SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL EXPECTED ACROSS BUTTE COUNTY
Butte County, CA- The National Weather Service has issued a Flash Flood Watch for both the North Complex and Dixie Fire burn scar areas as heavy rainfall is expected across Butte County Saturday evening and will continue through late Sunday. The Flash Flood Watch could be upgraded to a Flash Flood Warning by the NWS when flash flooding is imminent.
The Butte County Sheriff’s Office urges our community members to prepare now to evacuate in the event debris flows/flooding occurs within the burn scar areas. According to NWS, debris flows occur over recently burned areas where there is no longer vegetation to absorb water and keep soil in its place. A fast-moving mix of mud, ash, and debris can form and move down slope. They can move faster than you can run or even drive.
If you are in the impacted area or are located near a waterway downstream from the impacted area, you should be prepared to immediately evacuate to high ground, if an Evacuation Order is issued by BCSO, or if you feel threatened.

In addition to the burn scar areas, a significant amount of rain could also impact our local waterways as well as roadways prone to flooding, and we urge our community members to limit driving if possible throughout the duration of the heavy rainfall that is expected in Butte County.
Sand and sandbags have been delivered to locations throughout Butte County, residents will need to bring their own shovels. A list of sandbag locations is available at www.buttecounty.net. We also urge our community members who have not already signed up for CodeRED to do so by visiting our website, www.buttecounty.net/sheriff. Updated weather information from the National Weather Service can also be found by visiting www.weather.gov/sto/.
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October 8, 2021

MAGALIA RESIDENT ARRESTED DURING SHOOTING INVESTIGATION

Magalia, CA – On October 7, 2021, at 5:09 PM, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) began receiving calls about a shooting that had occurred near the intersection of Dalton Way and Carnegie Road, Magalia. BCSO deputies were immediately dispatched to the area. Upon arrival deputies located evidence that a shooting had just occurred.
During a subsequent investigation, deputies and detectives determined Jose Sandoval, age 36, of Magalia drove to the intersection of Dalton Way and Carnegie Road. While at the intersection Sandoval saw a vehicle driving on Dalton Way. The vehicle was occupied by two adults and two children. Sandoval recognized one of the adults in the vehicle. After identifying one of the adults in the vehicle, Sandoval exited his vehicle and began pursuing the victim vehicle on foot. While pursuing the vehicle, Sandoval used a semi-automatic firearm to shoot at the vehicle.
During the investigation evidence indicating Sandoval fired multiple rounds at the victim’s vehicle was located. One of the rounds struck the driver’s side of the victim’s vehicle, near the area where one of the children was seated. The shooting was captured on video surveillance. The area where the shooting occurred was in a residential neighborhood.
During the investigation, deputies determined Sandoval resided in the 14000 block of Skyway, Magalia. Deputies and Paradise Police Officers responded to Sandoval’s residence and located the vehicle Sandoval drove to the shooting parked in the driveway of the residence. After an extended amount of time, deputies were able to contact and place Sandoval under arrest.
Detectives obtained a search warrant for Sandoval’s residence. During the service of the search warrant and subsequent investigation, detectives located additional evidence related to the shooting. Detectives also located evidence Sandoval is an active member of a criminal street gang.
Sandoval was arrested for numerous charges to include the following felony charges: Assault with a semi-automatic firearm, shooting at an occupied vehicle, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition, committing a felony while released on bail, personally using a firearm while committing a felony, and participating in a criminal street gang. This investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information about this investigation, they are encouraged to call BCSO detectives at 530-538-7671.
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SHERIFF’S OFFICE CONDUCTING DEATH INVESTIGATION

 

Chico, CA – On October 03, 2021, at 3:54 AM the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) received a 9-1-1 call from the owner of a local taxi company.  The caller told BCSO dispatchers that he had been assaulted by two individuals in the area of Lone Pine Avenue, Chico.  BCSO deputies were immediately dispatched to the area and contacted the taxi driver.  The taxi driver was injured during the assault and was immediately transported to a local hospital. 

While responding to the call, BCSO dispatch began receiving multiple calls about a male prowling at residences near Lone Pine Avenue.  Deputies arrived in the area, located a deceased male in the roadway on Lone Pine Avenue, and located a second male in the backyard of a residence.  The deceased male was identified as Victor Hernandez, age 28, of Chico.  The male located in the backyard of a residence was identified as Jose Huerta, age 22, of Willows. 

During the subsequent investigation detectives determined the taxi driver picked Hernandez and Huerta up in the Chico area and began driving them to a location in the unincorporated area of Chico.  Prior to arriving at the location Hernandez produced a handgun and fired the handgun multiple times inside of the taxi.  Hernandez and Huerta also assaulted the taxi driver.  After the assault Hernandez and Huerta exited the taxi.

During the investigation detectives gathered evidence that gave them cause to believe Hernandez and Huerta exited the taxi while it was moving.  Detectives determined Hernandez was injured  during the assault and/or while attempting to exit the taxi.  An autopsy will be conducted to determine Hernandez’s cause of death.  During the investigation detectives also located evidence that Huerta entered a trailer located behind a residence on Lone Pine Avenue and took item(s) from the trailer. 

Huerta was arrested for the following felony charges:  Assault with a deadly weapon resulting in great bodily injury, violating the terms and conditions of his probation, and burglary.  This investigation is on-going.  If anyone has information about this investigation, they are encouraged to call BCSO detectives at 530-538-7671.

 

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September 22, 2021

SHERIFF’S OFFICE INVESTIGATING MURDER

Palermo, CA – On September 21, 2021, at 7:16 p.m., the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) received a 9-1-1 call from a resident of a home located in the 3000 block of Ontario Avenue, Palermo. The caller told BCSO dispatchers that her relative had been murdered. BCSO deputies were immediately dispatched to the location. Upon arrival, deputies located Dianna Rood of Palermo, age 67. Deputies and medical personnel determined Dianna was deceased. Deputies and detectives located evidence that gave them cause to believe Dianna was murdered.
During the subsequent investigation, detectives determined John Rood, age 38, of Palermo was Dianna’s son. Detectives gathered evidence that gave them cause to believe John murdered Dianna on the afternoon of September 21. On September 22, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for John for an open count of murder. Detectives are actively searching for John. The investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information about this investigation or John’s location, they are encouraged to call BCSO detectives at 530-538-7671.
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FIVE INDIVIDUALS ARRESTED DURING DEATH INVESTIGATION

Oroville, CA – On September 11, 2021, Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputies located a sport utility vehicle without license plates parked in a rural area on the side of Forbestown Road, Oroville. Deputies approached the vehicle and located a deceased individual concealed in the rear of the vehicle. The scene was processed by detectives and the vehicle was towed to a secure location to be processed by detectives and personnel from the California Department of Justice. During the subsequent investigation, detectives identified the deceased individual as Melvin Garcia-Vargas, age 33, of Sacramento. Detectives located evidence that gave them cause to believe Melvin had been shot in his lower body.
On September 12, detectives contacted Melvin’s father, who was identified as Carlos Garcia-Hernandez, age 66, at a residence in the 7000 block of Lindale Drive, Sacramento. Detectives determined evidence was located at Carlos’ residence. Detectives obtained a search warrant for Carlos’ residence.
During the investigation, detectives determined Melvin died at an illegal marijuana grow controlled by Carlos in the area of Squaw Flat Road, Forbestown. Detectives also located evidence that Carlos and his two other children, identified as Juan Garcia-Vargas, age 27, and Ronald Garcia-Vargas, age 28, moved and concealed Melvin’s body after his death.
On the evening of September 12, detectives, personnel from the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task ForCE, BCSO Marine Unit, and BCSO Special Enforcement Unit served a search warrant at the marijuana grow on Squaw Flat Road. During the service of the search warrant detectives located the area where they believe Melvin was shot. Detectives also located a firearm and over 600 marijuana plants. The scene was processed by the California Department of Justice.
On September 13, detectives determined Carlos, Juan, and Ronald had additional marijuana grows located in the area of Knob Hill Avenue, Oroville. On the afternoon of September 13, the BCSO SWAT Team served search warrants at seven parcels on Knob Hill Avenue. During the service of the search warrants five firearms and over 1400 marijuana plants were located.
This investigation is on-going and detectives are actively reviewing evidence. To date, detectives have located evidence that gave them cause to believe Melvin likely accidently shot himself while working at the illegal marijuana grow in Forbestown. Detectives also located evidence that Carlos and his two sons, with the assistance of Juan Cruzcupido, then moved and attempted to conceal Melvin’s body to prevent law enforcement from discovering their illegal marijuana grows.

To date, the following individuals have been arrested:
Carlos Garcia-Hernandez was arrested for misdemeanor counts of illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, and unlawfully moving and disposing of human remains.
Juan Garcia-Vargas was arrested for misdemeanor counts of illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, and unlawfully moving and disposing of human remains.
Ronald Garcia-Vargas was arrested for misdemeanor counts of illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, and unlawfully moving and disposing of human remains.
Juan Cruzcupido, age 33, of Sacramento, was arrested for misdemeanor counts of illegal cultivation of marijuana, possession of marijuana for sale, and unlawfully moving and disposing of human remains.
Edgar Najera, age 50, of Sacramento was arrested for misdemeanor counts of illegal cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale.

If anyone has information about this in