By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
The body of a man was found in an Orland alley Wednesday morning, Dec. 1.
At about 8:45 a.m., Orland police officers received a request for a welfare check for a man lying in the lane behind 514 Fourth Street, immediately to the south of the Hannah Reed home at 510 Fourth Street and immediately to the north of Penner’s Auto Service at 528 Fourth Street.
The alley runs north and south between Swift Street in the south and Tehama Street in the north, and between Fourth Street in the east and Fifth Street in the west.
Officers responded to the alleyway and found a deceased man with an apparent gunshot wound.
A firearm was recovered at the scene.
Officers contacted the California Department of Justice Crime Lab, and an investigation was initiated.
Numerous Orland police officers were on the scene, as were some of Orland’s Volunteers In Police Service, or VIPS, posted to prevent members of the public from entering the crime scene. Sergeant Sean Johnson was also called in on his day off.
Glenn County Sheriff’s deputies and detectives were also dispatched to the alley.
From the Glenn County District Attorney’s Office, the D.A. himself, Dwayne Stewart, responded, as did Assistant District Attorney Ruby Neumann, and Chief Investigator Kelly Knight.
Police tape not only prevented access to the alley at the north and south ends, it also prevented access to the front of the house. One or more of the residents waited outside on the sidewalk near the street.
A car parked in the driveway of 514 Fourth Street was impounded. Two cell phones were reportedly inside the car, and the owner or owners asked if they could get the phones back.
It is not known if the police returned the phones.
This investigation is ongoing, and the Orland Police Department urges anybody with information about the incident to contact Sgt. Kyle Cessna at 530-865-1616.
The Observer plans to publish updates as more information is received.
The Glenn County Observer 