Case of the CHP officer who was attacked is ongoing

By Larry Judkins

Glenn County Observer

Remember back in May of this year, when a California Highway Patrol officer was reportedly attacked, beaten, and had his gun taken near Hamilton City?

What’s happened regarding that case?

At about 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 2, 2024, 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.

A Willows CHP officer, whose identity has never been released to the public, was the first person to arrive at the scene. A fight ensued between the two men, and both sustained injuries.

It was broadcast over the police scanner that one of the men had been shot, but, fortunately, this turned out to be false. Although the officer’s gun had been taken from him and a single shot was fired, no one was wounded.

Law enforcement officers and other emergency responders from multiple agencies began arriving at the scene, searching for both the suspect and the officer’s weapon. Both were eventually found.

Investigators with Redding CHP’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT) showed up and took over the investigation.

The CHP did not release the identity of the suspect, but on Friday, May 3, the Glenn County Jail issued a media release for seven people who had been booked on Thursday. One of these was Alexander Hall, 26, of Chico, who was booked on a charge alleging attempted murder.

He was booked at 11:45 a.m. 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.

So, what has happened since? According to Glenn County Superior Court records, on May 2, Alexander McKenzie Hall was charged with alleged attempted murder, discharge of a firearm during the commission of a felony, infliction of great bodily injury during the commission of a felony, and throwing an object at a vehicle with intent to cause great bodily injury.

On May 6, the arraignment of Hall commenced. On May 8, a plea was entered.

On May 10, Dr. Robert Boyle, a psychologist from Redding, was appointed. A mental competence hearing was held on July 10.

On July 17, a trial setting conference took place. And on October 10, a trial readiness conference was held.

Also on October 10, a proceeding regarding Hall’s mental competency took place.

On November 14, another trial readiness conference was held. And finally, a mental competence hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Friday, December 20, Judge Donald Cole Byrd presiding.

The Observer’s story from May of 2024 can be read at https://glenncountyobserver.news/2024/05/04/officer-injured-in-altercation-near-h-c/