Suspect threatening bystanders with a knife arrested

On 09/29/2022 at 8:58 PM, the Chico Police Department dispatch center began receiving multiple 911 calls from Safeway located at 1366 East Avenue. Witnesses stated there was a male subject armed with a knife attacking people inside of the store. Based upon the violent nature of the emergency and the threat to innocent bystanders, multiple Officers responded to the scene. Prior to Officer’s arrival, the suspect fled in a vehicle at a high rate of speed with a juvenile and a female passenger. Officers discovered there were multiple victims that were threatened by the suspect with a knife, but no one was significantly injured or stabbed. While Officers were at the scene, they developed investigative leads and quickly identified the suspect as Nicolas Vernon-Rojo (23).

The Chico Police Department Violence Suppression Unit (VSU) along with Patrol, went to Nicolas’s residence to contact him. During the contact, Detectives and Officers were able to get Nicolas to surrender and they checked on the welfare of everyone inside his residence ensuring the scene was safe. Nicolas was apprehended within 23 minutes of the original report at Safeway. Nicolas was arrested for multiple counts of assault with a deadly weapon 245(a)(1) PC, brandishing a weapon 417(a)(1) PC, felony child endangerment 273a(a) PC, and battery 242 PC. Nicolas was taken to the Butte County Jail for the above-listed charges.

Location: 1366 East Avenue (Safeway)

Victim: Withheld

Suspect: Nicolas Vernon-Rojo

Supervisor: Sgt. Uebelhardt

Commander: Lt. Tupper