September 11, 2019
5,475 Marijuana Plants Eradicated by BCSO SEU
Butte County, CA- On August 28, 2019, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) served a search warrant across several connected properties located on Pritchett Drive, in Berry Creek. Upon service of the search warrant, Deputies encountered multiple male suspects who fled into the surrounded wooded area. Two suspects were apprehended by Deputies. Two additional suspects were detained at a camp trailer without incident.
Deputies determined the property owner, Alfonso Saise Sr., age 69 of Oroville, owned one of the involved parcels and had rented out the marijuana growing areas. Deputies found six different large plots of growing marijuana, each plot included a large amount of marijuana growing in several greenhouses. During the search of the property, Deputies also discovered an unloaded shotgun. In total, Deputies eradicated 4,141 marijuana plants from the grow sites.
A warrant for Alfonso Saise Sr. will be requested for maintaining a place for narcotic sales, employing an individual under 21 to sell marijuana, illegal cultivation of marijuana, and possession of marijuana for sale. Eduardo Mendez, age 28 of Marysville, was cited for illegal cultivation of marijuana, and possession of marijuana for sale. Hector Dejesus, age 19 of Chiapas, Mexico, was arrested for illegal cultivation of marijuana, and possession of marijuana for sale. Angel Zuniga, age 38 of Michoacán, Mexico, was arrested for illegal cultivation of marijuana, and possession of marijuana for sale. Zuniga was also found to have a felony warrant for his arrest out of San Mateo County, for felony unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.
On September 4, 2019, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) served a search warrant on a property located on the 1700 block of Milsap Bar Road, in Brush Creek. During aerial reconnaissance, Deputies located a small plot of marijuana growing near Indian Creek. When Deputies arrived at the property, they discovered the small plot of marijuana seen from the air contained a few dozen growing marijuana plants; however, Deputies located several hundred additional marijuana plants growing in a clandestine area which was hidden under trees. Deputies discovered the marijuana cultivators were diverting water from Indian Creek to cultivate the marijuana. Deputies also located an unloaded shotgun from the site. No suspects were located during the warrant and the investigation is ongoing. In total, Deputies eradicated 1,334 marijuana plants from the location.

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September 1, 2019
BCSO Recovers Body of Missing Man in the Feather River

Gridley, CA- On Saturday, August 31, 2019, at approximately 1:20 p.m., the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Marine Unit, the BCSO Search and Rescue Team and CAL FIRE responded to the Feather River in Gridley, approximately a half-mile from the East Gridley Road Bridge. Two men were in a canoe that overturned in the water. One man made it safely to shore, and reported his friend continued floating down the river and he lost sight of him. The BCSO Search and Rescue Team, the BCSO Marine Unit and the CAL FIRE Swift Water Rescue Team searched the river for several hours, with the assistance of a CHP helicopter, and the man was not located. An extensive ground search of the area surrounding the river was also conducted.

On Sunday, September 1, 2019, the BCSO Search and Rescue Swift Water Team, Search and Rescue Marine Unit, BCSO Marine Unit, and the BCSO helicopter continued to search the river, and a ground search of the river banks and surrounding orchards was also conducted. At approximately 11:15 a.m., the body of the man, identified as Omar Espinal, age 40 of Chico, was recovered from the Feather River, just north of East Gridley Road. The investigation into the death is ongoing.

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August 28, 2019
25 ARRESTED, 12,669 MARIJUANA PLANTS ERADICATED BY BCSO SEU
Butte County, CA- From July 9, 2019 through August 21, 2019, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) served twelve search warrants on various properties throughout Butte County. During those search warrants, Deputies removed 12,669 marijuana plants, and 200 pounds of processed marijuana from the various properties. Thirteen firearms were seized, and 25 people were arrested on various charges, including illegal cultivation of marijuana and diverting water for the purpose of the cultivation of marijuana. Below are the locations of where the search warrants were served and the marijuana eradicated from those locations.
July 9, 2019- Lumpkin Road, Feather Falls-188 marijuana plants eradicated, 200 pounds of processed marijuana seized. A rifle with high-capacity magazine seized.
Arrested: Aquilino Cruz-Perez, age 25 of Santa Rosa. Charges: illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, diversion of water for the purpose of cultivating marijuana, being armed in the commission of a felony.
Castulo Aragon-Ramirez, age 32 of Santa Rosa. Charges: illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, diversion of water for the purpose of cultivating marijuana, being armed in the commission of a felony.
July 10, 2019-Paul’s Place, Bangor-835 marijuana plants eradicated. No suspects apprehended.
July 15, 2019-Breckenridge Drive, Berry Creek-579 marijuana plants eradicated. Three firearms seized.
Arrested: William Pleasants, age 61 of Berry Creek. Charges: illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, maintaining a residence for drug sales, being armed in the commission of a felony.
Melake Downer, age 37 of Berry Creek. Charges: illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, being armed in the commission of a felony.
July 17, 2019-Craig Access Road, Feather Falls- 910 marijuana plants eradicated.
Arrested: Jose Pena-Barragan, age 18 of Oroville. Charges: illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, allowing trash and chemicals to enter a waterway for purpose of cultivating marijuana.
Jonathan Garcia-Guzman, age 36 of Sacramento. Charges: illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, allowing trash and chemicals to enter a waterway for purpose of cultivating marijuana.
Epifanio Armenta, age 39 of Oroville. Charges: illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, allowing trash and chemicals to enter a waterway for purpose of cultivating marijuana.
Jrosalio Pena-Silva, age 49 of Oroville. Charges: illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, allowing trash and chemicals to enter a waterway for purpose of cultivating marijuana.
Juan Alvarez-Munoz, age 28 of Carmichael. Charges: illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, allowing trash and chemicals to enter a waterway for purpose of cultivating marijuana.
July 29, 2019- Union Bar Road, Feather Falls- 632 marijuana plants eradicated. No suspects apprehended.
July 29, 2019- Round Valley Ranch Road, Butte Valley area-1,418 marijuana plants eradicated. No suspects apprehended.
July 31, 2019- Bean Creek Road, Berry Creek-6,029 marijuana plants eradicated. Eight firearms seized.
Arrested: Ardelio Reyes-Hernandez, age 23 of Mexico City. Charges: illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, diverting water for the purpose of cultivating marijuana, polluting the waterway with petroleum products and trash, being armed with a firearm in the commission of a felony.
Ramon Sanchez, age 47 of Oakland. Charges: illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana f

August 25, 2019
Butte County Sheriff’s Office Announces Arrest in Child Pornography Investigation
Durham, CA – Today the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) announced the arrest of Jayson Wooldridge, age 40 of Durham, for possession of child pornography. The arrest is the culmination of an investigation that began approximately one week ago. At that time the Butte County Sheriff’s Office received information indicating Wooldridge was in possession of child pornography. On August 19, 2019, Detectives and Designated Area Deputies served a search warrant at a residence in Durham. Computers and other electronic devices were located during the service of the search warrant. An initial search of the devices confirmed Wooldridge was in possession of child pornography.
Detectives spent the past several days conducing a follow-up investigation and processing the evidence located during the search warrant. Detectives located large amounts of child pornography on Wooldridges’ electronic devices. Detectives believe all of the child pornography was downloaded from the internet. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with additional information to contact Detective Jason Miller at 530-538-7671.

August 27, 2019
FOREST RANCH MURDER INVESTIGATION
Forest Ranch, CA- On Tuesday, August 27, 2019, at approximately 9:26 a.m., Deputies with the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) were dispatched to a business in Forest Ranch, after a 911 call was placed requesting medical aid for a man with a large laceration on his leg. Deputies responded, and after further investigation, it was discovered the man, identified as Robert Anderson, age 25 of Chico, was driven to the location from Schott Road in Forest Ranch. Anderson was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. Anderson stated he had been in some sort of physical altercation with another man at a home on Schott Road.
Deputies responded to Schott Road and after searching the area, discovered blood on the ground leading up to a home on the 4800 block of Schott Road. In the driveway of the home, Deputies found a deceased male, identified as Gunther Rupprecht, age 30 of Forest Ranch.
After further investigation, Robert Anderson was subsequently placed under arrest earlier this evening and booked into the Butte County Jail for first degree murder. The investigation is ongoing and more information will be released as soon as it