Police Department News Releases
Attempted Murder Suspect Arrested
Case # 23-005836
Detectives from the Chico Police Department’s Violence Suppression Unit (VSU) investigated the shooting of an adult male in the 1200 block of Notre Dame Boulevard that occurred on September 1st , 2023. Evidence obtained at the scene and through investigative action identified JADEN CHRISTOPHER HOLLOWELL (20) as the suspect in the attempted murder of the victim. The victim suffered serious, life-threatening injuries and remains in a non-ambulatory state.
ATM Skimming Suspects Arrested
Case # 23-006069
On 10/2/23, Chico Police Detectives, with the assistance of the Butte County District Attorney’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), conducted surveillance at numerous locations throughout Chico. Chico Police Detectives and the District Attorney Investigators have been working collaboratively to identify numerous suspects placing ATM skimming devices. These suspects then use the stolen information to “cash out” the compromised accounts.
Chico PD investigating Homicide
Case # 23-006475
*** UPDATE ***
Expanding upon what was previously released, responding officers located a critically injured adult female and a seriously injured adult male when they arrived on scene. First responders initiated lifesaving efforts, and both wounded subjects were transported to an area hospital for treatment. Tragically, the female did not survive her injuries.
Orbeez Challenge Arrest
23-006440
On Tuesday, September 25, 2023, at about 6:40 p.m., the Chico Police Dispatch Center received a report of a shooting that had just occurred at Oak Way Park near W. 8th Ave and W. Sacramento Ave. The victim described being shot at by a passenger of a red Chevrolet Malibu sedan. The victim believed they were being shot at with a real firearm.
Reckless Driver Arrested
Case # 23-006360
On Friday, September 22, 2023, just before 11 a.m., the Chico Police Dispatch Center began receiving numerous calls regarding a reckless driver in the downtown area.
Multiple patrol officers arrived in the area and quickly located the suspect vehicle. An officer briefly pursued the vehicle but terminated the pursuit due to the extreme risk to the public due to the severity of the reckless driving.
Death in Public
Case # 23-006298
On September 19th, 2023, around 10:44 AM, Chico Police Officers were flagged down by citizens in the 1300 block of Bidwell Ave. about a deceased person located in Big Chico Creek. The reporting party discovered the subject floating face down in the waterway. Officers confirmed the subject was deceased. No obvious signs of foul play were located at the scene. The identity of the decedent is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.
Location: 1300 block Bidwell Ave.
Date/Time: 09/19/2023 @ 10:44 AM
Carjacking and Assault with a Deadly Weapon
Case # 23-006190
On September 15, 2023, at approximately 9:55 PM, Chico Police Dispatch received a call from a subject near the intersection of Whitewood Way and Mariposa Avenue stating he had been stabbed and his vehicle had been stolen. Chico Police Officers responded to the scene and located a male subject suffering from a stab wound to the abdomen. Several Chico Police Officers circulated in the area of the incident in an attempt to locate the vehicle and suspects. The victim was transported to a local area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Child Pornography Suspect Arrested
Case # 23-004901
On 9/13/23, Chico Police Detectives served a Search Warrant in the 300 block of Rio Lindo Avenue, Chico. Detectives believed that a resident was in possession of child pornography, and they searched for evidence related to this investigation at this location.
Death in Public
Case # 23-005976
On September 7, 2023, around 12:11 PM, Officers responded to 2020 Business Ln. for a person down in the bushes behind the business. A citizen located the subject and summoned emergency personnel. The subject was pronounced deceased by medical personnel on scene. No foul play is suspected in this death.
The identity of the deceased person is being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.
Location: 2020 Business Ln.
Victim: Withheld
Supervisor: Sgt. M. Williams
Warrant Arrest
Case # 23-005934
On September 5, 2023, while on patrol, a Chico Police Officer saw a wanted subject riding a bicycle near the Cozy Diner on Mangrove Ave. The suspect, Zachary Brown, was initially cooperative but attempted to flee when the officer tried to arrest him on a warrant. Brown was arrested after a brief struggle, and he was found to be in possession of 84 grams of suspected fentanyl and brass knuckles.
Brown was booked into Butte County Jail for possession of a controlled substance, possession of a prohibited weapon, resisting arrest, and a felony warrant.
Robbery Suspect Apprehended with Police K9
Case # 23-005699
On September 3rd, 2023, at 1:48 p.m., the Chico Police Dispatch Center received a call about a man who was wanted for Robbery and Assault with a Deadly Weapon at the Rite Aid store last week causing a disturbance outside Butte County Behavioral Health. On Saturday August 26, the man was in the process of stealing merchandise from the Rite Aid at 650 Mangrove Avenue on when he slashed a large fixed-blade knife at an employee of the store. The employee had minor injuries and the suspect fled the store.
Three Arrested in Stolen Vehicle Recovery
Case # 23-005861
On September 2nd, 2023, at 1:06 p.m., The Chico Police Dispatch Center received several calls from witnesses stating three teens had just crashed a car at the intersection of The Esplanade and Rio Lindo Avenue and fled from it. Officers arrived within two minutes and met with witnesses. It was discovered the vehicle the three had fled from was a reported stolen vehicle. A description was obtained and an area check for the three was initiated. One of the suspects was found walking away eastbound on Rio Lindo Avenue and detained without incident.
Chico Police Investigating Shooting
Case # 23-005836
On September 1, 2023, around 11:54 a.m., the Chico Police Dispatch Center received a call regarding a shooting that had just occurred in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 1200 block of Notre Dame Blvd.
When officers arrived on scene, they found a victim seated in a vehicle with what appeared to be a gunshot wound to his face. The suspects fled prior to officers arriving and remain outstanding at this time.
The victim was taken to a local hospital, and at last check their vitals were stable.
Transportation and Sale of Fentanyl Arrest
23-005793
On 8/30/2023 at approximately 8 p.m., a Chico Police Officer made an enforcement stop on a driver who was observed committing several vehicle code infractions in the area of Alder St. and E. 6th St. The female driver, identified as Claire Bechard, and male passenger, identified as Christopher Seghetti, were contacted by the officer at the driver’s side window. During the contact, the officer observed drug paraphernalia inside the passenger compartment of the vehicle.
Suspicious Vehicle Leads to Arrest
Case # 23-005752
On Monday, August 28, 2023, the Chico Police Dispatch Center received a call regarding a suspicious occupied vehicle in the area of E. 6th Ave. and Esplanade. According to the caller, the occupants were trying to start the vehicle with a screwdriver.
An officer arrived on scene and attempted to contact the four occupants inside the vehicle, but they were uncooperative. Once more officers arrived on scene, they safely detained all the occupants.
Target Theft
Case # 23-005747
On Monday, August 28, 2023, Chico Police Officers responded to Target on E. 20th St. after receiving a call from employees that a theft had just occurred.
According to reports, Target’s Loss Prevention observed a female, later identified as Maria Ponce-Romero (50) of Oroville, loading a cart with merchandise, pushing it out of the store, and loading it into a vehicle. Ponce-Romero then returned to the store to fill up another cart.
Bike Thieves Arrested
Case # 23-005644
On 8/25/23, Chico Police received a call from a resident who stated they woke up this morning and discovered the two electric bikes stolen from their driveway. The bikes were locked to the rear of a vehicle. The resident had video surveillance that showed two men unknown to them took the bikes overnight without their permission. The resident had secreted a GPS location device on the bikes and provided their cell phone to the responding Officer who tracked the general location of the bikes.
Target 459
Case # 23-005639
On 8/25/23, at approximately 0251 hours, janitorial staff at 1951 E 20th Street (Target) contacted the Chico Police Department after locating an unknown subject inside the business after closing hours. Janitorial staff exited the business and contacted the Chico Police Department, leaving the subject inside the business.
Upon arrival, Chico Police officers contacted the manager for Target, who stated they desired to press charges against the subject for trespassing in the business after closing hours.
Carjacking Update
Case # 23-005438
On August 20, 2023, at about 1:45 PM, a Chico Police Officer located a stolen vehicle in the area of Dayton Road and Hegan Lane. The vehicle was taken during a carjacking that occurred on August 18th, 2023, at the Safeway Gas Station on Mangrove Avenue. During the incident, the suspect had brandished a firearm at the victim. The vehicle then fled the scene. As the officer attempted to contact the stolen vehicle and two occupants, the vehicle fled from the officer. A pursuit was then initiated. Several Chico Police Officers responded to the area and assisted in the pursuit.
Carjacking
Case # 23-005438
On August 18 at 3:54 a.m., the Chico Police Dispatch Center received a call of a Carjacking/Robbery which had occurred at the Safeway Gas Station at 720 Mangrove Avenue 45 minutes prior. The caller stated he had been fueling his vehicle at the gas pumps when he was approached by the suspect who demanded property from him. The suspect brandished a firearm at the victim, stole his property and left in the victim’s vehicle.