Foot Pursuit Leads to Arrest

On March 16, 2023, at approximately 7:56 AM, the Chico Police Department responded to a report of a subject carrying a rifle in the area of the Highway 99 bike path between Panama Avenue and E. Lassen Avenue. The area surrounding this incident is heavily residential, bordered on the west by Highway 99. 

While Officers were en route, a concerned citizen reported an additional subject was present. Both individuals were associated with a parked vehicle blocking the bike path. One of the subjects was observed firing the rifle toward a nearby fence. 

Due to the heavily populated area, major thoroughfare adjacent to the incident, and subsequent risk to the public, all available Patrol Officers responded to this incident. An Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), commonly known as a drone, was quickly deployed by a Chico Police Officer. This Officer is trained and certified through the FAA as a law enforcement UAS pilot. 

When Patrol Officers contacted the occupied vehicle, a passenger fled on foot, running northbound along the bike path and crossing westbound across the north and southbound lanes of heavily trafficked Highway 99. The UAS monitored the passenger’s location as he fled while the driver was detained. 

Officers then focused their efforts on locating the passenger. Utilizing the UAS, Officers coordinated their approach to where they believed the passenger was hiding. The UAS allowed the Officers to leverage time and space in an effort to de-escalate the situation, enhancing the safety of everyone involved in the incident. The passenger was located in the 300 block of E. Lassen Avenue and taken into custody without incident.

The passenger, identified as 36-year-old Myles Lewis, was arrested for delaying an officer (148 PC) and a Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS) violation. Upon further investigation, the driver of the vehicle was released without charges. An airsoft rifle was located in the vehicle. 

The Chico Police Department would like to thank the following agencies who assisted with this incident:  California Highway Patrol, Butte County Sheriff’s Office, Butte County EMS, and the Chico Fire Department.

UAS technology is an increasingly valuable tool for law enforcement agencies, allowing them to perform their duties more efficiently and effectively while minimizing risk and improving Officer, suspect, and community safety. This real-time information promotes increased situational awareness and enhanced decision-making. 

The Chico Police Department continues to be transparent with the community in the use of drones by ensuring the community has access to our flight logs on the Police Department’s website. These logs are routinely updated and can be viewed at the following link: https://app.airdata.com/u/chicopd

Location: Panama Avenue at Highway 99 bike path

Suspect: Myles Lewis (36 years old)

Victim: State of California

Supervisor: Sgt. M. Williams

Lieutenant: Sgt. J. Schmid

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