PRESS RELEASE- APRIL 5TH, 2023 CASE 23-0228
PRESS RELEASE
Paradise Police Department
5595 Black Olive Dr. Paradise, CA 95969 530.872.6241
www.townofparadise.com/police
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PPD Case 23-0228
Date:
April 5, 2023
On 04/05/2023 at about 11:14 A.M. Paradise Police Officer Tatom was working uniformed patrol on Skyway in the area of Jewell Road. Officer Tatom observed a subject, identified as Christopher Avey, seated in a blue Honda CRV. Avey was wanted in relation to a number of crimes in the Town of Paradise, to include a prior vehicle theft and burglary of multiple storage units. Avey observed Officers in the area and fled in the vehicle. Avey nearly collided with the Paradise Police Vehicle as he fled.
Officer Tatom attempted to initiate a high risk traffic stop on Avey in the area, but Avey failed to yeild and officers initiated a pursuit. Due to the traffic on the roadway and Avey's erratic operation of the vehicle, PPD Officers discontinued the pursuit for public safety reasons. Although Avey was not being pursued, he continued to drive with wanton disregard for public safety southbound on Skyway, passing mulitple Butte County Sheriff's Deputies into the City of Chico. Due to the continued erratic operation of the vehicle, Deputies did not engage or attempt to pursue Avey.
Once in Chico, Avey drove the vehicle to an apartment complex in the 2200 block of Notre Dame Blvd and fled from the vehicle. A short time later Chico Police Department Officers responded to the 2100 block of Mansfield Court for a subject acting in an erratic manner. At about 11:44 A.M. Chico Police located Avey walking in the area near where the vehicle was parked. Avey was placed under arrest by Chico Police related to the pursuit and for being under the influence of narcotics. PPD Officer Tatom resopnded to Chico Police Department and took Avey into custody related to the pursuit. Butte County Deputies located the unoccupied vehicle a short time later. The vehicle was determined to be a previously reported stolen vehicle out of Chico P.D. on 11/09/2022.
Throughout the recovery of the stolen vehicle, officers located a loaded and concealed firearm in the vehicle, suspected fentanyl and stolen property.
Avey was later booked into the Butte County Jail for multiple felony violations to include:
CVC 2800.2 Evading police in wanton disregard for public safety
CVC 2800.4 Evading police while driving into oncoming traffic
PC 29800(a)(1) Felon in possession of a firearm
PC 30305(a)(1) Felon in possession of ammunition
PC 496(d) Possession of a stolen vehicle
PC 496(a) Possession of stolen property
HS 11370.1(a) Possession of a controlled substance while armed
PC 466 Possession of burglary tools
HS 11350(a) Possesion of a controlled substance (Narcotic)
PC 25400(a)(1) Possession of a concealed weapon by a felon
PC 22810(a) Possession of teargas by a felon
LOCATION:
Paradise / Chico
Suspect: Avey, Christopher Wayne 090496
Investigating Officer: Officer T. Tatom
Approving Supervisor: Sgt. J. Wilkey
