August 15, 2017

Explosive Destructive Device

On August 14, 2017, at approximately 2030 hours, Butte County Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to a suspicious vehicle parked in front of a residence on the 300 block of E. Evans Reimer Road in Gridley.
Deputy Galvez responded to the call and contacted the sole occupant of the vehicle. He saw a methamphetamine smoking pipe inside the vehicle in plain view. He detained the driver, identified as 36-year-old Nicholas Nicholson, and initiated a search of the vehicle. Deputy Galvez located a loaded firearm concealed in a backpack.
Deputy Demmers was assisting in the search of the vehicle and located what looked like a pipe bomb in the trunk. Deputy Demmers deployed his Explosive Detection K9 “Ray” who alerted to an explosive odor in the trunk of the vehicle.
A safe distance was established while Deputies waited for the Butte County Inter-Agency Bomb Squad. The bomb squad confirmed the suspected pipe bomb was a destructive explosive device. Bomb Technicians rendered the device safe.
Nicholson was arrested for the following charges:
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm
- Felon in Possession of Ammunition
- Driving with a Suspended License
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Possession of a Concealed Firearm in a Vehicle
- Displaying False Registration on a Vehicle
- Possession of a Destructive Device in Public
- Possession of a Destructive Device
- Possession of Stolen Property
Nicholson was booked into Butte County Jail. His bail was set at $612,000.
The investigation is on-going. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office urges anyone who might have information regarding Nicholson’s involvement with destructive devices to contact Butte County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Division or the watch commander at (530) 538-7321 or 891-2711.

August 2, 2017
SUSPECTED ARSONIST ARRESTED
Chico, CA – A suspected arsonist has been arrested by Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) after a lengthy investigation by CAL FIRE investigators. Mery Thomasson-Behring, 56, was arrested and booked into the Butte County Jail in the early morning of August 2nd, on an outstanding warrant for 8 counts of PC451 ©, Arson to Forest land in the area of Cohasset Road in North Chico. Thomasson-Behring’s bail is set at $600,000.
"The act of arson adversely affects property owners, tax payers, firefighters and the environment," said CAL FIRE’s Chief Read. "We live in an area that has high potential for large, destructive fires. People's homes and lives are threatened each time a fire is set."
“BCSO enjoys a good working relationship with CAL FIRE, and we are happy to assist in removing arsonists off the street,” said Sheriff Kory Honea.

August 2, 2017
BCSO DEPUTIES RESPOND TO REPORT OF ROBBERY AND SHOTS FIRED
Oroville CA- On August 1, 2017 at approximately 1:30 PM, Butte County Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the 4700 block of VE Road in Oroville for a subject reporting that he was being shot at. Deputies arrived on scene and located a subject who was bleeding from the head. The subject stated that he had been assaulted and that someone had fired a shot at him; however, he was not struck by the bullet. Deputies located the residence where the incident happened and conducted a search of the residence for any additional victims. Deputies located several witnesses in the area, however no one else was determined to be injured. During the investigation, Deputies learned that at least four males in their mid 20’s forced their way into the residence in the 4700 block of VE Road armed with handguns. The victim attempted to flee the residence and shots were fired. The victim was subsequently caught by the suspects and assaulted causing cuts and bruising to the victims face. The victim was again able to escape and ran from the scene where he was contacted by the Deputies. The victim was not the owner of the residence, however the owner was also present and was able to flee the scene after the suspects arrived. When the victims returned to the residence with law enforcement, it was determined that several items were taken from the residence. The victim that was assaulted was also robbed of personal items that were in his pockets at the time of the assault.
At this time Deputies are still investigating the incident and attempting to locate the suspects. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Butte County Sheriff’s Office at 530-538-7322.
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For more information, please contact
BCSO Community Relations Unit
530.871.9440

July 28, 2017

BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE SPECIAL ENFORCEMENT UNIT ALONG WITH BUTTE INTERAGENCY NARCOTICS TASK FORCE SEIZE APPROXIMATELY $483,000.00 WORTH OF PROCESSED MARIJUANA AND BUTANE HONEY OIL FROM AN OROVILLE PROPERTY

Oroville, CA--On July 27th, 2017 members of the Butte County Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) along with members of Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF) served a search warrant in the 4400 block of Foothill Boulevard, Oroville.
Located inside a large metal shop on the property was an elaborate indoor hydroponic marijuana grow. The cost of the hydroponic system equipment is estimated to be in excess of $500,000.00.
A total of 778 marijuana plants were located in several different hydroponic rooms along with 132 pounds of processed marijuana bud, packaged for sale. The shop also held items used in the manufacturing of butane honey oil (BHO).
Outside of the shop was a large enclosed trailer containing a mobile butane honey oil lab with equipment valued at over $50,000.00. The remainder of the butane honey oil lab components were located inside the trailer to include two 100 pound tanks of a butane/propane mix, recirculation pumps, closed loop BHO system, and two large vacuum purge ovens, which were in operation and filled with sheets of BHO. In total 16 pounds of BHO was seized.
The value of the processed marijuana and butane honey oil seized is estimated to be $483,000.00 wholesale in California.
Arrested at the scene was Destin Brown, age 36, of Roseville, California, Alejandro Villegas, age 46, of Boynton Beach, Florida, Adriel Noriega, age 25, of Bradenton, Florida, Mark Holtfreter, age 29, of Deerfield Beach, Florida, and John Delorenzo, age 37, of Deerfield Beach, Florida.
All were transported to the Butte County Jail and arrested for manufacturing of a controlled substance, cultivation of marijuana, and possession of marijuana for sale. All have a bail amount of $102,000.00.

Oroville, CA- The Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) STARS is no longer an acronym for ‘Sheriff’s Team of Active Retired Seniors.’ The name has officially been changed to ‘Sheriff’s Team of Active Residents in Service.’ With this new name comes a change to the age requirement to be a volunteer with STARS. The age requirement has been lowered and is now open to anyone 21 years of age or older. Prior to this change, people 45 years of age of older were eligible to be a part of STARS.
The media is invited to attend BCSO’s STARS Academy Graduation on Friday, July 28, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., in the BCSO East Facility. There will be nine people graduating from the STARS Academy.
THE STARS program began in 1993 and there are currently 70 STARS volunteers. STARS volunteers patrol the unincorporated areas of Butte County in marked Sheriff’s vehicles. Patrol units take crime reports, perform daily home checks of citizens who are on vacation, pick up found property, assist with traffic control at an accident or other emergencies, provide extra patrol in school zones, and much more. STARS volunteers work out of three different locations: Chico, Oroville, and Magalia. To become a member of STARS, you must be 21-years-old, pass a background check and be able to volunteer for at least four hours a week. For more information on the STARS program, please visit: http://www.buttecounty.net/sheriffcoroner and look under ‘About BCSO.’
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