Chico Police Department: Catalytic Converter Thief Arrested

Press release from the Chico Police Department:

February 9, 2022

On February 8, 2022, at about 5:07 a.m., a Chico Police Graveyard Patrol Officer was driving in the area of Virginia Street. The Officer conducted a proactive enforcement stop of a passing motorist for a vehicle code violation. The Officer spoke with three occupants in the vehicle. The occupants were nervous, and the driver, Johnny Primrose (age 26) was covered in dirt and grease.

Officers developed probable cause to search the vehicle. The search yielded several power-cutting instruments and a freshly stolen catalytic converter. Through investigation officers were able to determine Primrose had just cut the catalytic converter off a Chevrolet pickup in the area.

Primrose was arrested for felony violations of 594(a) PC-Vandalism and 496(a) PC-Possession of Stolen Property. A passenger, Samuel Nichols (age 26) was arrested for 11364(a) H&S-Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Both subjects were booked into the Butte County Jail.

Case Number: 22-00792

Location: Virginia Street, Chico, CA

Victim: Withheld

Suspects: Johnny Primrose (age 26) and Samuel Nichols (age 26)

Supervisor: Sergeant J. Adrian

Watch Commander: Lieutenant B. Love

This press release was produced by the Chico Police Department. The views expressed here are the author’s own.