Police Department News Releases
Shots Fired at Business
Case # 23-002570
On April 23rd at about 3:15 AM, the Chico Police Department received a report of a gunshot that had occurred inside a business in the 200 block of Walnut Street in Chico. Officers quickly arrived on scene and were able to locate evidence showing a gunshot did occur inside the business. Nobody was injured by the gunfire, and the suspect fled the scene prior to officers arriving. Currently, there is no suspect information.
Shooting
Case # 23-002530
On April 21 st, 2023, at about 3:10 pm, Chico Police Officers were dispatched to the 600 block of W. 1st Avenue for a report of a shooting. Officers arrived on the scene within minutes 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. Officers did detain two individuals at the scene, but they were later released without charges. At this time, there is no suspect information. W. 1st Avenue was closed for approximately two hours while the investigation was conducted.
Firearms and Narcotics Arrests
Case # 23-002486
On April 20, 2023, at approximately 1:00 a.m., a Chico Police officer conducted a vehicle stop for an observed vehicle violation in the area of E. 19th St. and Locust St. The vehicle was occupied by the driver, identified as 51- year-old Eugene Needham, and a passenger, identified as 38-year-old Nicole Taylor. During the stop, the officer learned that Needham was on Butte County Post Release Community Service and had an active felony warrant for his arrest.
Death in Public
Case # 23-002414
On April 17th, 2023, around 1:20 PM, Officers responded to the Lindo Channel after a citizen reported seeing a body in the water. Patrol officers confirmed the subject was deceased. Detectives responded to assist in this investigation. The identity of the victim is being withheld. We will update this press release when we can release more information.
Location: Lindo Channel near Laburnum Ave.
Victim: Withheld
Supervisor: Sgt. M. Williams
Watch Commander: Lt. M. Rodden
Timber Creek Apartment Collision
Case # 23-002392
On April 16, at about 5:49 AM, Chico Police Officers were dispatched to a report of a rollover collision in the parking lot of 1253 W. 5th Street (Timber Creek Apartments). Officers arrived on scene and discovered that a Chevy pickup truck had driven through the wrought-iron gate to the complex. The pickup continued and collided with several parked vehicles, rolled over onto its side, coming to a stop against a building. The truck driver did not have a pulse when emergency personnel arrived on scene. The driver was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital while CPR was in progress.
Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Case # 23-002375
On April 15, 2023, at 2:35 p.m., Chico Police responded to a report of a fight at Depot Park at 431 Cedar Street in west Chico. As officers were en route, Chico Police Dispatch radioed that one of the people involved in the fight was down on the ground and not getting up. Officers arrived and found one man bleeding who had been stabbed. Others involved in the fight had left just prior to officers’ arrival. During an area check, officers located another involved person who was walking away from the scene and was bleeding from the head.
Attempted Murder Arrest
Case # 23-002370
On April 15th, 2023, at 6:15 a.m., The Chico Police Dispatch Center received a 911 call from a man yelling for help and saying someone was trying to hit him with their car on the Esplanade near E. Lassen Avenue. Officers responded to the area and located two men fighting on the Esplanade near East Avenue. Both were detained.
Arson Arrest
Case # 23-002345
On April 14th at 5 a.m., Chico Police Officers and Chico Fire responded to an address on the 1700 block of E. Eaton Road regarding a man in a mental health crisis. The man’s mother called CPD to report her son was suicidal and had kicked her out of their apartment. Officers also learned the man, identified as 24-year-old Devan Lee, had gasoline and a lighter and was threatening to set the home on fire with him inside. A short time later, Officers on scene observed a fire burning inside the apartment.
Shooting into a Residence
Case # 23-002282
On Tuesday, April 11th, at about 9:00 p.m., the Chico Police Dispatch Center received calls for service regarding multiple gunshots being heard in the 3500 block of Eaton Rd, Chico.
Officers arrived in the area and located evidence of a residence being struck by gunfire. No one appeared to have been injured as a result of the incident.
Eaton Rd was closed to vehicular traffic for approximately one hour.
The Chico Police Dept is asking that anyone with information related to the incident please call (530)897-4911.
Assault on an Officer Arrest
Case # 23-002204
On April 9th, at 3:48 am, the Chico Police Dispatch Center received a call from residents of an apartment complex in the 1100 block of E. 8th Street in Chico, reporting one of the residents was swinging a stick at other residents in the complex. At the time of the call, Chico Police Officers were managing events related to a DUI collision and a Burglary in progress.
Chico Police Portal Update
The Chico Police Department is currently in the process of transitioning to a new Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) System and Records Management System (RMS). During this transition, the Chico Police Portal will be offline with an anticipated online date of April 14. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
The Chico Police Department is committed to ensuring our community is a safe place to live, work, and recreate within!
Cesar Chavez Day Activity
As expected, the activity in Chico for the Cesar Chavez holiday was more than a normal weekend. With the return of students from the Chico State Spring Break, the holiday has historically seen an increase in south campus activity and celebrations. However, since the COVID pandemic and the overall decrease in student population, activity in the south campus area has significantly decreased. This year was no exception.
Animal Cruelty Arrest
Case # 23-001894
On March 30th, 2023, at approximately 7:10 PM, staff at a local veterinarian’s office called the Chico Police Department to report a possible case of animal cruelty. The staff reported that three subjects had arrived at the business with a dog that appeared to be deceased. After an examination by the veterinarian staff, the dog was confirmed to be deceased. Veterinarian staff determined the dog died due to a severed carotid artery.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.