A Chico man has been arrested for a burglary that happened at Big 5 Sporting Goods Tuesday morning, according to the police. 35-year-old Israel Gallardo-Contreras was identified as the suspect, officers said. The vehicle that was used to crash into the entrance of the sporting goods store was located in the area of Wisconsin Street around 2:30 a.m., police said. Gallardo-Contreras evaded capture at that time. Around 8:30 a.m. a Chico Police Officer said he located Gallardo-Contreras riding a bicycle in the area of W. 23rd Street and Mulberry Street. Gallardo-Contreras attempted to run away from the officer and showed signs and symptoms consistent with being under the influence of meth, police said. Gallardo-Contreras was arrested on charges of forced commercial burglary, felon in possession of a firearm, and resisting arrest.

The body of a man was found on the side of the road in north Chico on Sunday. Officers say there are no obvious signs of criminal activity At 8:11 a.m. on Sunday, a Chico resident was walking near E. Lindo Ave. and Arbutus Ave. and noticed a person lying nearby on his side and was unresponsive. The residents noticed the person wasn't breathing.Emergency crews arrived and after assessing the scene, they determined the 42-year-old man lying on the ground was dead. Officials with the Chico Police Department say there were no obvious signs of criminality at the scene.

SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — Pacific Gas & Electric is expected to plead guilty to 84 felony counts of involuntary manslaughter for a wildfire that wiped out most of a Northern California town. In a court hearing Tuesday, the nation’s largest utility will be confronted by the death and destruction caused by its history of neglect and greed. The hearing before Butte County Superior Court Judge Michael Deems comes nearly three months after PG&E reached a plea agreement in the November 2018 fire. Investigators found the fire that destroyed the town of Paradise was ignited by PG&E's rickety electrical grid. The company agreed to pay a $3.5 million fine and $500,000 for the criminal investigation.

P.G.& E. says Public Safety Power Shutoffs will continue this year, and that could inconvenience many people still working from home during the coronavirus outbreak. Officials hope the shutoffs will be shorter in duration and affect fewer customers. The utility's 2020 Fire Safety Program includes efforts to better isolate parts of the grid for shutdowns, and redirect power if a high-voltage line has to be de-energized. The program has included major tree trimming around power lines, and the installation of more resilient power poles, weather stations, and high-definition cameras in high fire risk areas.

An Oroville man was arrested on suspicion of arson in the Palermo area, Cal Fire law enforcement announced Thursday. Officials said 26-year-old Jacob Anthony Arsanis was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of arson for allegedly setting multiple fires in Palermo. Arsanis was booked into the Butte County Jail without bail, for recklessly causing fire and resisting or delaying peace officers, according to Cal Fire officials. He left the scene of two small fires in Palermo on June 6, officials said. He was apprehended three days later in the Oroville area.

https://www.actionnewsnow.com/content/news/Deadly-Crash-Closes-HWY-99--571167151.html

WARNING: SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING
Photos courtesy of Channel 12/24 Action News | UPDATE 2:35pm PDT

UPDATE: A major traffic accident on northbound Highway 99 at the Neal Road stop light has killed one person and has resulted in a tragic scene....
The CHP's Frank Valdepina says the accident involves several cars and tractor trailer...

The California Highway patrol says three vehicles were involved in the accident.....including the semitrailer. The semi-trailer is believed to have caught fire sending smoke billowing from the scene.
The freeway has been closed southbound at Estates Drive and northbound at Durham Pentz. The alternate route is the Midway via Durham Pentz.
CHP says there is a fatality, but has not confirmed how many people have died.

CHP reports Semi v Vehicle accident SB 99 at Neal Rd...Semi engulfed..both SB lanes at Estates Drive closed

NB 99 closed at Durham Pence 

No.time given for reopening

Listen to.939 KPAY for more info 

 

 

Chico City Council Members say  that they've received hundreds of emails suggesting that the Chico Police Department (CPD) be entirely defunded in the wake of the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd.
Some on the Council , including Sean Morgan say that will not happen, but the discussion of reallocating funds within the Department may be discussed as par tof ongoing Budget talks with the Council..Tuesday's council meeting is an important one as the budget is put in place for the upcoming year.

Another important agenda item will be the additional 1-cent sales tax, which if passed, would go to a vote of the people in November.

Mike Zuccolillo turned himself in at the Butte County Jail Tuesday. The vice mayor has been charged with sending sexually explicit texts to a minor. This after a man told sheriff's detectives that he had evidence against Zucillio in a "to catch a predator" style operation. The man said he had been posing as 16-year-old girl and had received explicit texts from Zuccolillo. According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office, the man said that he targeted vice mayor due to animosity he had for the Zuccolillo resulting from a bad business deal. Authorities say detectives were leery of the infomation provided by the man given his motivation for targeting Zuccolillo. However, given the seriousness of the allegations sheriff detectives initiated an investigation and consulted the Butte County DA's Office and the FBI. An undercover officer took over the persona of the teen and reportedly received additional explicit texts from Zuccolillo. With the evidence collected, the DA's Office filed multiple charges against Zuccolillo. He has posted bail and is now awaiting his arraignment on July 10.   

The work will be performed on the entirety of Helltown Road in the Butte Creek Cannon area starting at Centerville Road to the end of the County maintained road. Crews will also treat Mud Creek Road, in Cohasset, starting at Cohasset Road to the intersection at Vilas Road. According to Butte County Publc Works, work on both projects is expect to take place this Wednesday and Thursday from 8 am to 8 pm. The roads will be open, but motorist should expect 30 minute delays.

Four arrests Saturday by Butte County Sheriffs Deputies in Oroville. Deputies stopped a vehicle and found one of the occupants, identified as Christopher Gude had a homicide warrant out of New York state and another occupant, 26-year-old Frank Perry of Georgia had a felony warrant out of nearby Trinity County. During the stop, deputies reportedly confiscated some 64 pounds of marijuana and 99 thousand dollars. According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office, in addition to the arrest warrants, the four were also placed under arrest for sale and transporting marijuana.

Butte County's confirmed cases of COVID-19 is now at 14. That from the latest update from the Butte County Public Health Department. One person is currently being treated at the hospital. No deaths have been reported from the virus.

For more information and to check out the county's "COVID-19 by the Numbers" Dashboard you can visit: butte county dot net slash public health (www.buttecounty.net/publichealth).

 

Glenn County now has 3 confirmed cases of COVID-19. According to Glenn County health officials, the latest case is a healthcare worker who lives in the northern part of the county.

The North Valley Community Foundation has distributed $25,000 in recent grants for coronavirus relief.

$5,000 each will go to the Jesus Center, Torres Shelter, Oroville Rescue Mission, and Catalyst Domestic Violence Services.

 

$600 will go to Paradise-based NomadRC which will produce 300 face shields with 3D printers. Those face shields will be donated to Oroville Hospital.

 

A $2,000 grant will pay for video production costs for a series of public service messages from the city of Chico about the coronvirus.

 

A $1,000 grant will go to the Father's House in Oroville which will support its French Family Food Bank.

 

For more information you can visit: https://tinyurl.com/NVCFCoronavirus

The driver who was killed in last Thursday's early morning collision in downtown Chico has been identified as 22 year old Leonore Robertson. The crash happened around 5 AM at the intersection of West 8th Street and Broadway. Police say the two other female occupants of the vehicle were taken to the hospital for injuries. The driver of the other vehicle, a 24 year old man from Chico and his female passenger were not injured. Investigators say evidence obtained revealed that Robertson ran a red light that caused the collision.

$50,000 in grant funding is coming from Green Bay Quarterback and Chico Native Aaron Rodgers to help with the Coronavirus crisis.

According to the North Valley Community Foundation, the money will be deployed from the Aaron Rodgers Nor Cal Fire Recovery Fund. $20,000 goes to the Boys and Girls Club of the North Valley. The organization is offering dinners for curbside pickup for children only.

$5,000 grants were made to the Youth for Change 6th Street center in Chico, the Youth for Change Family Place in Oroville, the YMCA of Oroville and to various other local organizations.

Chico Police are asking motorist to avoid the westbound lanes of West 8th Street and the southbound lanes of Broadway Street after a fatal crash early this morning. Chico Police is saying that road closure will likely remain for many hours. A two vehicle collision happened around 5 this morning at the intersection of West 8th Street and Broadway. Officers say the driver of one of those vehicles was pronounced dead and two passengers were injured.  

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Butte County property taxes are still due by April 10th. With the impacts from the Coronavirus the County Treasurer-Tax Collector Office is encouraging taxpayers to make payments online or by check or money order. Check or money order amounts can be submitted using the drop box located outside the south entrance at 25 County Center Driver in Oroville or mailed to that same address on or before April 10th.

To book an appointment to make a cash payment prior to April 10th, you can call (530) 552-3740 between the hours of 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. However, officials are strongly recommending alternative payment methods.

For more information you can visit: www.buttecounty.net/treasurertaxcollector

An altercation was reported in the area of East 19th Street and Locust Street at a medical facility just before midnight Tuesday. The victim told officers that he didn't know he had been stabbed until the fight was over. According to Chico Police, he was treated for his wounds before being released. Investigators say leads about the suspect are limited and they're asking anyone who may have witnessed the altercation to contact the police department at (530) 897-4900.

The Butte County Sheriff's Office is investigating a shooting in Concow. Deputies arrived to a residence on Big Bend Road Saturday where they contacted the victim who had been shot. The victim was taken to the hospital where they underwent surgery and is currently in stable condition. After speaking with witnesses authorities determined that 42-year-old Sean Franco was the alleged suspect in the shooting and who lived next to the victim. That afternoon deputies and detectives went to Franco's residence and served a warrant. Evidence related to the shooting and a large marijuana grow was located. Authorities are currently on the lookout for Franco. Anyone with additional information is asked to contact the Butte County Sheriff's Detective Brian Mollath at (530) 538-7671.

Two Honduras men are in jail for illegal cultivation of marijuana after Butte Sheriff's Detectives eradicate more than 13 hundred plants in the Yankee Hill area. 24 year old Juan Cortez and 33 year old Nelzon Ramirez were reportedly found sleeping inside a cabin on a property on Rich Gulch Road. Deputies also discovered eight large greenhouses on the property. Deputies eradicated 13 hundred and 54 marijuana plants.

The Butte County Sheriff's Office arrived at a motel in Oroville Thursday and arrested 18 year old Patrick Conners of England, along with two juveniles also from England. They allegedly primarily went to seniors in the Chico, Oroville, and Magalia where they told them they had some asphalt left over from previous jobs and would pave their driveway at a discounted rate. However, when the work was done, they wanted more money than was originally agreed upon and the work was also reportedly sub-par. Authorities say the suspects allegedly attempted to hide $100,000 in cash believed to be collected from the victims. According to the Butte County Sheriff's Office, more arrests are anticipated.

Anyone with any additional information is asked to (530) 538-7671.

An officer spotted a Honda Civic traveling eastbound on West 9th street just before midnight Saturday. Due to the Stay-at-Home order the Civic was the only car on the road causing the officer to pay particular attention to it. The officer checked the vehicle's registration and learned that it had allegedly been stolen. The officer then attempted a traffic stop and the driver pulled into a gas station in the area of East 11th Street and Park Avenue. He then got out and then reportedly jumped over a fence into a backyard. Additional officers arrived along with a K-9. According to Chico Police, the suspect was found in the backyard and was arrested.

The work is set this coming Monday, April 6.

According to a City of Chico press release, Knife River Construction will begin the first two and a half months of the work--which entails installing sewer lines, streetlight foundations along with removal and replacement of concrete sidewalks, curbs, and gutters from Lindo Channel to Memorial Way. Local access through the area will be subject to traffic controls and some delays. Drivers are encouraged to allow extra time or find an alternate route.