*UPDATE* Armed Felon Arrested on Playground

ARMED FELON ARRESTED AT PARK UPDATE This press release reflects the correct date of the original incident as April 2nd, 2022.

On April 2nd, 2022, at approximately 7:15 PM, detectives with the Chico Police Department’s Violence Suppression Unit (VSU) located a subject believed to be unlawfully armed with a handgun at the Dorothy Johnson Center, located in the 700 block of E. 16th Street, Chico. The location is a neighborhood park that contains a playground, basketball courts, and juvenile learning facilities. JORGE HERNANDEZ (26) a convicted felon, fled from officers upon contact, and was detained after a short foot-pursuit. HERNANDEZ was in possession of a loaded pistol at the time of his arrest.

An additional subject, MARIO URZUA-AVALOS (20), was contacted during the incident and found to be in violation of his probation terms. URZUA-AVALOS was arrested for violation of probation.

HERNANDEZ was booked into the Butte County Jail with a request for the following charges:

29800(a)(1) PC Prohibited Person in Possession of a Firearm

30305(a) PC Felon in Possession of Ammunition

148(a)(1) PC Resisting, Obstructing, Delaying Law Enforcement Officers

25400(a)(2) PC Unlawfully Carry of a Concealed, Loaded Pistol

Case Number: 22-002014

Location: Dorothy Johnson Center, Chico

Victim: State of California

Suspects: Jorge Hernandez (26) Mario Urzua-Avalos (20)

Supervisor: Sergeant Dane Gregory

Watch Commander: Sergeant Jeff Durkin