By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
“We believe it was arson,” said Dan James on Monday, probably to the surprise of absolutely no one.
James is the Hamilton City Fire Chief and an arson investigator. When last The Observer wrote about this fire, which was a couple of hours after the fire itself (about noon on Saturday, April 24), it was mentioned that Hamilton City investigators would be arriving at the scene in the 100 block of East Walker Street, Orland, at about 1:15 p.m.
Chief James indicated someone had set the car ablaze, likely through simple contact with a burning object.
But what is more remarkable than the above is the fact that Saturday was not the first time The Observer has published a story about the aforementioned automobile. Thanks to an observant Observer reader who posted a message on the GCO’s Facebook page, it is now understood that the late Honda was first described on The Glenn County Observer website on Sunday, April 4.
The April 4 article stated, “The car was missing its hood and at least two of its wheels were held on by three wrench sockets rather than five lug nuts.”
This same report dealt with an arrest of David William Gutierrez, Jr., on Friday, April 2. According to that story, not too long after sunrise on Friday, April 2, a man called for law enforcement assistance.
He said he encountered a trespasser on his property, and when he told the man to leave, the man pulled a gun on him. The property owner took off, and so did the trespasser.
However, the alleged trespasser’s car (or one remarkably similar to it) was spotted by an Orland police officer in the 700 block of Tehama Street. The officer made a felony stop (a stop made at gunpoint) and the driver was detained.
He was identified as David Gutierrez. Whether or not he was the same individual who exhibited the firearm, Gutierrez is a parolee and officers began searching him and his vehicle.
Gutierrez was sitting in the back of a patrol unit when The Glenn County Observer arrived. However, he was brought out when officers were told that the property owner would be brought by in another patrol unit to possibly confirm that Gutierrez was indeed the man who threatened him with a gun.
As Gutierrez leaned with his back against the Honda, in handcuffs and facing the street, a sheriff’s unit slowly drove by. It remains unknown whether Gutierrez was identified as the man with the firearm, but since no such charge was brought against him, it seems safe to assume that he was not positively identified as the man.
Nevertheless, although no gun was found in Gutierrez’s possession at the time, ammunition was allegedly found, and that is also a felony for a parolee. Gutierrez was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, smuggling a controlled substance into a prison, and violation of probation (all felonies), with bail was set at $30,000.
Another Observer story describes an incident involving Gutierrez that happened less than a week after the above arrest. On Thursday, April 8, deputies were dispatched to the 4300 block of County Road HH, Orland, for a report of a suspicious vehicle parked along the roadway.
The vehicle was described as a white Honda with a black hood.
Upon arrival, the deputies found the described vehicle and contacted the sole occupant, David Gutierrez. Deputies conducted a records check on Gutierrez and discovered he was allegedly on misdemeanor probation out of Glenn County, with search terms listed.
Deputies executed a search of the vehicle in the area where Gutierrez was seated. They reportedly found a white crystalline substance consistent with methamphetamine, and six white pills in the front center console.
Gutierrez was subsequently placed under arrest and transported to the Glenn County Jail for booking on charges alleging possession of a controlled substance, possession of a narcotic controlled substance, and violation of probation (all misdemeanors). His bail was set at $10,000.
According to the log item from the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office, the Honda was released to its registered owner, Jennie Swope, of 301 Eighth Street, Orland. However, on Saturday, April 24, The Observer was told that the owner of the Honda was unknown, as it had not been registered since 2015.
The day before the vehicle arson – that is, at about 10:53 a.m. on Friday, April 23 – this item is found in the sheriff’s log: An anonymous caller contacted the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office to report two men and a woman were possibly stealing a vehicle’s license plate in the area of South Shasta Street and West Ash Street, Willows.
Deputy Chavez responded and contacted Mark Albert Daniels of 6361 County Road 16, Orland, and David Gutierrez of 417 Second Street, Orland. Daniels and Gutierrez claimed they were looking to purchase the vehicle and were trying to contact its owner.
Both parties were told of the complaint and agreed to move along. The vehicle was secure and was not disturbed.
No further mention was made of the woman who was reported to be with the two men.
Finally, there is this item, reported in the Orland Police Department’s media logs for 1:43 a.m., on Monday, April 26: Orland police officers responded to multiple reports of gunshots fired.
Officers contacted David Gutierrez, 33, who said his residence at 417 Second Street had been shot at. An investigation was initiated.
The Glenn County Observer 