Butte County Pursuit Ends with One Arrest, Other Suspect at Large
CHICO — On November 24th at approximately 7:30 PM, a Butte County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted a vehicle stop for a lighting violation, only for the vehicle to hit the gas and flee.
What followed was a 30-minute pursuit through parts of Durham and back into Chico, with speeds reaching upwards of 80 MPH. The occupants of the vehicle also tossed counterfeit money from the windows during the chase.
The CHP assisted by laying spike strips across the road in the Oro Chico Highway and Neal Road area, which managed to blow out one of the vehicle’s tires and slow it down. The pursuit soon reached the area of northbound Cypress Avenue and, approaching E. 12th Street, the vehicle hung a left and continued on northbound Pine (a southbound-only road).
The deputy who’d attempted the stop lost sight of the vehicle as he remained northbound on Cypress, but discovered it a few moments later at the intersection of Woodland Avenue and E. 7th Street. A female passenger was detained at the scene, but the male driver had already fled.
An infant child who’d been in the car’s back seat was found to be unharmed and was taken into protective custody by Child Protective Services.
The mother and female passenger, Amber Ward (34), was arrested on charges of child endangerment, possession of counterfeit currency, and destroying evidence. The driver, identified as Thomas Sanders (36) of Chico, is wanted for evasion, child endangerment, and possession of counterfeit currency.
Anyone with information that may lead to Sanders’ arrest is encouraged to contact the Butte County Sheriff’s Office at 530-538-7321.
