April 7, 2018
BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE ASSISTS OROVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH HOSTAGE SITUATION RESULTING IN A DEPUTY INVOLVED SHOOTING
Oroville, CA—On April 7th, 2018, Oroville Police Department (OPD) received a 9-1-1 call at 3:09AM from a resident in the 700 block of Pomona Avenue, in Oroville, reporting shots being fired within a neighboring residence. OPD responded to the residence, officers couldn’t access the front door to the residence due to a locked patio gate. Officers attempted to contact the residents, however the residents did not respond. Without further information anyone in the residence was in distress, OPD officers left the scene.
At 3:35AM, OPD received another call from the original caller, who reported hearing the smoke alarm going off in the neighboring residence. OPD responded again, upon arrival officers reported that all was quiet and there was no response from the residents inside. OPD again left the scene, but remained in the general area.
At 4:24AM, OPD received a third call from the original caller, reporting he had heard more shots from within the neighboring residence. OPD returned to the scene, but were still unable to make contact with the residents, and left the scene.
At 5:41AM, OPD received a 9-1-1 call from a female, reporting she had received a text message from her sister, who was inside the residence in question, asking her to come get her two young children who were also inside the residence. The reporting party also said she had been in telephone contact with the sister who reported there was a gun being pointed at her. OPD responded back to the scene, and observed a bullet hole through the window located next to the front door, which had not previously been there.

OPD then requested assistance from the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO).
BCSO Deputies along with the BCSO Crisis Intervention Team and BCSO SWAT Team responded to the scene. OPD Officers and BCSO SWAT Team set up a perimeter around the residence and were formulating a plan to make contact with the people inside the residence and determine what was going on.
At 7:54AM, a male subject was seen exiting the residence with a pistol in hand. At 7:55AM the subject began shooting multiple shots at law enforcement, who were in front of the residence located in a densely populated neighborhood.
A BCSO patrol vehicle, behind which 3 law enforcement officers had taken cover, was struck by one round fired by the subject. Preliminary investigation has revealed multiple other rounds were found throughout the neighborhood. A BCSO Sergeant fired a single shot at the subject striking him. Medical personnel, who had staged nearby, immediately began life saving efforts on the downed subject and transported him to Oroville Hospital, where he later died.
The subject has been identified as Larry Siordia, age 33, from Oroville.
The Butte County Officer Involved Shooting and Critical Incident Protocol Team has been activated to investigate this deputy involved shooting. The Protocol Team is comprised of detectives and investigators from state and local agencies throughout Butte County. The team works closely with the Butte County District Attorney’s Office to conduct complete, thorough and independent investigations in cases of this nature. Further details related to this matter will be released by the Butte County District Attorney’s Office when the investigation is complete.
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For more information, please contact
BCSO Community Relations Unit
530.871.9440

April 5, 2018

BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE DEPUTIES SEARCH FOR SUSPECT IN OROVILLE

Oroville, CA—At approximately 3:30PM on April 5, 2018, Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Deputies attempted a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle. During the traffic stop, the suspect fled on foot. The suspect was carrying a black colored semi-automatic pistol. Deputies searched the area on foot with a K9, and by air with the BCSO helicopter, but have been unable to locate the suspect.

The suspect has been identified as George Wright, age 19, from Oroville. Wright is wanted on Felony warrants and is currently on Felony probation. As a result of the traffic stop, Wright is wanted for 11377(a) H&S (possession of a controlled substance), 11364 H&S (paraphernalia), 29800 PC (prohibited person in possession of a firearm), 30305 PC (prohibited person possessing ammo), 466 PC (possession of burglary tools), 31360 PC (prohibited person in possession of a ballistic vest), and 11370.1 H&S (possession of a loaded firearm while possessing a controlled substance).

March 30, 2018
BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE RESPONDS TO SUICIDAL SUBJECT ON TABLE MOUNTAIN BRIDGE
Oroville, Ca—At approximately 7:20AM on March 30, 2018, Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Sergeant Hail, who was on his way to work, noticed a female subject standing on the ledge of the Table Mountain Bridge located between County Center Drive and Garden Drive in Oroville.
The female subject was already standing on the outside of the rail, within inches of the ledge. Sgt. Hail immediately requested assistance through BCSO Dispatch, and attempted to communicate with the subject until Crisis Negotiators arrived on scene.
Within minutes, BCSO Detective Larson arrived on scene and spoke with the female subject for approximately 45 minutes. Detective Larson observed the subject take her hand off the rail and was able to grab the subject’s wrist, at which point BCSO Deputies Lair and Thomas assisted in pulling her back over the rail to safety.
The female subject was taken to a local hospital for a mental health evaluation.
BCSO would like to thank Oroville PD, CHP, California State Parks, and Oroville Fire Department for responding and being available to assist if needed. This incident could have ended much differently, we are thankful the female subject involved will receive a mental health evaluation and hopeful that she will receive treatment if needed.
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For more information, please contact
BCSO Community Relations Unit
530.871.9440

March 28, 2018
BCSO DEPUTIES AND DETECTIVES ARREST THREE IN CONNECTION TO TWO RECENT BURGLARIES
Chico, Ca--On March 21, 2018 at approximately 1:00PM, it was discovered that multiple storage trailers located at the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Search and Rescue building in Chico had been broken into. The burglary suspects cut locks that had been put on the trailers and stole approximately $23,000 worth of dive equipment used by the Butte County Dive and Rescue Team and members of Butte County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue.
BCSO Patrol Deputies and Detectives with the BCSO Felony Investigations Unit initiated an investigation into the Search and Rescue burglary. Through the investigation, BCSO Deputies and Detectives determined the burglary was connected to a recent burglary at the Skyway Golf Park.
On Saturday March 24, through the collection of evidence in the process of the investigation, it was discovered that Dusty Mason of Magalia, and a 17 year old juvenile, were responsible for the burglary of the BCSO Search and Rescue trailers and the Skyway Golf Park. BCSO Detectives interviewed the juvenile, who confessed to the burglary at BCSO Search and Rescue and stated that he concealed a portion of the stolen property at Mason’s mother’s house in Tehama County.
BCSO Deputies and Detectives contacted Mason’s mother, Kelly Bruce, in Tehama County and conducted a search of her residence. During the search, approximately $10,000 worth of equipment associated to the burglaries was recovered.
Through the investigation, BCSO Deputies and Detectives learned that additional property associated to the burglaries was thrown into The Sacramento River.
BCSO Detectives contacted the Butte County Dive and Rescue Team and the BCSO Marine Unit and coordinated the collection of $2,500 of additional property in The Sacramento River. There is still approximately $10,500 worth of dive masks, scuba tanks and miscellaneous scuba equipment that remains missing at this time.
BCSO Deputies and Detectives have made three arrests associated to this case:
• 17 Year Old Male Juvenile, arrested for Possession of Stolen Property, and Burglary
• Dustin Mason, Age 29 from Magalia, arrested for Burglary, Violation of Probation, Resisting Arrest, and Possession of Stolen Property
• Kayla Keehl, Age 26 from Magalia, arrested for Possession of Stolen Property and as an Accessory
Butte County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind citizens that the Butte County Dive and Rescue Team and The Butte County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team are the only water rescue teams in Butte County. The teams conduct water rescues and water recoveries. The loss of equipment associated to this theft is detrimental to their mission to provide water rescue and recovery services to the citizens of Butte County. Citizens who happen to locate dive equipment near the Sacramento River are encouraged to contact the BCSO Felony Investigations Unit at 530.538.7671.
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For more information, please contact
BCSO Community Relations Unit
530.871.9440

March 25, 2018
BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE LOCATES MISSING FAMILY LOST IN THE SNOW
Butte County, Ca—At approximately 9:40AM on March 25th, 2018, Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) received reports of a family who had gone to the snow the previous day and had not yet returned. BCSO, along with 11 members of BCSO Search and Rescue, responded to the area of the High Lakes in an effort to locate the family, including three juveniles and two adults.
At approximately 2:00PM, the missing family was spotted by the BCSO Helicopter near the Carr Mine in the area of the High Lakes. Their location was reported to ground personnel who were able to use snow mobiles, the Snow Cat and the ARGO to make access to the area.
The missing family was located at 3:30PM, and have since been reunited with family members. The juveniles and adults were cold, but were not in need of medical attention. The family had spent the night in their vehicle, a 1993 Jeep Cherokee, but had not planned on being away from home for more than a day. If it wasn’t for a family member reporting them missing, this situation could have been much worse.
The Butte County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind people that the snow is deep in many areas, vehicles can become stuck very easily. Please follow chain restrictions and use good judgement. If you plan to visit the snow, pack extra blankets, food, and water along with a full tank of gas. Most importantly, always let someone know where you plan to go and when you plan to return. It’s also important to remember that cell service is not available in many areas.
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