Illegal tree cutting call ends in felony arrest
Paradise police announced on Thursday that it has arrested a Paradise man on four charges, including two felonies on Tuesday. Police say that at about 4:42 p.m. they responded to the 5000 block of Scottwood Road on a report of illegal tree cutting and dumping. Police say that when they arrived they tried to contact Shane Gibson, 51, of Paradise, but he was not there.
According to police, Gibson has been living at the location prior to the Camp Fire and has since been staying on the property in an RV trailer. While there, officers became suspicious of several trailers located on the property. A record check determined a car trailer, loaded with garbage, was stolen from Tractor Supply in Chico and the small RV Gibson is known to have been living in was stolen out of Woodland.
A Whacker Neuson G25 portable generator (Trailer tow) worth an estimated $20,000 was also discovered and was determined to be stolen equipment from United Rentals in Chico. A large 25 gallon propane tank, reported stolen by Julie’s Kitchen in November 2019, was also recovered.
While the investigation was
still underway, an officer reportedly found Gibson who was driving to his property who conducted a high-risk vehicle stop was conducted in Gibson’s driveway where Gibson was taken into custody without incident. During a search of the stolen RV officer’s discovered an unloaded firearm and narcotics paraphernalia. Gibson was determined to have previous felony convictions for burglary and possession of narcotics.
Gibson was booked into Butte County Jail on multiple counts of Felony Possession of Stolen Property, one count of Felon / Addict in Possession of a Firearm, one Misdemeanor count of Possession of Stolen property and one Misdemeanor count of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The investigation is still active as we attempt to identify any remaining stolen property.