Armed citizen aids Calif. police in car theft arrest

The quick arrest of a suspected car thief was thanks to officers assisted by a brave citizen

By Greg Welter
Chico Enterprise-Record

CHICO, Calif. — A high-speed vehicle pursuit through Chico Wednesday night followed by a one-mile foot chase through a muddy field north of town, ended with the quick arrest of a suspected car thief by stalwart officers assisted by a brave citizen.

The incident began about 6:37 p.m. at El Paso and El Verano ways, where Chico police were called to investigate a disturbance.

Officer Brian Magleby said a man in a white Acura Integra, later identified as Bradley Allan Stancliff, 24, of Magalia, sped from the scene, with police following.

As the chase went north on Highway 99, police learned the vehicle was reported stolen in Vallejo.

Butte County sheriff's deputy Jack Storne heard the radio calls and, according to Undersheriff Kory Honea, made an educated guess Stancliff would head for Garner Lane.

Storne was on Garner when Stancliff's car sped past, toward Keefer Road.

The driver went through a barbed wire fence on the north side of Keefer, then turned right and drove about a quarter mile along the fence line before abandoning the vehicle, leaving the engine running and CD blasting hip-hop tunes.

Storne saw Stancliff disappear into tall weeds as he ran north toward Rock Creek, headed for Meridian Road.

Storne, aided by Chico officers Darrin Reichel and Ryon Mitchell, took off on foot after Stancliff. Honea said the men had to get across a fast-moving, swollen creek to continue the pursuit. "They definitely got wet," he said.

The officers continued to an area near Renkow Road, where a suspicious man had been seen near a red barn.

Camenzind Court resident Matt Benson, 51, said he spotted Stancliff running, and connected it up with sirens he had heard moments before.

"We almost never get anyone on foot out here," he said. "I knew this was unusual."

Benson said he retrieved a handgun from a barn and began running after the suspect. After an eighth of a mile he cut him off and pointed the weapon at him, slowing him to a walk.

"He either had to stop, or run back toward the officers," said Benson, who ordered the man to drop to his knees and put his hands behind his head.

Stancliff complied, but Benson said the suspect twice pleaded with him to "Let me go."

Officer Reichel was the first to reach the scene and had to crawl under barbed wire to get to the suspect. As he did, Benson pointed his firearm in the air, but said Reichel yelled at him to, "keep that gun in his face."

Stancliff was booked into the Butte County Jail in Oroville on suspicion of vehicle theft and evading arrest.

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