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Orland – A local man was taken into custody Tuesday morning for suspected domestic violence.
About 9:08 a.m. or so on March 30, a report was received of a woman yelling and screaming near the irrigation canal near the Paigewood Apartments.
A few minutes later, as Orland police officers began to arrive, Thomas Michael Butler, 26, a laborer who lives at 4645 County Road G, Orland, was seen running in the dry irrigation canal in a more or less northerly direction. At one point, he reportedly got out of the canal and cut through someone’s yard.
Law enforcement officers eventually cut Butler off on Bryant Street, east of Papst Avenue, where he was again fleeing in the canal that runs along the south side of Bryant. He was stopped at gunpoint.
Sgt. Johnson told The Glenn County Observer at the scene that the incident apparently originated as a case of domestic violence. Alexa Farris, 25, of Willows, told Orland police officer she had been assaulted by her boyfriend, Thomas Butler.
Orland police officers and a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy search the contents of materials they believed were the property of domestic violence suspect Thomas Butler. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
At about 9:50 a.m., an Orland police officer requested that Glenn County Communications call for medical aid for a victim of domestic violence. Both the Orland Volunteer Fire Department and ambulance personnel responded to the call, although Orland Fire Chief Justin Chaney, who arrived at the scene before any of his fire department volunteers, contacted the fire dispatcher in Corning to cancel any additional firefighters.
The location of the domestic violence victim was initially given as the field near the Paigewood Apartments. A minute or two later, it was updated to someplace in the 300 block of East Mill Street.
At about 10 a.m., Farris was cited and released on a Glenn County warrant. A short time later, the victim was transported by ambulance for medical treatment.
At 9:38 a.m., Butler was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging infliction of corporal injury on a spouse or cohabitant (a felony), assault with a deadly weapon (not a firearm) with great bodily injury likely (a felony), felony vandalism, destroying or concealing evidence (a misdemeanor), and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia (a misdemeanor).
He was also booked on warrants alleging failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge, and disobeying a court order (both misdemeanors).
At about 11:50 p.m. on Sunday, March 28, Orland police officers responded to the Glenn Medical Center emergency room for a reported victim of a gunshot wound.
Officers and assisting deputies learned that Arlo Little, 31, was shot at or near 714 Tehama Street, Orland, then was transported by private vehicle to the hospital.
Little was triaged at Glenn Medical Center, then taken to Enloe Medical Center for further treatment and evaluation.
This investigation is ongoing, and the Orland Police Department urges anybody with information about the incident to contact the department at 530-865-1616.
According to Arlo Little’s Facebook page, which appears to have been neglected for the last few years, he attended Willows High School, studied at Butte College, and lives in Willows.
Little has had numerous encounters with law enforcement. His Glenn County Jail booking information in recent years states that he is a Willows transient.
According to the Glenn County Superior Court, Little was found guilty of various crimes in 2016 and 2017. Most of the violations for which he was convicted were drug-related.
Most recently, in August of 2020, Little was convicted of misdemeanor domestic battery and possession of methamphetamine and was found in violation of probation for the fourth time.He was sentenced to 364 days in jail and probation was terminated.
Obviously, Little was not still serving (or not yet serving) his 364 days in jail when he was shot late Sunday night.
Do you see the story below, “OPD makes Prior arrest”? It probably won’t be until Wednesday when you will learn anything about it from another news source. On the other hand, The Observer will likely have an update available on Monday. As for the photos you see with the story, you won’t find them anywhere else. Ever. So, if you want to continue to see stories and photos like these, and see them sooner rather than later, support The Observer by making a donation. Thank you!
Orland – Westside Ambulance personnel cut off Sean Prior’s shirt as they prepare to examine him. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
By Larry Judkins
Glenn County Observer
Orland – Local police officers missed Sean Prior, 32, Friday night, but caught up to him early Saturday evening.
Throughout most of Friday evening, law enforcement officers surrounded a residence in the Paigewood Village Apartments, south of East Walker Street (Highway 32) in eastern Orland.
Officers contacted neighbors in the apartments, advising them either to evacuate or to shelter in place.
Not too late into what was believed to be a standoff, Orland officers contacted Chief of Police Joe Vlach and he responded to the scene.
Late Friday evening, the Orland Fire Department was called to the area and asked to stage nearby.
Since standoffs like this generally take many hours to resolve, your generally responsible reporter decided to call it night and went to bed sometime after the firefighters were called to the scene.
He believes the standoff ended in the early morning hours when the officers made their way into the apartment and discovered Prior was no longer there.
But don’t worry. At about 7 p.m. on Saturday, Orland officers, as well as a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy and a California Highway Patrol officer, caught up to Prior just north of the Paigewood complex.
Immediately ahead of this reporter, Westside Ambulance also arrived at the scene and began examining Prior as he sat on the ground. It was not clear to this reporter whether officers had deployed a Taser against Prior.
Prior did not exercise his constitutional right to remain silent. Indeed, he was so excessively talkative that the arresting officer asked him more than once to be quiet – an unusual request given that law enforcement officers normally appreciate it when suspects volunteer information they don’t have to provide.
Let’s just say that it is as if Prior has a Ph.D. in talking but is still in kindergarten when it comes to conversing.
Orland – Clearly trying to dominate the discussion, Sean Prior talks at Orland Police Sgt. Sean Johnson, foreground, and Officer Daryl Mills, just to Johnson’s left. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
At one point, Prior asked repeatedly, as he was on the ground in handcuffs, “Officer, why will you not take my report?”
The officer, growing increasingly impatient with the constant interruptions of Prior, responded, “Will you shut your mouth so I can talk back to you?”
Prior objected, “You’re not answering my question though.”
The officer pointed out to Prior that he had “fled last night.”
Prior replied, “No, I did not. No, I did not.”
The officer said, when they arrived on the scene, “She [a domestic violence victim] was crying on the sidewalk and you were long gone.”
“I was long gone, yes,” admitted Prior.
“What about the knife and the handgun?” asked the officer.
“What handgun?” asked Prior.
A zipgun was mentioned by the officer, but Prior denied any knowledge of such a weapon.
“So that was just our imagination,” replied the officer.
Orland – A Westside paramedic prepares to cut the shirt off Sean Prior as Orland Police Officer Daryl Mills and another Westside staff member look on. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
Prior asked what he was being charged with. The officer told him his charges included assault, and weapons charges (including alleged possession of a firearm by a felon).
Prior began to argue that the apartment in question “is my residence. That is my residence.”
The officer responded, “You are not to have any contact with –”
“I own the residence,” interrupted Prior.
“Listen to me,” insisted the officer.
“I own the residence,” repeated Prior.
“Listen to me.”
“I own the residence.”
“Listen to me, Sean.”
Prior continued to insist he was the owner of the residence right up to the time he was being placed in the back of a patrol unit.
Orland – The scorched remains of an outbuilding at the fire scene at Thursday afternoon’s blaze. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
Orland – It was nothing like the previous day’s inferno.
At about 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, the Orland Volunteer Fire Department responded to a reported structure fire on County Road FF, north of County Road 200.
Like the fire at 4:30 Wednesday morning at 106 Fourth Street, Thursday’s fire was (correctly) toned out as a structure fire.
And like Wednesday’s fire, Thursday’s fire turned out to involve outbuildings.
The fire on Fourth Street, however, involved at least one very large outbuilding, while the fire off County Road FF involved what appeared to be a shed and a chicken coop.
So, yes, this latest fire was the fourth structure fire in Glenn County in two days (the first two, in the southeast area of the county, were the results of arson), and while the owner of this property off Road FF was undoubtedly not happy about the fire, the truth is it was not comparable to the first three.
Joe Vlach, who is both the Orland Chief of Police and, since 2020, an Orland volunteer firefighter, douses the scene of Thursday’s fire. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
To get to the fire, firefighters took County Road 200 to Road FF, where they turned right, or north. Just north of 4630 County Road FF, a gravel road shoots off to the east.
Two or three hundred yards down the gravel road, on the north (left) side, is the property where the fire ignited.
Artois firefighters were initially called for mutual aid, but were canceled a short time later.
City of Orland Public Works Director and Orland Fire Department volunteer Ed Vonasek walks to a nearby fire engine to get a chainsaw. Glenn County Observer photo by Larry Judkins.
Firefighters were on-scene for an hour or so, first dousing the area with water, then with foam. A few small, scorched trees were also cut down.
According to Orland Fire Chief Justin Chaney, the fire was apparently started by a heat lamp that ignited some hay.
Orland – According to Orland Fire Chief Justin Chaney, the early morning structure fire at 106 Fourth Street is believed to have been caused by smoldering woodstove embers igniting debris after being blown about by Wednesday’s strong winds.
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Here are the latest bookings from the Glenn County Jail. Remember: Everyone accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Thursday, March 18:
9:33 a.m., Brandon Casey Heaton, 29, a welder who lives in Redding, was booked into the Glenn County Jail in charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $5,000. He was taken into custody on County Road 30, just west of Highway 45, by a California Highway Patrol officer.
3:53 p.m., Joshua Clifford Pennock, 33, a laborer who lives in Rackerby, Calif., was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail on a Butte County warrant alleging violation of post-release community supervision (a felony). He was taken into custody at Walmart, 470 North Airport Road, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
11:37 p.m., David William Gutierrez, Jr., 32, a painter who lives in Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on a warrant alleging disobeying a court order (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $12,000. He was taken into custody at Tehama and Fourth Streets by an Orland police officer.
Friday, March 19:
12:42 a.m., Jesus Martine Galarza, 24, a student who lives in Chico, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and driving while under the influence of alcohol (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody on Highway 32, east of Sacramento Avenue, Hamilton City, by a California Highway Patrol officer.
2:21 a.m., Michael Eugene Bamford, 50, a laborer who lives in Montgomery Creek, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on Shasta County warrants alleging misdemeanor violation of probation. Total bail was set at $11,000. He was taken into custody at County Roads P and 9 by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
9:30 a.m., Bryan Paul McLain, 37, a firewood cutter who lives in Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail on a warrant alleging felony violation of probation. He was taken into custody at the Willows branch of the Glenn County Superior Court by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
11:10 p.m., Luis Enrique Tapia, 22, a farm worker who lives in Corning, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, and driving while under the influence of alcohol (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody on County Road 7 at Interstate 5 by a California Highway Patrol officer.
Saturday, March 20:
3:20 a.m., Tanya Lynn Wilson, 45, a social worker who lives in San Rafael, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $5,000. She was taken into custody on the northbound side of Interstate 5, north of County Road 57, by a California Highway Patrol officer.
10:16 a.m., David John Carlile, 42, a laborer who lives in Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging using or being under the influence of a controlled substance (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at zero. He was taken into custody on Lassen Street at Oak Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
1:24 p.m., James Wayne Hansen, 22, a bee keeper who lives in Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on a warrant alleging unlawful use of personal identification information (a felon). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody at Highway 99 and County Road 20 by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
1:24 p.m., James Scott Beegle, 32, a laborer who lives in Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail without bail on a warrant alleging violation of parole (a felony). He was taken into custody at Highway 99 and County Road 20 by a parole officer.
9:38 p.m., Allan Paul Rueda, 31, a car detailer who lives in Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, and driving with a suspended license (both misdemeanors), and Butte County warrants alleging possession of a firearm by a felon (a felony), theft of livestock (a felony), failure to appear on a felony charge (a felony), and possession of an open container (a misdemeanor). Bail on the fresh charges was set at zero. Total bail on the warrants was set at $174,000. He was taken into custody at 6871 County Road 12, Orland, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
10:01 p.m., Cristal Ruiz Hernandez, 25, a licensed vocational nurse who lives in Grimes, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging possession of controlled substance paraphernalia, and possession of concentrated cannabis (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at zero. She was taken into custody at 6871 County Road 12, Orland, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
Sunday, March 21:
11:41 a.m., Stephanie Ranee Wright, 33, a laborer who lives in Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on warrants alleging disobeying a court order, and failure to appear on a misdemeanor charge (both misdemeanors). Total bail was set at $35,000. She was taken into custody on Highway 99 near County Road 18 by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
2:06 p.m., William Lloyd Coats, 54, a laborer who lives in Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging possession of a narcotic controlled substance, and driving with a suspended license (both misdemeanors), and a warrant alleging disobeying a court order (a misdemeanor). Bail on the fresh charges was set at zero. Bail on the warrant was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody at Woodward Avenue and East Walker Street by an Orland police officer.
10:04 p.m., Juan Rios Figueroa, 31, a laborer who lives in Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging threatening to commit a crime with intent to terrorize (a felony), willful cruelty to a child (a misdemeanor), driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs (a misdemeanor), driving while under the influence of alcohol (a misdemeanor), and driving while under the influence with three or more priors (a felony). Bail was set at $170,000. He was taken into custody at 1052 South Street by an Orland police officer.
11:46 p.m., Juan Trujillo Ortiz, 50, a logger who lives in Hoopa, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, driving while under the influence of alcohol, and driving without a license (all misdemeanors). Bail was set at $10,000. He was taken into custody at East Walker Street and Woodward Avenue, Orland, by a California Highway Patrol officer.
Monday, March 22:
2:42 a.m., Joshua Charles Hanson, 27, a kitchen crew member and transient, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging possession of a narcotic controlled substance, and possession of controlled substance paraphernalia (both misdemeanors), a warrant alleging disobeying a court order (a misdemeanor), and a civil warrant alleging civil contempt. Bail on the fresh charges was set at zero. Total bail on the warrants was set at $20,000. He was taken into custody in the 6900 block of County Road 57 by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
3:08 a.m., Jonathan Scott Hanson, 29, a mechanic who lives in Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging possession of controlled substance paraphernalia (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at zero. He was taken into custody in the 6900 block of County Road 57 by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
11:19 a.m., Valentin Morales Gonzalez, 47, a laborer who lives in Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging driving while under the influence of alcohol (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $5,000. He was taken into custody at 73 East Walker Street by an Orland police officer.
9:10 p.m., Chanh Thammavong, 63, disabled, of Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging public intoxication (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at zero. He was taken into custody in the 200 block of Fifth Street by an Orland police officer.
10:20 p.m., Zevah Marie Keshtbod, 38, a truck driver who lives in Sacramento, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on charges alleging using or being under the influence of a controlled substance, and child endangerment (both misdemeanors). Bail was set at zero. She was taken into custody at 1481 Highway 99, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
Tuesday, March 23:
3:08 p.m., Mario Alberto Madrigal, 36, a laborer who lives in Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on a warrant alleging disobeying a court order (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $17,000. He was taken into custody at 1101 Cortina Drive, Orland, by a Glenn County probation officer.
3:51 p.m., Salvador Garcia Tirado, 51, a construction worker who lives in Orland, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on a warrant alleging driving without a license (a misdemeanor), no current motor carrier program operating authority (a misdemeanor), providing false evidence of insurance (a misdemeanor), registration required (an infraction), and failure to pay a restitution fine (a misdemeanor). Bail was set at $4,000. He was taken into custody at Walmart, 470 Airport Road, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
11:29 p.m., Heather Lee Beath-Alvarez, 44, a laborer who lives in Willows, was booked into the Glenn County Jail on warrants alleging disobeying a lawful order of the court (a felony), and disobeying a court order (a misdemeanor). Total bail was set at $25,000. She was taken into custody at 210 West Wood Street, Willows, by a Glenn County Sheriff’s deputy.
The Glenn County Observer 