Stolen Vehicle Pursuit Results in Arrest

On August 7, 2023, at approximately 12:45 AM, a Chico Police Officer was on patrol in the area of Cohasset Road and East Avenue when they located an occupied stolen vehicle. The officer confirmed the vehicle was stolen with CPD dispatch and then attempted to conduct a high-risk vehicle enforcement stop near Cohasset Road and Lupin Avenue. The suspect vehicle failed to yield to the officer and a vehicle pursuit ensued. Chico Police Officers pursued the suspect vehicle as it continued northbound on Cohasset Road toward the Town of Cohasset. When the road conditions deteriorated, the on-duty supervisor canceled the pursuit. The vehicle continued to flee northbound on Cohasset Road.

Officers were still on scene near Cohasset Road and Richardson Springs Road when they were alerted by another CPD officer that the suspect vehicle was located. The officer advised the vehicle was attempting to come back into Chico, southbound Cohasset Road. Officers immediately deployed spike strips to try and stop or slow the suspect vehicle. Spike Strips are a device used by CPD officers to flatten the tires of a pursued vehicle. This greatly reduces the danger of vehicle pursuits by limiting the suspect’s ability to continue to drive fast. The spike strips often disable the vehicle’s ability to move forward at all. The deployment of the spike strips was successful and the suspect vehicle came to a stop less than a quarter mile from where they were deployed.

The driver, identified as a juvenile, was contacted by CPD officers and taken into custody without incident. The juvenile was placed under arrest for Stolen Vehicle Possession and Evading Officers. He was ultimately transported to Butte County Juvenile Hall. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

Location: Cohasset Road/ Lupin Avenue

Suspect: Withheld

Victim: Withheld

Supervisor: Sgt. Tony Ferreira

Lieutenant: Lt. Jeff Durkin