Deputies say that man rammed car into neighbor’s car, had illegal marijuana grow
A man suspected of assault with a deadly weapon is also facing illegal marijuana cultivation, sales and weapons charges, pending review from the Butte County District Attorney’s Office.
William Hostetler, 56, was arrested on the suspected charges and later posted bail at the Butte County Jail, after the Butte County Sheriff’s Office received a call Wednesday morning from a man claiming he was being held at gunpoint by another man, later identified as Hostetler, according to a press release from the Sheriff’s Office.
The caller told BCSO dispatch Hostetler pointed a firearm at him while the caller was attempting to access his property located near the 700 block of Potters Ravine Road in Oroville.
While the man was on the phone with BCSO dispatch, he reported Hostetler used his car to “ram” into the caller’s car. Deputies soon arrived in the area, contacted the man and found evidence which corroborated the caller’s statements.
Deputies then began looking for Hostetler. Chico-area deputies found Hostetler around 12:20 p.m. at an apartment complex located in the 1600 block of Forest Avenue.
Hostetler was arrested after deputies say they determined he had used his vehicle to ram the other man’s vehicle.
During the investigation at Potters Ravine Road in Oroville, deputies said they found multiple large marijuana grows in the area. Detectives alleged one of the grows belonged to Hostetler, and they obtained search warrants for two parcels on Potters Ravine Road and one for Hostetler’s Chico apartment.
Designated area deputies and detectives from the Felony Investigations Unit, Special Enforcement Unit, and Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force assisted with the service of the search warrants. At Hostetler’s apartment, detectives said they found approximately eight firearms and numerous firearm parts. Two of the firearms were illegal rifles. Additionally, detectives said they found 100 bags of packaged marijuana and evidence of marijuana sales.
A search of the Potters Ravine Road parcels turned up approximately 3,000 marijuana plants and an additional firearm, the Sheriff’s Office said in the release.
From the investigation, deputies and detectives obtained evidence which they say indicate Hostetler was involved in illegally cultivating marijuana.
Detectives also concluded Hostetler recently began arguing with neighbors and other individuals who were cultivating marijuana in the area of Potters Ravine Road.
Based on the evidence the Sheriff’s Office obtained during the initial investigation, Hostetler was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, possession of assault weapons, illegal cultivation of marijuana and possession of marijuana for sale, and brandishing a firearm.
The Sheriff’s Office said in the release it will be submitting the case against Hostetler to the District Attorney’s Office for review.
The Sheriff’s Office asks anyone with additional information about the investigation to contact detectives at 530-538-7671.