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Police Department News Releases

Police Department Press Releases

Overview

The Press Information Office is a central location for the media and community to obtain information and press releases regarding the newsworthy events in which the Chico Police Department has played a role.

Media outlets and public agencies wishing to receive department press releases submit an email address here.

 

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Juvenile Suspects Arrested for Robbery

Case # 23-001797

On March 26th, 2023, at approximately 5:40 PM, the Chico Police Department received a report of a male subject who stated he had just been robbed. The victim stated the robbery occurred in the area of Children’s Playground, 212 W. 1st Street. The victim was also bleeding from the mouth after being assaulted by one of the suspects during the robbery. Several Chico Police Officers arrived in the area and began checking for the suspects. One of the suspects told the victim he had a firearm, but no firearm was seen.

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Arson Suspect Arrested

Case # 23-001770

On March 25, 2023, at approximately 12:00 PM, the Chico Fire Department was dispatched to an apartment complex in the 2700 block of El Paso Way for a vehicle fire. After the fire had been extinguished, the owner of the vehicle was contacted by fire personnel at the scene. The victim told fire personnel they had suspected the fire had been intentionally started. Chico Police Officers were summoned to the scene to continue the investigation. The victim’s vehicle was a total loss as a result of the fire.

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Shooting Suspect Arrested

Case # 23-001496

On March 11th, 2023, at about 11:15 pm, Chico Police Officers were dispatched to Quackers Fire Bar and Grill in the 900 block of East Avenue, Chico, for a reported shooting. Two people suffered non-life threatening injuries and were transported to a local trauma center for treatment.

Responding officers determined that prior to the shooting, the suspect was involved in a verbal argument outside of the bar. The suspect left on foot and returned in a vehicle and fired several rounds from a handgun toward the crowd standing outside of the business, striking the two victims.

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Bank Robbery

Case # 23-001756

On March 24th, 2023, at about 5:10 PM, The Chico Police Department received a report of a robbery that had just occurred at Members 1st Credit Union, located at 550 Salem Street.  The male suspect exited the business and was last seen walking southbound on Salem Street. 

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Burglary Arrest

Case # 23-001742

On March 24th, 2023, at approximately 2:15 a.m., the Chico Police Department responded to a call of a burglary in the laundry room of an apartment complex in the 1200 block of W. 5th Street in Chico. Two men were seen stealing a clothes dryer unit from the complex. When they removed the dryer, they damaged the gas line attached to it, causing a significant gas leak. Adjacent apartments were evacuated while members of Chico Fire shut off the gas. The ensuing investigation revealed a clothes washer was also stolen from the same location several hours prior.

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DUI Arrest

Case # 23-001715

At about 3:30 p.m. this afternoon, Chico Police Officers responded to a reported vehicle collision on E. 8th St near the intersection of Bartlett St.

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Missing Juvenile, Warrant Arrest

Case # 23-001707

On the night of 03/21/23, the Chico Police Department received a missing juvenile BOLO issued by the Orange Police Department. The BOLO identified that a missing 16-year-old female was believed to have fled the custody of her parents and traveled to Chico. The juvenile was reportedly accompanied by 23-year-old Rory Murga Jr.

Murga was reportedly wanted for a felony, no-bail absconding warrant issued by the Los Angeles County Court.

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St. Patrick’s Day 2023

St. Patrick’s Day in Chico has a long-standing history of being an opportunity for locals and college students alike to enjoy the holiday. Unfortunately, sometimes the St. Patrick’s Day celebration can lead to excessive alcohol consumption.

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Fatal Motorcycle Collision

Case # 23-001606

On 03/17/2023 at 6:20 PM, Chico Police Officers were dispatched to a report of a solo vehicle accident involving a motorcycle in the 1000 block of E. 20th Street in Chico. Officers quickly arrived on scene, along with medical and fire personnel. Life-saving measures were immediately performed on the rider of the motorcycle at the scene. The rider suffered major injuries as a result of the collision and was transported to a local hospital. The rider of the motorcycle ultimately succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced deceased at the hospital.

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Foot Pursuit Leads to Arrest

Case # 23-001567

On March 16, 2023, at approximately 7:56 AM, the Chico Police Department responded to a report of a subject carrying a rifle in the area of the Highway 99 bike path between Panama Avenue and E. Lassen Avenue. The area surrounding this incident is heavily residential, bordered on the west by Highway 99. 

While Officers were en route, a concerned citizen reported an additional subject was present. Both individuals were associated with a parked vehicle blocking the bike path. One of the subjects was observed firing the rifle toward a nearby fence. 

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Homicide Investigation

Case # 23-001500

On 03/12/2023 at about 4:15 PM, Butte EMS, Cal Fire, and CPD units responded to Food Maxx in Chico for a reported suspicious circumstance.  A caller reported locating a subject inside a shopping cart near the front of the store.  The subject was reportedly wrapped in a large sheet of white plastic.  The caller believed the subject was deceased.

Upon arrival, EMS confirmed the adult male was, in fact, deceased. 

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Shooting

Case # 23-001496

On March 11th, 2023, at about 11:15 pm, Chico Police Officers were dispatched to the 900 block of East Avenue for a reported shooting. Officers arrived on scene and located a victim suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The victim suffered non-life threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment. A second victim from the incident arrived by private vehicle at a local hospital also with an apparent gunshot wound. The second victim’s injuries also did not appear life threatening.       

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Felony Warrant Arrest

Case # 23-001409

On March 7, 2023, at approximately 6:00 pm, Chico Police Officers located Branden Thurston (26) walking near Humboldt Avenue and Little Chico Creek. Thurston was wanted by Chico Police due to an active felony warrant for his arrest. As Officers attempted to contact Thurston, he immediately fled on foot.  During the foot pursuit, Thurston fled into Little Chico Creek and concealed himself within heavily thorned bushes.  This created an extreme Officer safety issue and prevented the use of a Police K-9.    

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Shooting Investigation

Case # 23-001460

On Friday, March 10, Chico Police Officers responded to the 1100 block of Columbus Avenue for a report of a shooting a little after 5:40 a.m.

Upon arrival, Officers found one person with a gunshot wound. Officers swiftly moved them to an area of safety while medics attended to their wound. The victim was transported to a local hospital with a minor injury and is stable.

The road at W. Sacramento Avenue and Columbus Avenue was shut down for approximately 2.5 hours while Officers investigated.

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AB 481 Community Engagement Meeting

Date: Thursday, April 27, 2023

Time: 6:00pm

Location: City of Chico Council Chambers – 421 Main St, Chico, CA 95928

What: In accordance with Assembly Bill 481, Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge will hold a community engagement meeting regarding the agency’s funding, acquisition, or use of military equipment.

Media, please arrive five minutes early to set up.

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Assault with a Deadly Weapon

Case # 23-001382

On March 6, 2023, around 4:45 p.m., the Chico Police Dispatch Center received a call regarding a group of juveniles who had been chased by a vehicle near Boucher Street and Humboldt Avenue. It was reported that individuals occupying the vehicle brandished a firearm at the juveniles. 

Officers checked the area and located three subjects matching the reported descriptions. Officers attempted to make contact, and a foot pursuit ensued. Officers detained one subject, 21-year-old Christian Stowe, shortly after the pursuit began, who was armed with a pistol.  

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Chico Police Arrest Suspected Drug Dealer

Case # 23-001310

On March 2, 2023, at approximately 5:20 p.m., a Chico Police Officer came in contact with 31-year-old Ian Broughton in the 2100 block of Pillsbury Rd. Broughton, who is on searchable probation and who also had several felony warrants for his arrest, was detained by officers. A search of Broughton and the vehicle Broughton was driving yielded a large quantity of Fentanyl and tar Heroin.

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Fatal Auto vs. Pedestrian Update

Case # 23-001177

Chico Police Major Accident Investigation Team (M.A.I.T.) have been investigating the fatal collision from last Friday evening (Feb 24th). The pedestrian who was killed has been identified as Ezequiel Zepeda, a 73-year-old male from Chico, CA. The investigation determined that Zepeda ran out onto Hwy 32 in an attempt to cross the street, likely not noticing the approaching vehicle. The driver of the car that struck Zepeda stopped immediately and stayed with him until emergency personnel arrived. The driver of the vehicle was not under the influence and has cooperated with investigators.

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Assault with a Deadly Weapon

Case # 23-001220

Over the last several days, the Chico Police Department has been investigating crimes related to the actions of Mr. Kurtus Locke (38 years of Chico). Neighbors reported Mr. Locke was making verbal threats and shooting firearms outside of his residence on Berkeley Ln, Chico.

On February 25th, Officers received information that Mr. Locke had assaulted an elderly male making Locke arrestable for felony elder abuse.

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Death in Public Right of Way

Case # 23-001167

On February 24, 2023, at approximately 9:13 AM, Butte EMS was dispatched to a medical emergency in the 2000 block of Esplanade. Medics located the victim and immediately began life-saving measures. The victim was transported to Enloe Medical Center, where they were pronounced deceased.

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