Caught Red-Hatted

On 10/27/21 at approximately 8:40 am, Officers were dispatched to a suspicious circumstance at W. 7th Street and Orange Street. The reporting party observed a subject taking items from a vehicle and leaving the area. The reporting party believed that the vehicle may have been stolen. A Chico Police Officer arrived on scene and confirmed that the vehicle was an unreported stolen. The owner had last observed the vehicle the previous night before they went to sleep. The Officer investigating the theft obtained surveillance video of the suspect. The suspect was wearing a bright red beanie cap.

As the Chico Police Officer was investigating the stolen vehicle, a subject matching the description rode his bicycle within a block of the investigating Officer. The subject was wearing the bright red beanie cap captured in the surveillance video. Officers contacted the subject. The subject, later identified as Michael Runnels (40 years old), was in possession of stolen property from the vehicle. Officers located stolen property within Runnels’ belongings at Depot Park. Runnels was arrested for Vehicle Burglary (459 California Penal Code) and Vehicle Theft (10851 California Vehicle Code). Runnels was later transported to Butte County Jail.

Location: W. 7th Street and Orange Street, Chico CA
Date/Time: 10/27/21 8:40 AM
Incident Case Number: 21-006458
Victims: Withheld
Suspect: Michael Runnels (40 yrs)
Supervisor: Sgt. Nick Bauer
Watch Commander: Lt. Pena

The Chico Police Department is committed to ensuring our community is a safe place to live, work, and recreate within!