Wanted Fugitive Arrest
Case#20-003610
On July 10th 2020, at approximately 4:30 p.m. the Chico
Police Dispatch Center received a call from a citizen who
observed the occupants of a vehicle in possession of a handgun.
Officers located the vehicle and learned the suspects had gone
into an apartment on La Leita Court in Chico. Through
investigation, Officers determined there had been three occupants
of the vehicle. Two of the occupants, both 17 year-old
females, were detained outside the residence. A third occupant,
an adult male, was believed to still be inside the residence.
Through investigation, Officers learned the male’s identity was
23 year-old Michael Gardenhire who had a felony warrant for his
arrest and was likely hiding from Officers inside the La Leita
residence.
Officers on scene attempted to call Gardenhire out of the
residence by using a vehicle PA system. Gardenhire failed to
respond. Based on a reasonable concern Gardenhire was armed,
Chico P.D.’s specialized tactical team, the SWAT Team, was
activated. After more call-outs by Chico P.D. SWAT, Gardenhire
voluntarily exited the residence. He was arrested without
incident, over five hours after the initial call. A subsequent
search warrant was obtained for the residence and a search
conducted. The firearm in question was located inside the
residence where the two females and Gardenhire had been.
Gardenhire and one of the juvenile females were arrested for charges ranging from warrants to resisting arrest and violation of probation. Additional charges related to the firearm are pending further investigation. The second juvenile female was released to her parents.
La Leita Court was closed for approximately six hours as this incident unfolded. The Chico Police Department would like to thank the residents of La Leita Court for their understanding during this incident, as it was a considerable inconvenience for them.
Location: La Leita Court, Chico
Date/Time: 7/10/2020 1630 hrs to 2345 hrs
Victim: State of California, others withheld
Suspect(s): Juvenile female (name withheld) Michael Gardenhire (see attached photograph)
Supervisor: T. Tupper S11
Watch Commander: M. Rodden C6