By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
An Orland couple, both felons, were arrested in Redding early Monday morning on charges alleging possession of a firearm by a felon, and possession of a stolen vehicle.
According to the Redding Police Department, at about 12:52 a.m. on April 18, Redding police officers spotted a vehicle that had previously been reported stolen, traveling on Friendly Road near Dana Drive.
An enforcement stop was conducted, and officers contacted the driver, Joseph Broussard, 41, and the passenger, Vanessa Garcia, 40. At least as recently as March of 2021, both Broussard and Garcia were living at the same address on County Road 18 near Orland.
The vehicle was searched and a stolen loaded .22 caliber firearm was located near the front center console, where both Broussard and Garcia could access it.
Due to Broussard and Garcia being in possession of a stolen vehicle, a stolen firearm, and both being convicted felons, which prohibits them from owning and/or possessing firearms, they were arrested and booked into the Shasta County Jail.
According to the Shasta County Jail, Broussard was booked on charges alleging carrying a loaded firearm on his person or in a vehicle in a public place (a misdemeanor), receiving stolen property (a misdemeanor), possession of a firearm by a felon (a felony), and carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle (a misdemeanor).
Broussard’s bail was set at $10,000.
Garcia was booked on the same charges, but her bail was set at $35,000.
This is not the only time Broussard and Garcia were arrested together. On Jan. 15, 2018, they were arrested together right here in Glenn County.
On that date, a report was received that two people just left Walmart and went south on Interstate 5 in a silver Chevrolet Malibu, with a cart full of merchandise.
The Chevy was found at Highway 99 and County Road by former Deputy Branson.
Deputy McIntyre contacted Walmart and determined that some of the items had been left behind in a cart. The total value of the items was over $950.
Broussard and Garcia were both arrested and booked on charges alleging burglary, grand theft, conspiracy, and other charges.
The incident at the top of this report was also not the first Shasta County arrest for Broussard. In March of 2019, he entered a no-contest plea to possession of a controlled substance (a misdemeanor).
Over the years, law enforcement officers from all over the Sacramento Valley have had numerous encounters, both criminal and non-criminal, with Broussard and Garcia.
The Glenn County Observer 