Man Arrested on Suspicion of Hit-and-Run, Outstanding Warrants
A man with a reported history of reckless behavior and criminal activity was recently arrested in Chico following an alleged hit-and-run incident on February 19, 2023, according to a Chico PD press release.
The suspect, identified as Levi Nierenhausen (24) of Concow, had previously fled from police in a stolen vehicle on two separate occasions earlier in the month.
The incident occurred at around 5 a.m. when police received a call about a single-vehicle collision in the area of West Sacramento and Nord Avenues. According to the caller, the vehicle had struck a fire hydrant, completely shearing it off and causing flooding from the sheared pipe. The driver and sole occupant of the vehicle then reportedly fled from the scene on foot, heading south on Nord Avenue.
Upon arriving at the scene, an officer came across a man walking on the sidewalk of Nord Avenue who matched the suspect’s description. The man, later identified as Nierenhausen, was detained after allegedly providing the officer with a false name. He was subsequently identified as the driver who fled from the crashed vehicle. During the investigation, deputies identified Nierenhausen as a suspect in a vehicle burglary committed just prior to the collision.
Nierenhausen was also wanted by the Butte County Sheriff’s Office for a previous failure to yield incident, as well as three felony warrants. He was taken into costody on suspicion of hit-and-run, burglary, possession of burglary tools, vehicle theft, possession of stolen property, failure to yield with wanton disregard for the public’s safety, and providing a false name.
According to police reports, Nierenhausen had fled from officers in a stolen vehicle on two previous occasions on February 4, 2023. During these pursuits, Nierenhausen allegedly drove at dangerously high speeds, reaching up to 100 miles per hour on the Esplanade, in an attempt to avoid arrest. Officers were forced to disengage from the pursuits due to the extreme risk to public safety.
Nierenhausen has been booked at Butte County Jail for booking on the listed charges and warrants with no bail, police said.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing, and anyone with information is asked to contact the Chico Police Department.
