of town partygoers. To ensure uninterrupted service to the rest of the city, extra 
Chico Police Officers were required to work during the Halloween operational period that began Thursday, October 31 and went until Sunday, November 3 at 7:00 A.M. 

It should be noted that the weekend prior to the operational period showed an uptick in crowds and activity in the south campus and downtown area. 

During the operational period, Chico Police Officers took the following enforcement actions:

Event Commander: 
Lieutenant Peter Durfee

 

On Thursday, October 31, 2024, detectives from the Chico Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Section and Violence Suppression Unit observed Sermeno loading a moving truck at a residence in the north Chico area.  As the detectives approached Sermeno, he fled on foot, running into the residence.  Investigators pursued Sermeno and took him into custody without incident. Sermeno was booked into Butte County Jail with a request for complaint of multiple violations of 287(b)(1) of the California Penal Code and an additional request for complaint for 148(a)(1) for delaying a peace officer.

 

The Chico Police Department is requesting anyone with further information regarding these or additional incidents contact the Chico Police Department Detective Bureau at (530) 897-5820.

 

Location: Chico, CA

Suspects: ANTHONY LEE SERMENO

Victims: Confidential

Supervisor: Sergeant N. Bauer

Incident Command: Sergeant D. Gregory

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 10/31/2024

 

Chico, CA – On October 31, 2024, at approximately 10:40 a.m., Chico Police Dispatch received a report of a female crying and her adult son yelling at her. The reporting party observed the son kicking near the victim. Chico Police Officers responded to the area and contacted the suspect, Justin Stephens (46-years-old). Stephens was uncooperative initially with responding Officers, however, they were able to take him into custody. During the apprehension, a Chico Police Officer suffered minor injuries to his throat.

Officers observed that the victim had suffered numerous stab wounds to her head and neck. The victim was treated at a local hospital, and then transported to an undisclosed medical facility for more advanced treatment. At the time of this Press Release, the victim is still in critical condition. Stephens was transported to Butte County Jail. Stephens was placed under arrest for the following criminal violations:

If you have any further information regarding this investigation, please contact Chico Police Detective Bureau: (530)897-5820.

Location: 2900 Block of San Verbena Way, Chico
Victim: Witheld
Suspect: Justin Matthew Stephens (46-yrs-old)
Supervisor: Sgt. Nick Bauer
Commander: Sgt. Dane Gregory

Chico, CA – In October of 2024, Chico Police Detectives received information that David Valdovinos (26 years old) was in possession of child pornography at his place of residence in Chico. Detectives confirmed this information and obtained a search warrant for Valdovinos’ residence, vehicle, and person.

 

On October 23, 2024, Detectives executed this warrant at Valdovinos’ place of residence in the 700 block of San Antonio Drive in Chico. Electronics belonging to Valdovinos were seized and later searched by detectives where child pornography was located. During the investigation, detectives also discovered Valdovinos had been contacting minors under the age of 18 for a lewd purpose through the social media platform called Snapchat.

 

Valdovinos was arrested on October 30, 2024, for possession of child pornography, 311.11(a) PC, distribution of child pornography, 311.10(a) PC, and two counts of contacting a minor for a lewd purpose, 288.3(a) PC. Valdovinos was later transported and booked at Butte County Jail.

 

The Chico Police Department would like to remind parents to be aware of and closely monitor any social media or online websites that are used by children to protect against the threat of online child predators.

 

Location: 700 block of San Antonio Drive, Chico CA

Date/Time: 10/30/2024

Victim: State of California

Suspect: David Valdovinos (26 years old)

Supervisor: Sgt. Nick Bauer
CIS Lieutenant: Lt. Ben Love

 

Date: 10/27/2024

Chico, CA – In the past two days, the Chico Police Department (CPD) has assisted two outside agencies with the apprehension of dangerous and wanted criminals using Chico as a place to hide.

On Friday October 26th, CPD became aware of a vehicle seen in Chico which was flagged in the State of California vehicle database as associated with a man wanted for possession of a fully automatic firearm in Los Angeles. As this information was being disseminated, a CPD Patrol Officer observed the described vehicle eastbound on State Highway 32 toward Bruce Road. The officer was not able to get behind the vehicle due to traffic and lost sight of it. CPD Patrol Officers relocated the vehicle at an address off of Sierra Sunrise Terrace. With the assistance of detectives from the Chico Police Violence Suppression Unit (VSU) and the Butte Interagency Narcotics Tak Force (BINTF). Surveillance operations led to locating and arresting the dangerous criminal, identified as 21 year old Azhoni Meeks-Davenport. Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department assisted with intelligence and were grateful for the arrest of their wanted person.

Later that day, CPD received a call from a detective from the Oregon State Patrol advising they were investigating an armed home invasion robbery and kidnapping of a family in west-central Oregon. The detective advised they had information that at least one of the two suspects in the crime may be in Chico. CPD learned the suspects were associated with a U-Haul truck. On Saturday October 26th, Patrol officers located the U-Haul Truck. With the assistance of the CPD's Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Team, a felony stop was conducted on the truck and both suspects in the Oregon Robbery/Kidnapping were arrested. A subsequent investigation with the assistance of CPD Detectives and Oregon State Patrol Detectives uncovered significant evidence tying the two men to the crime. They were identified as 25 year old Dwayne Connell from Jamaica and 27 year old Aldane Hamilton, also from Jamaica.

Law Enforcement Agencies nationwide have a network of information allowing agencies to communicate and collaborate easily in locating and arresting persons who have committed significant crimes such as these. The Chico Police Department will continue to tenaciously protect this community from those who erroneously believe they can hide in Chico. Instances such as these should help spread the word that, if you commit violent crime anywhere in this country, Chico is not a safe place to hide.

Commander: Lt. T. Tupper L7

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 10/26/2024

Chico, CA – During the nighttime and early morning hours of Friday night and Saturday morning, the Chico Police Department (CPD) responded to two separate, unrelated, fights involving large groups of people which resulted in two stabbings. 

At 11:40 p.m. on October 25, CPD Dispatch received a 911 call of a fight at the Rotary Centennial Park on Ceres Avenue in North Chico. The caller stated it sounded like several juveniles were in a fight at that location. As officers were en route, information was developed that one of the involved persons was stabbed. The caller 
stated the group dispersed and several juveniles fled in a vehicle. The vehicle described was seen and stopped by A CPD Traffic Officer in the west avenues of Chico. Through the investigation, it was determined that during the fight, a 14 year-old juvenile female stabbed another female. During that altercation, a second juvenile female struck a second victim female on the head with a rock. Both suspect juvenile females had fled from the traffic stop but were found, identified and arrested for Assault with a Deadly Weapon. Both victims were treated and neither have life-threatening injuries.

At 1:58 a.m. on October 26, CPD Dispatch received multiple 911 calls of a large fight on Broadway Street near W. 3rd Street. Officers arrived within one minute and found the group had dispersed but also found that one man had been stabbed. The suspect in this incident was described as a Hispanic male, wearing a black sleeveless 
shirt and blue jeans. The victim was transported to Enloe Health and into surgery. At the time of this writing, the victim’s injuries do not appear to be life threatening. 
Anyone with information related to either of these incidents is asked to call the Chico Police Department at (530) 897-4910 and reference case number 24-007837 and 24-007842 respectively. 

Victims: Withheld
Suspect:Withheld (juveniles) and Unknown 
Supervisor:

Commander: Lt. T. Tupper L7

Chico, CA – On July 17, 2024, at approximately 8:10 p.m., Chico Police Officers responded to the area of Woodland Avenue and Alder Street regarding an unresponsive subject inside of a parked vehicle on the side of the road.  Officers arrived on scene and determined the subject was deceased.  The subject’s name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

 

Circumstances surrounding the incident made it impossible to rule out foul play.  Chico Police Detectives responded and took over the investigation.  The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information related to the incident is asked to contact the Chico Police Department at (530) 897-4900, reference case number 24-004985.

 

Location: Woodland Ave. and Alder St., Chico

Suspects: Unidentified

Victim: Withheld by notification of next of kin

Supervisor: Sgt. Gregory

Lieutenant: Lt. Love