Police close street down for 6 hours, arrest wanted man
CHICO » For six hours Friday, Chico police officers closed off La Leita Court as they negotiated with a man inside an apartment.
Ultimately, Michael Gardenhire, 23, of Chico, was arrested along with a 17-year-old girl. Police said in a press release the two were arrested on suspicion of “charges ranging from resisting arrest to violation of probation.”
Gardenhire was charged in Butte County Superior Court in January with illegally carrying a concealed loaded gun, carrying an illegal knife and making criminal threats, all felonies, according to court records. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, but after delays to his court proceedings because of the coronavirus, he apparently missed a June 3 court date and had a warrant issued for his arrest.
A citizen called police around 4:30 p.m. Friday and said they saw someone in a car with a handgun, accord to the press release from the Chico Police Department.
Officers found a car they suspected, figured out three people had been in the car and had all gone into an apartment on La Leita Court.
Two 17-year-old girls were detained outside the apartment and police say they found out Gardenhire was still inside.
Officers used a public address system, but the man inside did not respond at first. The SWAT team arrived, but the man eventually exited the apartment more than 5 hours after the initial call.
The second teenager detained was released to her parents.
Police say they found a firearm inside the apartment when they searched it.