The suspect in Sunday morning’s theft of fuel in the orchards south of Orland has been identified.
He is Andrew Austin Eddy, 29, of Orland.
According to the Glenn County Sheriff’s log, at about 6:34 a.m. on Sunday, March 2, deputies were dispatched to a report of an ag theft in progress at County Roads 25 and P.
Anthony Meredyk of Orland stated he observed a gold-colored Ford pickup truck with a trailer attached that was involved in the theft of diesel fuel. Meredyk followed the suspect vehicle until losing sight of it.
Deputies patrolled the area, searching for the suspect vehicle. Deputies located it and after a short pursuit, stopped Andrew Eddy in the suspect vehicle.
Deputies conducted an investigation and Eddy was arrested, transported, and booked into the Glenn County Jail.
According to the Glenn County Jail’s media release, Eddy was booked on charges alleging attempted property theft (a felony), grand theft of property (a felony), evading a peace officer (a misdemeanor), and felony vandalism.
A deputy investigates the scene of a fuel theft on County Road 25. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
Note to fuel thieves:
If you’re going to steal fuel in rural areas, perhaps you should consider committing your crimes in the early morning hours, rather after sunup when people start waking up and moving about.
At roughly 6:45 a.m. on Sunday, March 2, a man called the Glenn County Sheriff’s Office to report that he just witnessed someone in a pickup leaving the property of his (the caller’s) neighbor, and he believed the driver of the truck had stolen fuel from the neighbor.
The caller also said he was following the pickup and the trailer it was pulling.
Perhaps realizing he was being followed, the driver of the truck began traveling more or less randomly on the roads south of Orland, driving on County Roads P, 18, M, 24, 25, and 21, to name some of them.
With fuel and absorbent on the ground, a 500-gallon tank rests alongside County Road 24, just west of County Road P. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
Near the southwest corner of the intersection of County Roads P and 24, on the south side of Road 24, the driver of the pickup either lost or dumped a 500-gallon tank of fuel. The pickup driver then left the scene.
Some fuel leaked from the tank and the Orland Fire Department was called to the scene to deal with the hazardous material spill. Absorbent was spread over the fuel on the ground.
Before the firefighters cleared the P and 24 scene, a call went out to the Orland Fire Department that there was another fuel spill on County Road 25, west of County Road P.
This spill was quite a bit larger than the one at P and 24. When the firefighters left the P and 24 scene, they went to the incident on County Road 25, joining the firefighters who were already there.
A few minutes after arriving at the Road 25 scene, Orland Fire Chief Justin Chaney told the Glenn County Sheriff’s dispatcher that thief or thieves stole more than just fuel. Batteries and computer items were also taken.
The Ford F-350 pickup believed to be involved in the theft of fuel south of Orland rests in the bed of a Zip Towing tow truck. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
Meanwhile, the pickup and trailer had left the roadways and entered an orchard. After several minutes of searching, Glenn County Sheriff’s deputies found the pickup and driver in an orchard south of County Road 21, east of County Road M.
The pickup, a Ford F-350, was towed from the area by Al Quintel, owner of Zips Towing. The trailer was left in the orchard.
Watch for an update in Monday’s Glenn County Observer.
Edwina Marie Leonardo-Utt died at her home in Willows on Friday, February 21, 2025. She was born in Willows on May 3, 1954.
She was the loving wife of Gene Utt, and was a beloved sister, aunt, great-aunt, and cousin.
She left a lasting impression with all who crossed her path. She was known for her love of family, world travel, Halloween, and Disneyland adventures, and was always the life of the party.
Throughout her jobs with the Glenn County Tax Collector, Glenn County Joint Powers Authority, and Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, she was a hard worker. No job was too big or small.
She was also very active in the community, and was heavily involved in the operations of the Young Ladies Institute (YLI), Portuguese Holy Ghost, and Willows Horseshoes.
She is survived by her three sisters, Tina Lavey (Doug), Sara Mickiewicz (Mick), Kerri Chun (Vernon); Jason Utt (Deana), and Tim Utt; nieces Taylor Ceccato, Colby Lavey, Elizabeth Mickiewicz, Rachel Sarmento and Jennifer Chun-Brodie; and great-nieces and -nephews Camille, Marie, Finnley, Sutton, Anna-Rose, Coralynn, Jasmine, Addison, Waylan, and June Rose.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Ann Cooper; father John Leonardo Jr.; and great-niece Claire Ceccato.
A celebration of life is planned for Wednesday, March 12, at Saint Monica’s Catholic Church in Willows. Recitation of the Rosary is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. and the Service at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be sent to YLI, or a charity of choice.
The Glenn County Observer 