By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
Orland – A local man was taken into custody Tuesday morning for suspected domestic violence.
About 9:08 a.m. or so on March 30, a report was received of a woman yelling and screaming near the irrigation canal near the Paigewood Apartments.
A few minutes later, as Orland police officers began to arrive, Thomas Michael Butler, 26, a laborer who lives at 4645 County Road G, Orland, was seen running in the dry irrigation canal in a more or less northerly direction. At one point, he reportedly got out of the canal and cut through someone’s yard.
Law enforcement officers eventually cut Butler off on Bryant Street, east of Papst Avenue, where he was again fleeing in the canal that runs along the south side of Bryant. He was stopped at gunpoint.
Sgt. Johnson told The Glenn County Observer at the scene that the incident apparently originated as a case of domestic violence. Alexa Farris, 25, of Willows, told Orland police officer she had been assaulted by her boyfriend, Thomas Butler.
At about 9:50 a.m., an Orland police officer requested that Glenn County Communications call for medical aid for a victim of domestic violence. Both the Orland Volunteer Fire Department and ambulance personnel responded to the call, although Orland Fire Chief Justin Chaney, who arrived at the scene before any of his fire department volunteers, contacted the fire dispatcher in Corning to cancel any additional firefighters.
The location of the domestic violence victim was initially given as the field near the Paigewood Apartments. A minute or two later, it was updated to someplace in the 300 block of East Mill Street.
At about 10 a.m., Farris was cited and released on a Glenn County warrant. A short time later, the victim was transported by ambulance for medical treatment.
At 9:38 a.m., Butler was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging infliction of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant (a felony), assault with a deadly weapon (not a firearm) with great bodily injury likely (a felony), felony vandalism, destroying or concealing evidence (a misdemeanor), and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia (a misdemeanor).
He was also booked on warrants alleging failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge, and disobeying a court order (both misdemeanors).
His total bail was set at $105,000.
The Glenn County Observer 