January 20, 2021
Butte County Sheriff’s Office K-9 Helps Apprehend Armed Suspect
Oroville, CA- On Monday, January 18, 2021, at approximately 5:20 a.m., Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputies were dispatched to Gold Country Casino in Oroville. Casino security staff contacted the BCSO Dispatch Center, advising a male was seen inside the casino with a handgun concealed in his waistband.
BCSO deputies responded to the casino and were advised the suspect, identified as Pedro Vazquez, age 29 of Willows, was currently on the casino floor. When deputies approached Vazquez, he turned towards deputies, reached for his waistband and attempted to flee. Out of fear for officer safety, and the safety of casino patrons, Deputy Hardwick’s police service dog (PSD) Enzo was deployed. Vazquez ran approximately 60-yards before Enzo made contact with him, allowing the deputies to safely take Vazquez into custody.
After further investigation, deputies located a loaded handgun approximately five-feet from where Vazquez was taken into custody. Vazquez, who is a convicted felon and is prohibited from carrying a firearm, was taken to a local hospital for treatment, and then booked into the Butte County Jail for being a felon in possession of a firearm, being a prohibited person in possession of ammunition, carrying a loaded firearm without being the registered owner, possession of a concealed weapon, and resisting/obstructing a police officer.
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