November 21, 2019

BCSO Special Enforcement Unit Search Warrants

Butte County, CA- On Monday November 18, 2019, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) executed search warrants at multiple properties along Bonnie Meadow Lane in Brush Creek. The search warrants came as a result of information gathered by the Special Enforcement Unit during an investigation into $164,200.00 of U.S. currency found hidden in a vehicle during a traffic enforcement stop on November 6th, 2019. Detectives with the Special Enforcement Unit developed probable cause to believe three individuals arrested during the traffic enforcement stop were traveling from out of state to Bonnie Meadow Lane to purchase a large amount of marijuana, and were doing so while armed.

During the service of the search warrant, Detectives had multiple Hispanic males flee into the heavily wooded area, but were able to detain 15 individuals. During the investigation across three properties, Detectives determined all three properties were being controlled by the same individuals.

Detectives determined the marijuana operation was being ran by members of a Mexican Drug Trafficking Organization. Detectives eradicated 1,204 live marijuana plants, collected 278.91 pounds of processed marijuana bud, 457.32 pounds of marijuana bud on stem, and 184.02 pounds of marijuana shake. Detectives also located and collected two illegal AR-15 rifles with high capacity magazines, one of which was a short barreled rifle, one AK-47 with a high capacity magazine, three pistols, and ballistic rifle rated body armor. Detectives also seized $14,380 in U.S. currency.

Detective arrested the following 12 individuals:
Roberto Estrada, 38 years of age, from Mexico – For maintaining a residence for drug sales, employing a minor under 21 years of age to sell marijuana, and possession of marijuana for sale.
Nestor Ortiz, 32 years of age, from Mexico – For maintaining a residence for drug sales, cultivation of marijuana, and possession of marijuana for sales.
Cristobal Briseno, 19 years of age, from Mexico – For cultivation of marijuana, and possession of marijuana for sales.
Orlando Martinez, 29 years of age, from Mexico – For cultivation of marijuana.
Emilio Orozco, 31 years of age, from Mexico – For cultivation of marijuana.
Daniel Perez, 22 years of age, from Mexico – For cultivation of marijuana.
Bernardo Ayalavarez, 34 years of age, from Mexico – For cultivation of marijuana.
Jennifer Marquez, 34 years of age, from Mexico – For cultivation of marijuana.
Vianney Barcena, 34 years of age, from Mexico – For cultivation of marijuana.
Beatriz Alvarez, 34 years of age, from Mexico – For cultivation of marijuana.
Carolina Ruiz, 20 years of age, from Mexico – For cultivation of marijuana.
Dulce Sanchez, 27 years of age, from Mexico – For cultivation of marijuana.

Additional suspects have been identified and arrest warrants will be sought. The Butte County Sheriff’s Office is also processing the illegal weapons for the presence of DNA. The investigation is ongoing.
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November 19, 2019
Butte County Sheriff’s Office Announces Arrest of Six Individuals
Oroville, CA – Today the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) announced the arrest of six individuals. The arrests are the culmination of an investigation that began in November 2019. On November 13, Detectives from the Felony Investigations Unit, the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force, and Designated Area Deputies served a search warrant at a residence on Grover Lane, Oroville.
During the service of the search warrant, Detectives located numerous evidence items to include the following items: heroin, methamphetamine, marijuana, forged checks, forged bank statements, personal identifying information belonging to an estimated 50 victims, and computers that were being used to forge checks and financial documents. Detectives conducted a follow-up investigation and determined Rodney Mills of Chico, age 34 was stealing large quantities of mail from the Chico area. After stealing the mail, Mills was distributing the personal identifying information of mail theft victims to other individuals involved in identity theft crimes.
With the assistance of the Chico Police Department, Mills was located and placed under arrest on the afternoon of November 13. When Mills was arrested, Detectives located keys capable of unlocking community mailboxes on Mills’ person. On the morning of November 14, Detectives conducted a probation search of a motel room in Chico that was associated to Mills. During the probation search, Detectives located numerous evidence items to include the following items: heroin, ammunition, and stolen U.S. Postal mailbox locks. U.S. Postal law enforcement was contacted and they are currently assisting in this investigation. To date the following individuals have been arrested:
Rodney Mills of Chico, age 34 was arrested for possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, conspiracy, and possession of burglary tools.
Andrew Roberts of Oroville, age 33, was arrested for felony identity theft, felony forgery, and possession of narcotics paraphernalia.
Claire Davis of Oroville, age 34 was arrested for possession of marijuana for sale, possession of narcotics paraphernalia, and a misdemeanor arrest warrant.
Shelby Thomas of Oroville, age 27 was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.
Jamin Baxmeyer of Chico, age 28 was arrested for possession of a controlled substance.
Laura Barkowski of Oroville, age 29 was arrested for a misdemeanor arrest warrant.
The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with information about this investigation to contact Detective Will Brewton or Detective Vaj Thao at 530-538-7671.
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September 25, 2019
Camp Fire Update
Oroville, CA- Today, the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) announced a revision to the number of known Camp Fire victims from 86 to 85. After consulting with Anthropologists from the California State University, Chico Human Identification Lab, it has been determined that one of the cases previously classified as “unidentified,” is actually a bone fragment belonging to Robert Quinn, age 74 of Paradise. Quinn was identified as a Camp Fire victim on January 24, 2019.
The bone fragment was found among Quinn’s remains and at the time of the initial autopsy, Anthropologists initially believed it may have been a bone belonging to a separate victim because it did not seem to fit with Quinn’s remains due to a size differential. Upon further analysis, the Anthropologists determined that the difference in bone size is attributed to shrinkage caused by the extreme heat of the fire. The bone fragment in question was too badly burned to obtain a DNA profile, however, the circumstantial evidence supports the finding that the bone fragment is part of Robert Quinn’s remains. As a result, the total number of Camp Fire known victims now stands at 85 and the number of unknown victims has been reduced to one.
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November 14, 2019
Butte County Sheriff’s Office Announces Arrest of Oroville Resident for Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a Minor
Oroville, CA – Today the Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) announced the arrest of Trevor McElhaney of Oroville, age 28. The arrest was the culmination of an investigation that began in September. During the investigation, Detectives learned McElhaney was suspected of having unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor victim.
For the past two months, Detectives have been following-up on this investigation. After conducting multiple interviews, McElhaney was contacted and interviewed and admitted to having unlawful sexual intercourse with the minor victim. On November 14, 2019, Butte County Sheriff’s Office Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for McElhaney.
On the afternoon of November 14, 2019, McElhaney was contacted in Oroville and arrested for two felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child. The Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with additional information to contact Detective Brian Parsons at 530-538-7671.
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November 7, 2019

BCSO Deputies Recover Guns, $164,000 in Cash during Oroville Traffic Stop

Oroville, CA- On Wednesday, November 6, 2019, at approximately 7:52 p.m., Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Deputy Arredondo was on patrol in the area of Oroville-Quincy Highway and Simmons Road in Oroville, when he observed a GMC Yukon swerving in and out of the fog line. Deputy Arredondo initiated a traffic stop and contacted the driver, identified as Tan Tran, age 47 of Caledonia, Wisconsin, and passengers Hershell Chambers, age 55 of Conyers, Georgia, and Miguel Aponte, age 31 of Los Angeles, California.

Deputy Arredondo’s K9 partner, “Chico” assisted in the traffic stop and conducted a free air sniff of the perimeter of the vehicle. Chico alerted Deputy Arredondo to the presence of the odor of narcotics in the rear of the vehicle. Deputy Arredondo then searched the interior of the vehicle and found a firearm with a fully loaded magazine concealed behind the center console. Deputy Arredondo also located several large duffel bags that were all empty. BCSO Sergeant Meyer located a second firearm in the rear cargo area of the vehicle. Deputies located three large vacuum sealed bags, containing $164,200 in U.S. currency, hidden in a rear concealed compartment. Deputies also located paperwork in the vehicle indicating drug transactions. After interviewing all three men, none of them claimed ownership of the money and Deputies had reason to believe the men were en route to engage in a drug sale or other criminal activity.

All three men were arrested and booked into the Butte County Jail on various charges including possession of a concealed firearm, conspiracy to commit a crime, and possession of more than $100,000 in U.S. currency that was obtained as the result of illegal activity.

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