Subject Arrested After Groping Woman

On September 22, 2021, at about 11:48 pm Chico Police Dispatch received a call of a vegetation fire on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, just south of World Market. Chico Fire and Cal-Fire personnel responded and quickly extinguished what was determined to be three separate grass fires. The area burned totaled approximately 1-2 acres. There were no structures damaged.

Chico Police Officers responded and spoke with several citizens in the area. Through investigation it was determined that Gerald Roehrich (age 53) groped a woman who was sleeping at a nearby bus stop. Roehrich walked into the adjacent field and three separate grass fires ignited. Roehrich remained in the area angry, breaking glass bottles and left the scene when fire personnel arrived.

Officers located Roehrich and arrested him for a violation of section 243.4(e)(1) PC. Roehrich was booked into the Butte County Jail. A case will also be filed with the Butte County District Attorney’s Office for arson.

Location: 2101 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway, Chico
Victim: Withheld
Suspect: Gerald Roehrich (53 years old)
Supervisor: Sergeant J. Adrian
Watch Commander: Lieutenant O. Peña