Police Department News Releases
Suspicious Item
Case# 22-005520
On August 22, 2022, at about 11:09 AM, Chico Police received a call for service regarding a suspicious item chained to the bicycle locks at the front doors of City Hall, 411 Main Street. Officers arrived and reviewed the item; they determined it was suspicious in nature. Due to the circumstances, the building was evacuated, and the Butte County Interagency Bomb Squad responded to the scene. Explosive Ordinance Technicians took measures to render the item safe. There were no incendiary devices located.
Location: City Hall, 411 Main Street, Chico Ca.
Victim: N/A
Arrest of Indecent Exposure Suspect in Bidwell Park
Case # 22-005172
On 8/20/22 at approximately 1550 hrs. Chico Police Department Dispatch received a report of a possible Indecent Exposure at the Sycamore Pool area of Bidwell Park. The reporting party advised that the male suspect, later identified as Ezequiel Ruiz-Leon, was standing in nearby bushes, watching a group of children while exposing himself and masturbating. Officers arrived on scene within minutes and contacted and detained Ruiz without incident.
Subject Arrested with a Firearm in City Plaza
Case# 22-005168
On August 20, 2022, at about 5:31 a.m., a Chico Police Officers were flagged down at the Downtown City Plaza in regards to a physical altercation. Officers witnessed two subjects involved in a physical fight near the stage area. Officers detained one of the subjects while the other subject fled the scene on foot. After a short foot chase the suspect, later identified as Christian Governor, was detained. While speaking with witnesses on scene Officers learned that Governor had discharged a firearm at another subject in the area of city plaza.
Hamburglar Apprehended
Case# 22-004678
On 7/29/22 at approximately 1:46 am, Chico Police Officers were sent to an alarm call at Big Chico Burger (1550 East Ave, Chico). Officers received information that an exterior door was unsecure. Officers discovered evidence that the building door had been forced open. Owners of the business supplied Officers with surveillance. Detectives reviewed the surveillance and quickly recognized Nathan Henderson (31 yrs old) as the suspect. Detectives obtained a warrant for Henderson’s arrest.
Missing Elderly Woman
Case# 22-5114
UPDATE: 8/22/2022: The Chico Police Department is happy to report that Edwina Nearing has been located and is safe. We appreciate the community’s assistance.
ORIGINAL 8/19/2022: The Chico Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in helping locate Edwina Nearing (76) of Chico. Nearing is an at-risk elderly female. She was reported missing by a family member on 8/18/22 after they were unable to locate her at her residence. Nearing’s last known contact with her family was the night of 8/17/22.
Three Suspects Involved in Armed Robbery
Case# 22-005112
On August 17, 2022, at approximately 5:10 PM, the Chico Police Department responded to reports of an armed robbery that occurred in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 1100 block of W. 6th Street, Chico.
Witnesses and victims reported that three male suspects, armed with handguns, robbed three male victims of cash and personal property. The suspects fled in two separate passenger vehicles. The Chico Police Department is requesting that anyone with information regarding the case contact the Chico Police Department’s Violence Suppression Unit.
K-9 Pyro Leads Officers to Prowling Suspect
Case# 22-005115
On August 18, 2022, at approximately 3:00 a.m., K-9 Pyro and his partner K-9 Handler Officer Martin were patrolling on Carmichael Drive in Chico when they noticed a suspicious subject, later identified as Zachary Johnson (age 29), prowling around the closed businesses in the area. Johnson was wearing sandals and black backpack. Johnson saw Officer Martin and fled on foot northbound onto Carmichael Drive.
Wanted Subject Arrested After Burglarizing Two Homes
Case# 22-005099
On August 17, 2022, at about 7:00 AM, a citizen called Chico PD Dispatch and said an unknown male subject (later identified as Jacob RUIZ) had entered her house, rummaged through her belongings and was in her bathroom. The victim screamed and chased after RUIZ, and he ran out the front door of the house. All available units responded to the scene and found RUIZ a short time later in the parking lot of 400 Mission Ranch Blvd. RUIZ tried to run away from the responding units, but officers gave chase and caught him after a short foot pursuit.
Arrest for Impersonating an Officer
Case# 22-005019
Location: 2000 Block Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway
On 8/13/2022 a Chico Police Officer was on patrol in the area of the 2000 Block of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. when the officer observed a Ford Crown Victoria with California Exempt license plates that did not match the vehicle. The officer conducted a traffic enforcement stop and contacted and detained the solo occupant of the vehicle, Lonnie Henderson (3/23/1960). During the stop, it was determined that the license plate had been stolen from a Sutter County Government vehicle.
Missing Person Located: Reports Kidnapping Unfounded
Case# 22-005007
UPDATE:
On 8/13/22, Detectives from the Chico Police Department’s Violence Suppression Unit continued the investigation into this incident. The missing person was contacted, located, and interviewed. She stated that the report of her kidnapping was unfounded.
ORIGINAL PRESS RELEASE, 11:44 a.m.
Missing Person
Case# 22-005007
On August 12th at 11:54 p.m., the Chico Police Dispatch Center received a 911 call of a possible kidnapping which had just occurred at an address in north Chico. Multiple officers responded and began an area check and investigation related to this call. The information they were obtaining was very convoluted and inconsistent and officers were unable to substantiate that a kidnapping had actually occurred. At this point, this incident is being investigated as a missing person under suspicious circumstances.
Male decedent recovered
On 8/11/22 at approximately 3:30 p.m., a male decedent was recovered from Big Chico Creek in Upper Bidwell Park between Bear Hole and Salmon Hole by Butte County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue and the Chico Fire Department.
The coroner’s office was unable to positively identify the decedent. No further information will be released at this time.
Supervisor: Sgt. N. Bauer
Lieutenant: Lt. B. Miller
Burglary Suspect in Custody
Case# 22-004833
On 8/4/2022, at approximately 3:00 am, an unknown suspect burglarized the Valero Gas Station located at 2233 the Esplanade. The suspect was able to make entry into the business by falling through the roof. Once falling through the roof, the suspect stole numerous items before fleeing. The following morning, Officer Cory Barrow began his investigation into the burglary and reviewed video surveillance. While viewing the surveillance, Officer Barrow noticed the subject was wearing distinct clothing.
Missing Person
Case# 22-01745
On 8/10/22, the Chico Police Department received information of a suspicious vehicle, a 2003 Jeep, located at upper Bidwell Park. Upon investigating, our officers found the registered vehicle owner, Bruce Bohneman (63), was reported missing to the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office on 8/9/22.
Our officers conducted an initial search of the area but were not able to locate Bohneman. The Butte County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue are now assisting and will be in upper Bidwell Park continuing the search.
Felon arrested with loaded firearm
Case# 22-4952
On 8/10/22 at approximately 1942 hours Chico Police Dispatch received a report of brandishing of a firearm in the 600 block of E. 12th St. The victim, a woman and her toddler child, stated the suspect, for an unknown reason, was tailgating them. The victim pulled to the shoulder of the road to allow the suspect to pass. The suspect passed the victim then turned around and drove back toward the victim. As the suspect passed the victim in the opposite direction, the suspect pointed a handgun at the victim and her child before speeding away.
Battery on a Peace Officer
On Aug 9, 2022, at about 6:15 p.m. the Chico Police Dispatch Center received a telephone call from a retail business in the 2500 block of Notre Dame Blvd reporting a transient looking male (later identified as Mr. James Owens; 36 years) was walking through the store pushing shopping carts at customers acting as though he was trying to strike them. Mr. Owens pointed his finger at citizens acting as though he was shooting them with his fingers. Citizens believed Mr. Owens was on drugs and were frightened by him.
Arrest Made in Conspiracy/Robbery Case
Case# 22-2593
On April 28, 2022, at approximately 5:45 PM, the Chico Police Department responded to a report of a robbery that occurred in the parking lot of the Chico Mall, located at 1900 block of E. 20th Street, Chico. The female victim reported she had exited the Chico Mall, where she was shopping with her boyfriend, NICHOLAS FITZGERALD (27 years of age), when a masked adult male punched her face and stole her purse. The suspect fled the scene in a vehicle.
Unprovoked Stabbing in Downtown Chico Motel
Case# 22-004900
On 8/8/22 at approximately 10:00 AM, Chico Police Officers were dispatched to the 700 Block of Broadway Street. Dispatch reported that a male subject in possession of a firearm was chasing a subject. Dispatch also stated that the suspect had stabbed that person. Officers responded to the area and located the victim and assisted in providing medical aid. The suspect was believed to be in a nearby motel room. Officers created a perimeter and began requesting that all occupants of the motel shelter in place.
Domestic Violence Incident with a Stabbing Injury
Case# 22-4832
On August 4, 2022, at approximately 2:40 PM, the Chico Police Department received a 911 report from a woman in a vehicle reporting a domestic dispute and false imprisonment. The incident was determined to be occurring on Skyway between Highway 99 and Honey Run Road. An additional report to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office indicated that the incident had terminated near the Skyway Golf Park on Longest Drive. Officers arrived in the area and located a 33-year old male subject with a stab wound to the chest and a 32-year old female subject.
Burglary Suspect Arrested
On July 31, 2022, at approximately 04:29 AM, a Chico Police Officer patrolling the area of Esplanade and Cohasset Road spotted a suspicious male walking out of the Garden Vila business park. Due to the businesses being closed and other suspicious behavior observed, the officer turned around to investigate and saw the male running north on the adjacent bike path.