Chico man arrested after brief standoff with police

CHICO » A 25-year- old man was arrested without incident Wednesday morning after Chico police officers responded to a report of a man brandishing a firearm and established a perimeter around a residence on East 19th Street.

According to a Chico Police Department press release, the incident began around 10:15 a.m. when a person served court paperwork to Joseph Daniel Lawrence, 25, regarding a temporary restraining order. Upon being served the paperwork, the person, who police did not identify, alleged that Lawrence pointed a gun in his or her direction.

The person immediately retreated to a car and called Chico police. Officers responded to the scene, in the 500 block of East 19th Street, established a perimeter around the residence and surveilled the house in an attempt to see Lawrence exit.

According to the release, Lawrence exited the house 20 minutes later and was taken into custody without incident. However, officers learned that more people were possibly still inside the house. A hostage negotiator was called to the scene and made announcements using a loudspeaker.

A female subject, who police say was not involved in the firearm brandishing, later exited the house and police detained her.

Officers then searched the house and said they located the firearm used in the earlier confrontation. The firearm was reported stolen a few days prior in a vehicle burglary that also occurred in Chico, according to the release.

Lawrence was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon/firearm, possession of stolen property, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person and domestic battery.

Police said Lawrence also violated his probation.