March 13, 2019
SEARCH WARRANT LEADS TO DISCOVERY OF BUTANE HONEY OIL EXTRACTION LABORATORY
Oroville, Ca--On March 13, 2019 at approximately 7:30 AM, the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force with the assistance of the Butte County Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Unit and Butte County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit, served a search warrant at a residence in the 2600 block of V-6 Road in Oroville.  Jason Michael Parrish, age 37 and Chelsey Gutierrez, age 25, were contacted and detained at the residence.  After a search was conducted, a butane honey oil extraction laboratory was located as well as a small amount of methamphetamine.  
Parrish was placed under arrest and booked into the Butte County Jail for manufacturing a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance, his bail was set at $103,000.00.  Gutierrez was booked into the Butte County Jail for manufacturing a controlled substance and a probation violation, his bail was set at $101,000.00.  
Butane honey oil extraction is a very dangerous process that has resulted in numerous explosions, deaths and injuries throughout California and the United States. Butane honey oil extraction laboratories are becoming more and more prominent with the legalization of marijuana in California.  
Manufacturing butane honey oil is illegal, dangerous and is a serious felony similar to manufacturing methamphetamine.  Anyone with information regarding the manufacturing of butane honey oil should contact the Butte County Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Unit or the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force at 530-538-2261.
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March 5, 2019
BUTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE DEPUTY DETAINS INMATE AFTER ATTEMPT TO ESCAPE DURING JURY TRIAL
Oroville, Ca—On March 1, 2019 Butte County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) Deputy Christofferson was assigned as a Bailiff in a jury trial involving Dustin Tyler Lehning, age 35, from Chico,  who was on trial for felony elder abuse of his mother. Lehning was facing the possibility of life in prison due to his charges. At approximately 9:00AM, Deputy Murray, who was on his last shift prior to retirement, entered the courtroom to assist Deputy Christofferson. 
Deputy Christofferson briefly left the courtroom to deliver paperwork to a second courtroom. At that time, Deputy Murray observed Lehning displaying behavior leading him to believe Lehning may be looking for a way to escape. Deputy Murray positioned himself between the door of the courtroom and Lehning. 
Soon after the jury was dismissed, Lehning stood up and moved towards a Deputy District Attorney. Deputy Murray quickly responded and sat Lehning back down in his chair. Lehning stood up a second time, Deputy Murray attempted to restrain him; however, Lehning resisted and was able to pull away. Lehning then ran towards the front door of the courtroom. Deputy Murray chased Lehning through the courtroom and stopped him at the courtroom door; however, Lehning resisted and was able to crawl out of the courtroom door, into the front hallway of the courthouse. Lehning continued to resist, struggling to get away. Deputy Murray deployed his Taser in an effort to successfully restrain Lehning. 
Deputy Christofferson returned from the second courtroom and immediately assisted Deputy Murray by applying handcuffs to Lehning and escorted him to a courthouse holding cell. 
Lehning was transported back to the Butte County Jail, where he was evaluated and cleared by medical staff. 
Lehning was convicted on the felony elder abuse charges and remains booked at the Butte County Jail. We have requested that additional charges be filed for his attempted escape. 
The level of observation and professionalism shown by Deputy Murray during this incident was critical to the successful outcome. We wish him the very best in retirement.
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March 2, 2019
Residential Burglary in North Chico
19-01535


On 03/02/2019 at approximately 0132 hours, Butte County Sheriff’s Deputies Harper and Robertson were on uniformed patrol on the north end of Chico. Deputies Harper and Robertson were aware of an increase in burglaries in the W. Eaton Rd area of town.

While patrolling the area of Weymouth Way and Southbury Lane, Deputies Harper and Robertson located a white hatchback style vehicle. The vehicle’s rear hatch was open, and miscellaneous property was spread on the ground around it. Deputies Harper and Robertson observed two individuals associated to the vehicle. Both men were later positively identified as Michael Borden (10/09/89) and William Omler (01/27/71).

Deputies Harper and Robertson thought it was odd for the individuals to be moving property at that time of night. As Deputies Harper and Robertson attempted to make contact with the individuals, Omler fled the scene on foot. Deputies canvassed the neighborhood, including waking residences and checking yards, in an attempt to located Omler, but were unable to locate him at that time.

Deputies Harper and Robertson detained Borden. Through the course of their investigation, Deputies Harper and Robertson discovered that Bolden and Omler burglarized a garage in the Weymouth Way area. The resident of the home was contacted and identified the recovered property as belonging to him.

Later the same day, Butte County Sheriff’s Deputies, with the help of the Chico Police Department, located and arrested Olmer for the his part in the above burglary. Both Borden and Omler were booked into the Butte County Jail on charges of residential burglary and possession of stolen property, each with a bail of $103,000. Omler was also held on a violation of Post Release Community Supervision (PRCS), related to an unrelated criminal conviction.

The Butte County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind citizens that with the recent influx in property related crimes, it is very important to make sure that they secure their garages, as well as vehicles, at night.
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February 25, 2019

MULTIPLE FIREARMS SEIZED ON TRAFFIC STOP

Chico, Ca--On February 24, 2019, Deputies Barker and Galvez were doubled up on patrol in the Chico area.  Deputy Barker initiated a traffic stop on a small Toyota pickup in the area of Esplanade and Aspen Glen Drive.  The pickup did not have a working license plate light.

While contacting the two males in the vehicle, Deputy Galvez saw part of a rifle under items of clothing on the rear floorboard.  Deputies removed the men from the vehicle and detained them before conducting a search of the vehicle. 

The search resulted in the seizure of a 45 caliber pistol, an AK-47 assault rifle, an AR-15 assault rifle, and loaded high capacity magazines. 

21-year-old Cristian Jesus Lambera Pimentel and 28-year-old Jorge Mardanado Castaneda were arrested for a Concealed Firearm in a Vehicle, Carrying a Loaded Firearm in a Vehicle, two counts of Illegally Possessing an Assault Weapon, and two counts of Possession of a Large Capacity Magazine. Both men were booked at the Butte County Jail with bail set in the amount of $64,000.

February 21, 2019
EXPLOSION IN NORTH CHICO NEIGHBORHOOD LEADS TO THE DISCOVERY OF BUTANE HONEY OIL LAB

Chico-Ca--On 02/19/19, the Chico Police Department received telephone calls from concerned citizens in the 2600 block of Burnap Avenue, regarding a large explosion.  Upon arrival, Chico Police found a residence missing its garage door, which had been blown off.  It was determined the explosion was due to a closed loop butane honey oil lab that had exploded in the residence.  No individuals were located at the home, however, several witnesses stated multiple people fled the residence prior to law enforcement’s arrival.

The Butte County Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) took over the investigation with the assistance of the Butte Inter-Agency Narcotics Task Force (BINTF).
The investigation revealed the explosion caused the garage door to blow off its track as well as lift the roof off the home, causing other explosion damage to the residence.  Evidence of a fire was located but was extinguished by Fire personnel prior to law enforcement’s arrival.  

A leaking closed loop butane honey oil lab was Located inside the home.  Law Enforcement cut power and gas to the home while SEU Detectives rendered the butane honey oil lab safe.

A total of 23 ounces of hash oil, 261 vape pens, 158 pounds of marijuana, and 2 hits of LSD were located in the residence.

The investigation revealed the location was being used as an illegal hash oil manufacturing location making vape pens for an illegal Chico based mobile dispensary; all in violation of California’s Proposition 64 and state law.  

One of the four suspects was later located;  Brittney Larsen, Age 28 of Chico, was arrested for felony manufacturing a controlled substance, maintaining a residence for drug sales, and felony child endangerment.  Larsen’s 5-month-old child was present when the hash lab exploded and the child’s bedroom was being used to store a large amount of marijuana.  Larsen’s bail has been set at $300,000.00 and she is currently still in custody.