Butte County California Sheriff's Office: Deputies Use Less-Lethal 40mm And K-9 To Safely Apprehend Assault And Burglary Suspect

Chico CA

23 April, 2022

8:26 PM

Description

Press release from the Butte County California Sheriff's Office: April 21, 2022 Oroville, CA- On April 21, 2022, around 4:20 a.m., the Butte County Sheriff's Office (BCSO) received a call from an elderly victim who stated his roommate assaulted him. BCSO deputies immediately responded to a residence located in the 2400 block of Las Plumas Avenue and contacted the elderly victim. Deputies determined John Sanders, age 49, of Oroville assaulted his elderly roommate and left the residence on foot. The elderly victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Deputies immediately began searching the Las Plumas Avenue area for Sanders. While searching the area, BCSO began receiving phone calls from residents on Las Plumas Avenue. The residents indicated Sanders entered an occupied residence, refused to leave, and took a blanket from inside the residence. The residents indicated Sanders then forced entry into an unoccupied residence that was undergoing construction near the 2200 block of Las Plumas Avenue. Deputies and detectives immediately responded to the residence, set up a perimeter, and attempted to establish communication with Sanders. Deputies could hear Sanders screaming and breaking items inside the residence. Sanders refused to follow deputies' directions. Deputies contacted the homeowner and determined there were multiple weapons stored inside the residence. Deputies were concerned about Sanders accessing the weapons. With assistance from CHP, deputies expanded their perimeter and stopped traffic on Las Plumas Avenue. Deputies attempted to communicate with Sanders for approximately one hour. Sanders refused to follow directions, refused to exit the residence, and continued to break items inside the residence. When sufficient law enforcement resources arrived on scene, deputies were able to use a 40mm less-lethal launcher to help them safely arrest Sanders. The 40mm is a shoulder fired launcher which uses a propellant cartridge to launch a foam projectile. The foam projectile is a less-lethal option the Sheriff's Office recently acquired. After being struck by the less-lethal projectile, Sanders attempted to retreat toward the kitchen area of the residence. A police service dog was deployed inside the residence to assist with Sanders arrest. It was later determined the police service dog cut his left leg during the arrest. The 40mm and the police service dog allowed Sanders to be safely taken into custody. Sanders was medically cleared and later booked at the Butte County Jail for felony counts of burglary, elder abuse, and assault with a deadly weapon. The police service dog was taken to a local vet hospital for treatment and was later released. The Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information about this investigation to contact deputies or detectives at 530-538-7671. This press release was produced by the Butte County California Sheriff's Office. The views expressed here are the author's own.