Escaped inmate caught at Oroville gas station
Woman arrested, suspected of helping man after he escaped
OROVILLE » A Butte County Jail inmate who escaped from a minimum security dorm early Monday was returned to custody after deputies responded to a tip and located the inmate at a Chevron gas station, according to the Butte County Sheriff’s Office.
At approximately 12:30 a.m. Monday, as BCSO correctional deputies were finishing up a check on inmates housed in a minimum security dorm at the jail, Michael Berry, 29, was able to “slip past” an open door and escape, the release stated.
Correctional staff monitoring surveillance then observed Berry escape the jail’s perimeter fence. Staff notified deputies of Berry’s escape, and deputies began searching for Berry.
A community member contacted the Sheriff’s Office at approximately 10 a.m. and reported seeing Berry at a Chevron gas station located at 2030 Third St. in Oroville. Deputies subsequently lo
cated Berry and arrested him without incident.
During the investigation, BCSO deputies and detectives said they learned Megan Margetts, 29, of Chico, had talked to Berry by phone prior to his escape, and was allegedly aware of his plans to escape.
Deputies contacted Margetts near the Butte County Superior Courthouse in Oroville at approximately 2 a.m. Monday, and subsequently arrested her on suspicion of possessing narcotic paraphernalia. Detectives allege Margetts traveled to Oroville to pick up Berry after his escape, based on their subsequent
investigation.
Margetts was booked at the Butte County Jail on suspicion of conspiracy, in addition to the misdemeanor narcotic paraphernalia charge.
Berry, 29, was booked on Jan. 11 for a suspected burglary charge, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office.
According to court records, Berry has had two arraignments in court on the burglary charge, one on Jan. 13 and one on Jan. 20, but has not entered a plea.