Don’t Rob your Neighbor

On 7/26/22 at approximately 11:33 AM, Chico Police Dispatch received a report of an armed robbery. Officers responded to the 1300 Block of E. Lindo Ave, Chico and contacted the victim. The victim reported that two known subjects approached him and demanded items. The victim had previously lived in a tent near one of the suspects in the Comanche Creek Homeless Encampments. One of the subjects was armed with a handgun and pointed it at the victim. This subject was identified as Joshua Edward Boles (42 yrs old). The second subject’s name will be withheld pending further investigation.

The victim complied with the demands of the suspects, however, a brief struggle ensued between the victim and both suspects. During the struggle, one of the suspects hit the victim with a ukulele. The victim stated that the suspects became nervous and fled the area. The victim fled in the opposite direction and contacted Chico Police.

Officers scoured the city for the entire afternoon and located Boles in the area of E. 8th St and Bartlett St. Boles was taken into custody without incident. Officers were unable to locate any firearm in his immediate possession.

On 7/27/22, Chico Police Detectives authored a search warrant to search several tents within the Windchime Park (1850 Humboldt Rd, Chico) for the outstanding firearm. This area has numerous homeless encampments within the city property. Detectives were able to determine Boles’ tent. At approximately 3:50 pm, Detectives served the search warrant and located a stolen handgun within one of the described tents. This handgun matched the description given by the victim in the robbery. Detectives later discovered that this handgun had been stolen in Nov. 2021 from a Chico resident.

During the service of the search warrant, Stefanie Lynn Avery (31 yrs old) was contacted. Avery attempted to pass heroin and Fentanyl to another subject in front of several Detectives. She was arrested for possession of heroin and Fentanyl (11350(a) HS), Addict in possession of a firearm (29800(a)(1) PC), and Possession of Stolen Property (496(a) PC). Detectives are requesting that Boles, who was still in custody for the Robbery (211 PC), be additionally booked for being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm (29800(a)(1) PC).

Location: 1300 Block E. Lindo Ave, Chico CA

Date/Time: 7/26/22 11:33 AM

Incident Case Number: 22-004607

Victims: Names Withheld

Suspect: Joshua Edward Boles (42 yrs old) and Stefanie Lynn Avery (31 yrs old)

Supervisor: Sgt. Nick Bauer

Watch Commander: Lt. Miller