Church Burglary Suspect Arrested
On 7/6/23, Chico Police Detectives and the Violence Suppression Unit served a Search Warrant in the 700 block of W. 4th Avenue. Detectives were searching for evidence of numerous property crimes targeting local Chico churches.
Detectives began investigating two separate burglaries on 6/12/23. The burglaries occurred at Our Divine Savior Church (566 East Ave, Chico) and St. John the Evangelical Episcopal Church (2341 Floral Avenue, Chico). Detectives immediately believed that the burglaries were perpetrated by the same suspects. An astute Patrol Officer spotted the vehicle captured on surveillance video while patrolling neighborhoods late one evening. This vehicle was later connected to one of the suspects, Dustin Lee Garcia (43 years old), who was in possession of the vehicle for several weeks after the burglaries.
Detectives were able to connect Garcia to a burglary that occurred in Glenn County on 6/27/23. Glenn County Sheriff’s Detectives reported that a subject driving the described suspect vehicle had attempted to steal a safe from a residence in their jurisdiction. During this burglary, the suspects were able to steal the victim’s wallet. They subsequently used the victim’s credit cards to purchase items from various businesses. Chico Police Officers identified the suspect, depicted in surveillance footage, as Dustin Garcia.
On 7/3/23, Chico State University Police began investigating the theft of property and a vehicle from the Chico State University Campus. The vehicle was later located and two subjects were arrested. One of the subjects arrested was Dustin Garcia. Garcia was arrested by Chico State Police Officers for suspicion of 459 PC (Burglary) 10851 CVC (Auto Theft), and 496(a) PC (Possession of Stolen Property). Garcia was on Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) at the time of his offenses. Garcia was also arrested on suspicion of violating his PRCS terms.
Garcia has a lengthy history of burglary arrests, theft arrests, drug possession and obstructing Police Officers.
At the conclusion of the search warrant conducted on 7/6/23, Detectives obtained enough evidence to arrest Garcia, who was already in custody at the Butte County Jail for his Chico State University transgressions. Garcia was arrested for two more counts of 459 PC (Burglary) and a violation of 1203.2(A) PC (Probation Violation).
Location: 700 Block W. 4th Avenue, Chico, Ca
Date/Time: 6/12/2023
Victim: Our Devine Savior Church and St. John the Evangelical Episcopal Church
Suspect: Dustin Lee Garcia (43 years old)
Supervisor: Sgt. Nick Bauer
Watch Commander: Lt. Brian Miller