State parolee arrested after alleged burglary
Methamphetamine lab, weapons also found at suspect’s residence on Cherokee Road
OROVILLE » A California State Parolee was arrested Thursday after allegedly attempting to burglarize a residence, and the parolee’s girlfriend was also arrested for suspected charges separate from the burglary.
A homeowner contacted the Butte County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday afternoon and said they had interrupted a burglary at their home on Cherokee Road.
According to a Sheriff’s Office press release, deputies and detectives responded to the area and gathered a description of the suspect. They searched the area and found the suspect, later identified as Brian Horton, 44, of Oroville, standing outside of a residence in the 2400 block of Cherokee Road.
Horton, who deputies and detectives said lived at the residence where he was found, was also on active California State Parole. BCSO subsequently searched the residence, and also contacted Mindy Kruse, 35, of Oroville, who was identified as Horton’s girlfriend.
Also during the search, deputies and detectives said they found two firearms, a sawed- off shotgun, ammunition, evidence related to the burglary and a methamphetamine lab. The Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force was called to the residence to process the meth lab.
Ac c or d - ing to the release, detectives found further evidence during the investigation that alleges Horton’s involvement in a separate burglary that took place on Christmas day in the Oroville area. Detectives also allege Horton was involved in additional thefts on Christmas day.
Detectives said they also found property in Kruse’s purse that had been stolen during a vehicle burglary in Oroville. The date was not disclosed.
Both Horton and Kruse were booked into the Butte County Jail on Thursday evening. Horton was booked on suspicion of residential burglary, being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition, possession of stolen property, possession of a sawed-off shotgun, manufacturing a sawed- off shotgun, manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of stolen property and violating the terms and conditions of his parole. Kruse was booked on suspicion of vehicle burglary and possession of precursors used to manufacture methamphetamine. Horton and Kruse are scheduled to be arraigned in the Butte County Superior Court on Monday, Jan. 11, at 3 p.m. The Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with additional information about the investigation, or anyone who had property stolen on Christmas day to contact detectives at 530-538-7671.