Category: Policing

Chico PD says officers returned fire, killing suspect Two SWAT sergeants were involved in previous fatal incidents

photo by Leslie Layton
Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge called the shooting that killed Michael Oxley a “traumatic incident.”

by Dave Waddell
posted March 21

While few details have been disclosed about the fatal shooting March 2 by Chico police of 43-year-old Michael Oxley, quite a lot is known about two SWAT team sergeants who fired their assault rifles.

The sergeants, Alex Fliehr and Nick Bauer, were each involved in a previous fatal shooting incident, while Fliehr’s unorthodox use of a taser in yet another case led to a civil rights trial in federal court.

Police say Oxley was killed after four SWAT team members returned his fire. In addition to Fliehr and Bauer, officers Tyler Hernandez and Gabe Durney shot at Oxley, said Chico Police Chief Billy Aldridge. read more

Chico man suspected of arson in Mansion fire Arraignment scheduled for Jan. 6

Cal State Parks asks that people who have photos or video related to the Mansion fire scan the QR code to submit information to the CAL FIRE Evidence Submission Portal.

by Leslie Layton
posted Jan. 3

A Chico man, Kevin Alexander Carlson, 30, was jailed Jan. 2 in connection with the fire that virtually destroyed the city’s Bidwell Mansion. Carlson faces arraignment on what are likely to be felony arson charges at 3 p.m. Jan. 6.

A California State Parks press release issued today said Carlson was arrested Jan. 2. “CAL FIRE investigators found clear indicators pointing to an intentional act and on Dec. 17, determined the cause to be arson,” the statement says in reference to the Dec. 11 early morning fire. read more

Young shooting victims identified Suspect in Palermo school shooting also named

photo by Yucheng Tang
Sheriff Kory Honea identifies Glenn Litton (shown on screen on left) as the suspect in the Palermo school shooting.

by Yucheng Tang
posted Dec. 5

Roman Mendez, aged 6, sustained two gunshot wounds resulting in internal injuries when a gunman entered his school yard Dec. 4 and opened fire. Elias Wolford, 5, was shot one time in the abdomen, also resulting in internal injuries.

The two kindergarten students who attended Feather River Adventist School in Palermo remained in critical condition today. In the pictures shown at a press briefing earlier today, smiling Roman wore a red sweater and Elias cupped his chin in his hands. read more

Sentencing of ex-cop appealed by DA Domestic partnership declared between former officer and his alleged victim

Devin Pasley

by Dave Waddell
posted Nov. 14

A fired Gridley police officer previously charged with felony domestic violence has been sentenced to one year of probation for abusing his domestic partner’s dachshund.

Butte County District Mike Ramsey said his office wants a longer, more restrictive probationary period for Devin Pasley and has appealed his sentencing by Superior Court Judge Virginia Gingery. A hearing on the appeal has yet to be scheduled.

Gingery sentenced Pasley to 90 days in jail for misdemeanor animal cruelty but stayed the jail time pending successful completion of the one-year probationary term. The conditions of his probation prohibit Pasley from having animals in his home. read more

Taser pain minimized at Rushing trial Testimony from ‘cottage industry of exoneration’ aided Chico police

by Dave Waddell
news analysis posted Oct. 29

The pain of the taser was “searing … like a baseball bat swung hard and squarely into the small of your back. That sensation, which is actually two sharp steel barbs piercing your skin and shooting electricity into your central nervous system, is followed by the harshest, most violent spasm you can imagine coursing through your entire body.” – Journalist Matt Stroud in his book “Thin Blue Lie.”

SACRAMENTO — Three years ago, the New York Times published a deeply reported story on how paid experts help exonerate police in killing cases. This month, that “cottage industry of exoneration,” including one expert who has made a fortune minimizing the dangers of tasers, operated at full gear on the 15th floor of the Robert T. Matsui Federal Courthouse. read more

Rushings lose federal civil rights lawsuit Jury finds tasing of motionless Tyler Rushing not excessive force

photo courtesy of Rushing family

Tyler Rushing

by Dave Waddell
posted Oct. 17

SACRAMENTO – An eight-person jury decided today that the tasing seven years ago of the thrice-shot, motionless Tyler Rushing by a Chico police officer was not excessive force.

Jurors did find negligence in the incident by police, but attached no monetary award to that judgment, said Mark Merin, attorney for Tyler’s parents, Scott and Paula Rushing.

The decision was a victory for the City of Chico and defendant officers Alex Fliehr, Jeremy Gagnebin and Cedric Schwyzer in a civil rights lawsuit brought by the Rushings. read more