By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
Apparently, the California Highway Patrol isn’t concerned about optics.
Rather than handing the investigation off to a more independent and objective agency, the CHP itself will be handling the investigation into an incident in which one of its officers was reportedly attacked, beaten, and had his gun taken. This may very well be exactly what happened to the officer, but it would likely have inspired more confidence if a more unbiased group of people were looking into the matter.
At first, it was thought that the officer had been shot, but, according to CHP Officer Rodney Pozzi, that was not correct. One round had been fired, but it did not hit either the suspect or the officer.
The incident began at about 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 2, on County Road 203 (Canal Road) at the railroad tracks, north of Hamilton High School. People driving by reported a man was throwing rocks at the windshields of vehicles.
The Willows CHP officer, whose identity has not been released, was the first person to arrive at the scene. Neither the Glenn County Sheriff’s dispatch broadcasts nor Officer Pozzi’s later address to the media gave so much as a hint how the fight between the officer and the suspect originated.
However, both men sustained injuries, although, again, neither man was shot. According to Officer Pozzi, they were both taken to separate local hospitals (presumably, Glenn Medical Center and Enloe hospital) for treatment of their injuries.
Shortly after the “officer down” call went out, emergency responders of all kinds began arriving. Responding law enforcement officers included Glenn County Sheriff’s deputies, detectives, and sergeants, and the sheriff himself; Orland police officers, including Chief Joe Vlach; Glenn County probation officers; State Parks officers; and, of course, CHP officers from not just Willows but also Chico and elsewhere.
A call went out from the Glenn County fire dispatcher, “Attention Hamilton City Fire: Medical aid for an officer down, staging required. County Road 203, north of State Route 32, at the train tracks.”
A law enforcement officer reported that the incident was on the “west side of the tracks, north of the tracks.”
Glenn County fire dispatch reported that a fire unit was responding at 11:20 a.m. “Per law enforcement,” the dispatcher said, “you can enter the scene.”
However, a moment later, dispatch was told, “Be advised: The suspect has a gun, the officer’s gun.”
The dispatcher then told Hamilton City volunteers, “Cancel responding into the scene,” and they were again told to stage.”
A short time later, the dispatcher said, “Attention all fire units responding to the Hamilton City call: The location for the call is County Road 203, north of State Route 32, at the train tracks. Acknowledge staging in your response.”
A minute or two later, firefighters were told, “The scene is now secured. You are good to enter. Injuries are single patient with a gunshot wound.” Once again, according to CHP Officer Pozzi, this was incorrect, and shows why scanner broadcasts should not be taken at face value.
Fire department volunteers began arriving on scene at 11:23 a.m. “Best access will be through the orchard”, the dispatcher said.
Orland Fire Chief Justin Chaney reported he was on his way to Hamilton City.
The Glenn County Sheriff’s dispatcher told Sheriff Justin Gibbs that the first ambulance should be at the scene, and the second “is about 10 minutes out.”
Orland Fire Chief Chaney announced, “I’m just coming into town. What do you need?”
“You want to handle FlightCare when they arrive?”
“Yeah, copy that,” answered Chief Chaney. “Where are you guys going to put them down?”
“… just north of the high school,” came the reply.
“Copy that, said Chaney. “County, you can make me ground contact for FlightCare.”
The high school, by the way, had been placed on a “soft lockdown.” This lasted roughly half an hour.
Orland Police Chief stated he was on-scene.
The sheriff asked if the gun had been found yet.
He was told no.
Sheriff Gibbs said to tell him when it is found.
The sheriff then asked, “Do we have a dog coming or no?”
The dispatcher was advised to contact Fish and Wildlife for a dog.
Someone asked what kind of dog they need.
A “gunpowder dog,” came the answer.
A sheriff’s sergeant was asked, “Have you located the weapon yet?”
“Negative,” was the response.
Sheriff Gibbs asked, “Orland units, when you’re clear, can you come over and help search for the weapon?”
Sometime later, the sheriff reported that the Taser has been located on the south side of the railroad track.
Then, a report was broadcast that the firearm had been found.
The sheriff added that the weapon was missing its magazine.
At 11:49 a.m., Hamilton City fire units had been released from the scene and were “available at the station”
A while later, the sheriff reported that the magazine had been found.
The sheriff told the dispatcher to have the K-9 continue in because investigators may want to search for the casing(s).
Sheriff’s Detective Barnes also reported that the CHP wanted the K-9 to help search for the casing(s).
Fire Chief Chaney said he’s been released and is returning to Orland.
Sheriff’s Detective Lopeteguy reported the CHP is requesting that County Road 203 be closed down at County Road 9.
Sometime later, State Parks reported they were on-scene.
At 12:04 p.m., a Hamilton City fire unit said they were available. Four minutes later, another unit reported they were available.
The Glenn County Sheriff’s dispatcher told the sheriff that the restaurant across the street from the high school reported that somebody brought the suspect’s bike into her restaurant.
The sheriff said he would let the CHP know.
The sheriff told dispatch that it needs to be determined whether a train may come through on the railroad tracks. If so, the tracks need to be shut down because there are vehicles parked on them.
A while later, the sheriff asked the dispatcher what sounded like, “Can you pull the entire incident from the dispatch tape, please?”
A minute or two later, Orland Police Sgt. Sean Johnson reported he is heading back to Orland.
Then, Orland Police Chief Vlach reported he is “back in the city.”
Later, all probation department officers were released.
More than two hours after the incident began, sheriff’s detectives reported that they had been released, and asked the dispatcher, “Can you print the call log for this incident on 203 …?”
While waiting for the CHP to speak to the media on-scene (which would eventually consist of Yours Truly, two reporters from the Chico Enterprise-Record, and a reporter from Action News Now), Glenn County District Attorney Dwayne Stewart and Deputy District Attorney Michael Coffey arrived.
They stood around and chatted for a while, then left.
Next, investigators with Redding CHP’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) showed up. Several minutes later, they went to work, and Officer Pozzi got ready to speak to the press.
He stated that the suspect was in custody, and that the suspect and officer were being treated at separate local hospitals, but he wouldn’t specify who was in which medical facility. After being asked about the alleged rock throwing, Officer Pozzi seemed to reluctantly admit that the suspect had been throwing things at vehicles.
No names were provided. No details of any kind were provided.
True, it is an active investigation, but some basic information could surely be released without compromising the integrity of the investigation.
Friday morning, the Glenn County Jail issued a media release for seven people who had been booked on Thursday. One of these was one Alexander Hall, 26, of Chico, who was booked on a charge alleging attempted murder.
He was booked at 11:45 and taken into custody by the CHP on Canal Road, south of County Road 9. His bail was set at $150,000.
According to the jail’s media release, Hall is six feet-four inches tall and weighs 200 pounds.
The Glenn County Observer 