REDDING, Calif. (AP) — Lawyers for two Northern California flight school employees deny accusations that their clients kidnapped a student pilot and tried to send him back to his native China.

Police in Redding arrested flight instructor Jonathan McConkey and his assistant, Kelsi Hoser, on suspicion of kidnapping and conspiracy.

Investigators say the pair assaulted Tianshu Shi at his apartment last week and forcibly took him to the city airport.

Lawyers for McConkey and Hoser said in a joint statement Tuesday that their clients deny the accusations and intend to prove their innocence.

The two were released from custody after posting bail. No court date was immediately set.

Their employer, IASCO Flight Training, hasn't returned phone messages seeking comment.

Shi, a trainee in the U.S. on a student visa, sustained minor injuries.

More details emerge about a vehicle verse pedestrian accident in Chico Sunday night. A 27-year-old woman was found in the roadway after being struck by a passing vehicle. She was flown to a Sacramento area hospital after being sent to Enloe Medical Center. Police say she is currently with family members recovering. According to a Chico Police press report, the unidentified woman was found to be intoxicated the night of the accident. The driver of the car a 33-year-old Chico man was not found to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol and has fully cooperated with investigators. Police say he will not be charged with a crime.

A Sacramento man reportedly steals thousands of dollars worth of cellphones from a Chico store. 26-year-old Steven McFarland was reportedly observed stealing cellphones from the the AT&T Store on Mangrove Avenue around 1:45. An employee then chased him on foot. When officers arrived McFarland then fled from them. Officers chased McFarland through the Chico Cemetery and then onto the Chico Junior High School grounds. According to a Chico Police press release, this prompted a five minute lock down of the school. McFarland was eventually caught after he was seen jumping the fences of nearby homes. He was arrested for various burglary charges.

Police were called out to a vehicle verses pedestrian accident in Chico. Officers arrived at the intersection of East 5th Avenue and Sherman Avenue around 11:30 Sunday night and found a person in the roadway. According to a Chico Police press release, the victim was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the vehicle involved was reportedly at the scene. The collision is still under investigation and police are asking if there are any other witnesses to contact the Chico Police Department.

Three bay area men are arrested over the weekend for a shooting incident in Chico. There were multiple reports of a shooting on the 12 hundred block of North Cedar Street around 3:45 Sunday morning. Witnesses told police that they saw a fight break out and then someone allegedly firing a gun at the location before taking off in a vehicle. Officers found and stopped that suspected vehicle in the area of West Sacramento and Warner Street. According to a Chico Police Department press release, officers found a firearm inside and arrested the three male suspects who were all from Benicia. No victims were found at the scene.

The Cannabis 101 forum in Oroville Thursday brought many for and against commercial cannabis sales in the city. The idea was recently floated as a way to help the financially strapped city. Some argued against it, saying federal law prohibits sales of cannabis in the city. Others argued it was not the financial solution to Oroville's problems. The forum featured  Neil Hall from the S-C-I Consutling Group, which works with California cities about commercial cannabis sales. 

Authorities have reported a big rig Jackknife on the southbound lanes of Highway 99 north of the East Avenue on-ramp this morning around 6:50. The Cal Trans/CHP Traffic Incident Page indicates that the big rig overturned on the on-ramp and that it went down an embankment 20 feet off of the edge. Officers have shut down the on Ramp.

Butte County Mosquito and Vector Control District http://www.bcmvcd.com

Aerial flights begin Tuesday to try and get an idea of where mosquito populations might breed and cause West Nile Virus. The annual fly overs are meant to get a bird's eye view of places where water has collected. Matt Ball with the Mosquito and Vector Control District says the flights help take aerial pictures.

Chico Police received a report of a road rage incident involving a man driving a Nissan Titan pickup in the area of East Avenue and the Esplande around 8 pm Monday night. That driver, identified as Adam Parsons then went into the AM/PM in the area where he allegedly threatened the clerks and a customer with a hammer demanding money for gas. Parsons left the store and reportedly attempted to back over someone in his truck. According to a Chico Police Department press release, he then crashed his truck into a tree before driving off again. Parsons ended up near Manzanita Avenue where he allegedly stole a tow truck. Police say he collided with a vehicle on East Lassen Avenue near the Esplande and then crashed into two patrol vehicles. According to police, an officer shot at the tow truck but Parsons was not hit. Officers chased him to a dead end street where Parsons allegedly assaulted an officer before fleeing on foot. Parsons reportedly entered a nearby home of an 88-year-old woman. Officers rescued the woman and then used a K-9 and a Taser to finally take Parsons custody. He was booked into the Butte County Jail and a slew of charges.

Chico Fire has reported another crash --- this time on the Esplanade in front of the Basque Norte Restaurant after 8 this morning. A Honda collided with a Volks Wagon. The roadway was reported to be partially blocked. No injuries were reported and no word on what caused the accident.

Chico Fire dispatch reported a three vehicle collision before 6:40 this morning in the area of 9th and Broadway. A Honda Sedan, Chevy Silverado pickup, and a Nissan Xterra were involved. Chico Fire says a vehicle or vehicles struck a commercial building during the collision, but that there wasn't any major structural damage to the building or to electrical transformers. No one was reported injured in the crash. Police have opened up lanes to traffic. No word yet on the exact cause of the crash.

The CHP is issuing a traffic alert for the area of Ord Ferry and River roads in Chico this morning. According to the CHP traffic incident page, the west bound lane of Ord Ferry Road at 7-mile Lane is closed and could be closed for at least 4 hours. This after semi-truck went over the railing of a bridge into a ravine before 5 this morning. Cal Fire told Action News Now that the truck went completely off the bridge and is on its side. They say about 150 gallons of diesel fuel went into the water and is also leaking into the soil. Hazmat crews have arrived to clean up the scene, however authorities say this is not a Hazmant situation. They say the driver is out of the truck, but no word on the extent of his injuries.

There are reports of a structure fire in north Chico in the area of White Avenue south of East Lassen Avenue some time after 8:30 this morning. White smoke has been seen in the area. According to a tweet from PG&E's Paul Moreno traffic is slowing in the area.
According to Chico Fire Dispatch PG&E crews are on their way to the scene.

Multiple fires on Skyway heading up the hill  near Tuscan ridge area.
-courtesy Chico CHP

Chico Fire Dispatch reported a vehicle verses bicycle collision after 7:45 this morning at the Esplanade and Memorial Way near Chico Junior High School. Authorities say a blue sedan struck a juvenile on a bike. Chico Junior High staff told first responders that the juvenile had been taken to nearby Immediate Care, the driver who was involved was there with the teen along with the principal of Chico Junior. School officials say however the juvenile hit was not a student at Chico Junior.

The CHP, Cal Fire, and Chico Fire responded to a a semi-truck fire on Highway 99 in Chico Monday night. Firefighters arrived to south bound Highway 99 near the Highway 32 off-ramp to find a semi truck fully engulfed in flames after 8:30 Monday night. The semi had also lost a tire. According to Chico Fire Department's Twitter page, southbound Highway 99 was closed between Cohasset Road and East 1st Avenue while fire crews knocked down the flames and then cleaned up the area. The lanes are now reopen. No one was injured in the incident.

The picture below is from Chico Fire Department's Twitter page.

Motorists on the Skyway this Sunday will run into one of two westbound lanes closed. A news release says Pacific Gas and Electric Company has crews installing new power lines along the road. The closure could last most of the day Sunday--from about 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM The area affected is about 18 hundred feet east of Honey Run Road to Potter Road. It adds that access to and from Honey Run Road will NOT be impacted.